Will the sealer change the colour of my paving?

Only if you want it to. An invisible product leaves the colour alone, a wet-look sealer deepens it permanently, and a colour sealer gives it a new shade.

How do I know when to seal again?

By how the water behaves. While it still beads on the surface, the treatment is working. Once water starts soaking in and dark patches return after rain, the protection has worn out.

Can I apply sealer to wet paving?

No. Water occupies the pores the product is meant to enter, and stays trapped under the film. The result is often a milky bloom that cannot be removed without stripping the coat. The exceptions are the few products that tolerate slight surface dampness.

Will sealing make the paving slippery?

Not if you choose a penetrating product - it forms no film on the surface and does not change its grip. If the surface is already slippery, choose an anti-slip treatment rather than a sealer.

Should I use it before sealing new paving?

Yes - that is its typical use. Cement laitance left under a sealer comes away with it. After washing and rinsing, let the paving dry all the way through.

Will it harm plants beside the drive?

According to the manufacturer, it contains no toxic substances and needs no neutralisation. Even so, keep any cleaner at working strength away from planting - cover plants before you start.

What if the deposit does not come off first time?

Brush the surface with a stiff brush once the deposit has softened, then rinse again. Do not extend the dwell time beyond five minutes or let the product dry.

Efflorescence and cement laitance remover - Guard Remover Eco

Removes mortar residues, cement laitance, lime deposits and salt efflorescence after building work. Leave it on for 5 minutes at most without letting it dry, then rinse with plenty of water. It is plant-based and needs no neutralisation after rinsing (manufacturer's data).

Surface

Block paving

See the whole range

Product image: Efflorescence and cement laitance remover - Guard Remover Eco

Block paving

A specialist for one problem: what building work leaves behind. Cement laitance on freshly laid paving, mortar marks on brick, lime deposits, salt efflorescence.

What sets it apart is its composition: according to the manufacturer, it is based on plant-derived ingredients (wheat, maize, beet, tree resin) and needs no neutralising after rinsing. That saves real time compared with acidic products, where the substrate has to be neutralised before you can apply a sealer.

The dwell time is short: five minutes at most, then rinse with plenty of water. The product must not dry on the surface - that is the commonest cause of streaking. Coverage 6 m² per litre.

The usual reason a sealing job fails is not the product but the substrate. A sealer will not bond to a surface with grease, lime efflorescence or an old coating on it.

Wash the paving. Lift oil stains with a degreasing cleaner - water alone, even under pressure, will not shift them.
Remove lime efflorescence with a product made for it, not with hydrochloric acid from the builders' merchant.
Make good the joints and let them set. Sealer applied over an empty joint runs straight into the sub-base.
Wait until the paving is dry all the way through, not just on top. Moisture trapped under the film can bloom it white.
Check the forecast. Rain within a day of application will wash off a fresh coat.

New paving has to season first - usually around 28 days from the date the block was made. You will find the exact time for each product in its technical data.

Before sealing the whole area, test on a patch hidden by a planter or in a corner of the patio. The same product can read differently on two batches of the same material, and on a surface with old coating left on it, it will not bond at all.

Coverage: 6 m²/l
Coats: 1
Application method: low-pressure garden sprayer, hand spray, brush
Dilution: Do not dilute
Where to use: indoors, outdoors
Dwell time: 5 minutes maximum; do not let it dry on the surface
Rinsing: plenty of water, ideally with a pressure washer
Neutralisation: not required (manufacturer's statement)
Base: plant-derived ingredients: wheat, maize, beet, tree resin

Will the sealer change the colour of my paving?: Only if you want it to. An invisible product leaves the colour alone, a wet-look sealer deepens it permanently, and a colour sealer gives it a new shade.
How do I know when to seal again?: By how the water behaves. While it still beads on the surface, the treatment is working. Once water starts soaking in and dark patches return after rain, the protection has worn out.
Can I apply sealer to wet paving?: No. Water occupies the pores the product is meant to enter, and stays trapped under the film. The result is often a milky bloom that cannot be removed without stripping the coat. The exceptions are the few products that tolerate slight surface dampness.
Will sealing make the paving slippery?: Not if you choose a penetrating product - it forms no film on the surface and does not change its grip. If the surface is already slippery, choose an anti-slip treatment rather than a sealer.
Should I use it before sealing new paving?: Yes - that is its typical use. Cement laitance left under a sealer comes away with it. After washing and rinsing, let the paving dry all the way through.
Will it harm plants beside the drive?: According to the manufacturer, it contains no toxic substances and needs no neutralisation. Even so, keep any cleaner at working strength away from planting - cover plants before you start.
What if the deposit does not come off first time?: Brush the surface with a stiff brush once the deposit has softened, then rinse again. Do not extend the dwell time beyond five minutes or let the product dry.