Description

ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium is a wet look sealer with a difference! This Guard Industry product gives porous and low-porosity mineral surfaces an intense “wet effect”. In other words, it provides the same colour enhancement as a wet surface. It also restores and revives the original colour of old faded surfaces. ProtectGuard WF Premium is traffic resistant and produces a true, long lasting wet look effect. It also has excellent water, oil and stain repellent properties. It is by far the best colour enhancing sealer we have ever seen!

The Problem with Traditional Types of Wet Look Sealer

Your average wet look sealer is a solvent (oil) based acrylic. These products create a thick layer on the surface which is not breathable. Any moisture that gets into the substrate, cannot escape through the sealer. Over time this moisture which is trying to escape will cause the sealer film to delaminate from the surface. These failures appear as white patches. These stand out in contrast to the rest of the rest of the darkened surface. The only way to fix this is by stripping off the sealer and starting over.

Further, the colour enhancement of a standard wet look sealer diminishes over time. A typical solvent acrylic wet look sealer will look close to wet for the first week. Within a month the colour depth is about half of what it was.

By six months there is no significant colour enhancement over a non enhancing sealer. This is because the wet look is produced by the oil based components of the solvent. Most, if not all of these components are volatile, meaning they evaporate into the atmosphere. As they migrate out of the substrate and the sealer the colour goes along with them.

Solvent based acrylic wet look sealer contains up to 80% xylene and other hazardous volatile hydrocarbons. These compounds are known as volatile organic compounds or VOC’s. These VOC’s evaporate and create a respiratory hazard for applicators, clients and anyone else exposed to them. They are quite pungent and you can easily smell if a solvent based acrylic has been used.

The majority of these components are released during application and curing.  So after a week, which is the average curing time for such products, most of the VOC’s have escaped. However, low levels of VOC’s will continue to leach out of the sealer and the substrate for months to come. These low levels go unnoticed by most home owners. But if you have pre-existing sensitivities, or have children or pets that will spend a lot of time on the sealed surfaces, there could be ill effects.

A solvent acrylic wet look sealer will make the surface slippery. As such these products should be avoided wherever slipperiness is of concern. Particularly on sloped external footpaths and walkways, or area’s where the surface is often wet.

Why ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium is a Better Colour Enhancing Sealer

Like all Guard Industry Sealers, ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium does not produce a surface film, but penetrates into the surface. This means that the substrate can freely breathe. So any moisture that gets in can evaporate from the surface as water vapour. In addition, since the colour enhancement has gone deep into the substrate, the wet look will not wear away to create an unsightly contrast in high wear areas. It can only wears away if the surface itself gets worn down. Also, it cannot delaminate, blister or peel.

Since it penetrates into the surface and produces no surface film, it does not make surfaces slippery. As such it is a great colour enhancing sealer for external paths, walk ways and surrounds. It is also a great option for honed concrete around pools. The colour enhancement will hide scratches from course grinds, or even shot blasting. Enabling a very course surface with grip levels that are not normally possible with a colour enhanced look.

Further, the colour enhancement is permanent! This colour enhancing sealer retains it’s enhancing properties throughout it’s service life. It will look as good after a couple of years as it does after a week.

ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium is a 98% active product. This means that you get excellent coverage rates, up to 20m2/L on dense surfaces. The remainder is solvent and is required so that the sealer does not set in the container. The solvent used is an eco, non hazardous alcohol based solvent. This wet look sealer contains less than 160g/L total VOC’s and achieves an A+ indoor air quality rating. This makes it safe to use even in enclosed areas.

ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium wet look sealer also provides a protection against water, oil and stains. It also provides long-term protection for materials and prevents the principal causes of deterioration such as atmospheric pollution, dirt and grease. It slows down the ageing of the support and makes it easier to maintain.

ProtectGuard Wet Finish colour enhancing sealer is an impregnation product, the support can still let through air and water vapour.