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Always test GBS Penetrating Sealer in a small inconspicuous location first. When in doubt, call us.
Three Surface Requirements BEFORE Applying:
1) Porous
2) Clean & Dry
3) Neutral pH
I POROUS
Porous means it must be able to soak in. If there are sealers or adhesives on the surface they will disallow absorption. If the surface has been highly power-troweled it will also make the surface so dense that water will not soak in easily.
How to Test? Place a few drops of water onto the surface and see if it beads up or soaks in. If it soaks in, then the surface is porous and GBS Penetrating Sealer will also soak in. Nothing need be done except to make sure it is clean, dry and have a neutral pH. See #2 and #3 below.
If, however it beads up and does not soak in for about an hour, then there is either something on the surface or it has been power-troweled.
If powertroweled, use our GBS MicroEtch product to open the pores without toxic chemicals. Do NOT acid etch. Or you can grind with a surface grinder that can be rented from most rental stores.
If there is latex paint, adhesives, or other acrylic sealers on the surface we recommend our GBS Industrial Strength Cleaner (If it is unknown what type of sealer was used, we recommend purchasing a test sample of the cleaner as some sealers cannot be chemically removed).
If efflorescence (white powder), rust stains, red clay stains appear on the surface, use our GBS 4-in-1 Cleaner.(For outdoor use only.)
If mold, mildew or algae, then we recommend our GBS Mold, Mildew and Algae Cleaner. (For outdoor use only.)
II CLEAN AND DRY
Clean means washed with a neutral pH detergent and then dried thoroughly. Ideally use a 3000 psi pressure washer. If you are indoors, this may be difficult so use a damp mop instead. If you have used a cleaner mentioned above or any other strong cleaner you should wash at least twice and rinse at least three times. Then dry well. Use fans, heat, open windows or a shop vac to remove all water.
If there is any water, it will prevent the sealer from soaking in. If it is humid,cold or damp, this could take longer. Be patient. Even if it appears dry on the surface, moisture may still be inside the concrete. There are moisture meters you could use to test but if you wait at least two days during warm weather or three days during cool weather it should be fine.
Note: New concrete, even though appearing dry, is still very wet inside. Therefore, you must wait a minimum of 14 days until it has dried inside. This can be accelerated with heat, fans and good ventilation.
III NEUTRAL pH
New concrete has a high pH. It needs to be in the 7-9 range to work well with our sealers. No higher, no lower.
We provide litmus paper so you can test in several areas. Be sure to use distilled water with the litmus test.
What to do if the pH is still high after testing? Concrete less than one year old is often still high in pH. If so, you can use our GBS pH Reducer. This will bring the pH down to acceptable levels with a few hours. Then it must be washed off as explained in #2 above. Note: If you need to open the pores due to power troweled surface then our GBS Micro Etch product is sufficient. You don't need both products.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE-ONCE ALL THREE REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET
1. Use a low pressure sprayer (Hudson type) or any sprayer operated at no more than 20 psi. Spray on with low pressure sprayer and back roll any puddles to a dry area with a low nap paint roller. The goal is to saturate the surface with ONE COAT. Note: If concrete was power troweled, then penetration could be much slower. GBS Penetrating Sealer covers approximately 200 square feet per gallon depending upon porosity.
2. Ideally you will work with two people. One spraying and one using paint roller to spread out excess. Clean roller or brush with soap and water.
3. Area may be opened to reasonable foot traffic after a few hours of dry time or when new concrete has hardened sufficiently.
4. Allow 6 – 7 days for completion of penetration/curing process.
5. If you are using GBS Penetraing Sealer before painting, allow to dry a minimum of three days prior to the application of paint. GBS Penetrating Sealer will waterproof the surface so well that non-moisture resistant paints (such as but not limited to latex) should NOT be used. Use only good quality moisture-resistant paint such as acrylic or oil based paint.
Note: GBS Penetrating Sealer will not harm glass, aluminum, metal, plants or aquatic life. If GBS Penetrating Sealer gets on glass, rinse off so it doesn’t dry. Not recommended for painted stucco (unpainted is fine) and submerged areas in pools or ponds.
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