Application Instructions and Tips
for LastiSeal Masonry Color Sealer
Proper surface preparation and suitable conditions are critical! (Just like for most concrete paints and stains.) LastiSeal waterproofing sealer and color stain must be allowed to penetrate into the concrete. If the color pigments stay on the surface, they will wear or wash off. Important considerations:
- Clean surface
- Surface porosity
- Dry concrete
- Surface temperature
- Concrete alkalinity
We strongly recommend that you first test with samples of LastiSeal Color to make sure it is the best color for your concrete and that the stain has penetrated into the surface. This will confirm that the surface prep was sufficient. Make sure to perform the "wet rag test" and "fingenail test" (below).
NOTE:
LastiSeal is non-returnable. LastiSeal is guaranteed to waterpoof concrete or brick for at least 10 years. However, the color pigments cannot penetrate that deep and are much more dependent on proper surface prep and application. If the surface prep or application are not up to par, the color will wash off during heavy rains or after a snow melt. Therefore, the color stain is not guaranted but we will help our customers to resolve any problems.
Unsealable Concretes
Fiber reinforced concrete often contains additives which may prevent proper penetration of the stain.
Stamped concrete surface contains color hardeners and release agents which will prevent proper penetration of the stain.
Calcium chloride. This controversial additive is still sometimes used in cold climates. If not properly mixed, it leaves shiny brownish areas that are not sealable.
The Surface Must be Clean and Unsealed
Remove all contaminants like dirt, paint or sealers, adhesives, efflorescence ("white powder"), oil, grease, mildew, rust, and other. This may require power washing, vacuum shot blasting, light sandblasting, grinding, scarifying, or washing and scrubbing with a push broom.
You may need our professional-strength Lightning Strip Paint and Mastic Remover or penetrating degreaser/cleaner Novion Universal Concrete Cleaner (check out Concrete Cleaners). Afterwards, remove any residue with a power washer, or rinse it off with water and scrub with a push broom.
Previously applied penetrating sealers that fill pores inside the concrete will hinder the penetration of LastiSeal Color. Grinding the surface or similar methods will not remove them. Contact the manufacturer how to remove the sealer.
To determine if the surface has been previously sealed, use the eyedropper test (see the "Surface Must Be Porous" section, below). If the concrete repels water, LastiSeal Color will not able to penetrate.
Acid stained concrete is normally protected with a clear sealer, which must be removed first. Then, test with a LastiSeal sample first.
To remove efflorescence, use our RadonSeal Efflorescence Cleaner (check out Concrete Cleaners), which avoids the hazards of using acids. Then, just let the concrete dry out and sweep the surface before sealing with LastiSeal Color.
- CLEANING TIPS:
- Contrary to popular opinion, acid washing will not remove paints, sealers, or oil.
- Do not use solvents to remove paint. That will just smudge the surface and fill the pores.
- Grinding the surface will not remove embedded oil that has soaked deeply into the concrete. A penetrating degreaser is needed.
- For more information on cleaning and preparing concrete surfaces please check Frequently Asked Questions.
The Substrate Must be Porous
To allow LastiSeal sealer and stain to properly penetrate, the concrete or masonry must be sufficiently porous.
While the waterproofing sealer in LastiSeal Color reliably penetrates even into tighter substrates, it is much more difficult for the color pigments. If the substrate is too tight, it will filter out the stain and leave it on the surface. Then, the substrate will be waterproof but the stain will soon wash or wear off.
Let new concrete cure for at least a month or two to properly develop capillaries (pores).
Broom finished concrete (typically found on driveways or sidewalks) is very porous. However, sealers and stains cannot penetrate into very tight, hard machine-troweled, burnished, or polished concrete (paints would not adhere either.) This surface finish is common in stores, restaurants, factories, warehouses, and some garages.
Eyedropper test is recommended to confirm the concrete is absorbent. Get an eyedropper in a drugstore (costs about a quarter).
- Fill an eyedropper with water and add a drop of liquid soap (which breaks surface tension).
- Shake thoroughly.
- Lay a dozen drops in various areas on the floor.
- Observe the behavior of the drops.
If after 10 minutes, the drop is still sitting on the surface or has spread out enough to leave a large damp spot (the size of a quarter or larger), the surface is not porous enough. If the damp spot is the size of a dime, it is porous enough ("Dime is fine!"). NOTE: All areas will not absorb evenly but at least 70 percent of the drops should meet this test.
Opening up a tight surface: Your options include vacuum shot blasting, light sandblasting, grinding, sanding, or acid-etching. You can avoid hazardous acids by using the organic and environment-friendly EasyEtch Concrete Etcher.
The Concrete Must be Dry
The concrete must be thoroughly dry – dry surface is not good enough. The concrete must be dry inside to allow LastiSeal Color penetrate 2 to 4 inches.
Let the concrete dry out for at least two or three days after pressure washing or a rain, depending on temperature, wind, and humidity. Avoid rain for at least a day after the application of LastiSeal.
Good ventilation, fans, or dehumidifiers will speed up drying.
Surface Temperature
The optimal air and surface temperatures for application, as well as of the sealer, is between 65 and 80 °F.
The air and surface temperatures must be above 50 °F during LastiSeal application. The surface temperature should remain above 40 °F for at least 24 hours to allow proper curing. This presents no problem in basements — the ground temperature keeps the concrete surface warm enough.
The surface cannot be too hot. When outdoors, avoid applying LastiSeal on hot surfaces in direct sunlight, which would flash off the sealer before it can penetrate. In sunny weather, apply LastiSeal in the morning while the surface is still cool (but avoid dew) or apply it to shaded areas. Or apply the sealer in late afternoon after the surface gets cooler (but without dew), or simply wait for a cloudy day.
Concrete Alkalinity
New concrete is highly alkalinic (caustic) — its pH factor is over 12 (much higher than the neutral pH of 7). High alkalinity or acidity tends to "burn off" paints or stains. Color pigments stay on the surface and then easily wear or wash off. As concrete cures and reacts with carbon dioxide in the air or is exposed to acid rain outdoors, its alkalinity gradually drops.
If the concrete is less than two or three years old, particularly when indoors, use concrete pH test strips (sold in flooring supplies stores, hardware stores, or online) and test its alkalinity.
The pH of concrete must be below 9 (also required by most concrete paints). If necessary, reduce the pH level by acid washing, then thoroughly wash/rinse with water and re-test. To avoid the hazards of acids, we recommend our EasyEtch Concrete Etcher and pH Reducer.
However, do not to make your concrete too acidic — the pH must be above 6.
APPLICATION
Application Equipment
- pump-up garden sprayer or a low-pressure sprayer (20–30 psi) equipped with a fan-tip nozzle.
- paint roller (1/4" mohair or foam roller) to roll out puddles or to use instead of a sprayer.
Application Procedure
Mask glass, metals, and surfaces that should not be stained. When sprayed on glass, wipe off with a wet rag before it dries or clean it later with Novion Universal Concrete Cleaner. LastiSeal does not harm vegetation.
Spray LastiSeal on in a continuous, thick, glistening film and backroll any puddles with a roller. Spraying is better than rolling particularly on outdoor concrete because it will not leave overlapping roller marks caused by fast drying.
 Click to enlarge! |
When spraying indoors is not practical, you can use a roller. Make sure to deposit a thick enough glistening film like with a sprayer instead of just smudging it on the surface. Maintain a “wet edge” to avoid darker overlap areas. If you must stop during the application, end at a control joint or similar break. If necessary, use blue painters’ tape to create a clean edge and when resuming, tape on the already colored side.
- APPLICATION TIPS:
- LastiSeal may be applied with a brush or sponge to add design features but it must be applied heavy enough to seal the concrete against rainwater.
- Staining walls is more difficult than floors because the sealer tends to run down, resulting in an uneven color. When sealing walls, spraying should be followed with a roller to pick up drips and to even out the color.
Keep Stirring!
Do not thin the sealer or dilute with water – it would negatively affect the resulting seal and color.
Upon opening the container, the Color Sealer may appear not to be the color ordered. The various color pigments settle unevenly. Stir the contents well especially on the bottom and continue to stir until the pigments have been thoroughly dispersed.
Very important – STIR OR SHAKE WELL BEFORE AND DURING APPLICATION! Stir particularly well off the bottom.
Use another container for mixing: Pour off most of the sealer into a clean container. Then, mix the remainder in the bottom of the container using a kitchen wire whisk or similar. When thoroughly mixed, pour the reserved liquid back into the container and mix it more by pouring the sealer back and forth from one container to another.
Keep stirring while applying the sealer. If using a sprayer, keep shaking it.
Number of Applications
Two applications are needed to achieve full intensity of the color and are also necessary to waterproof the concrete or masonry.
NOTE: Allow the first application to dry out for 12 to 24 hours before applying the second application.
There are materials with pores so large that they are practically impossible to waterproof — some lightweight CMUs, splitface blocks, blocks with large pores, and masonry that is severely deteriorated due to extensive water seepage. Three applications of LastiSeal may or it may not waterproof such materials.
Drying time: Treated surfaces are ready for foot traffic in 3 to 5 hours. Allow at least 3 days before vehicular traffic and 5—7 days for heavy vehicles. The sealer fully cures in 1 to 2 weeks.
Coverage
Depends on the porosity of the surface.
About 200 sq. ft./gallon (or 1,000 sq. ft. per pail) for the first application. A lighter second applications next day at about 300–400 sq. ft./gallon.
When sealing standard poured concrete in 2 applications, we estimate 600–700 sq. ft. per 5-gallon pail (120–140 sq. ft. per gallon).
Cleanup
Wash all tools and equipment with soapy water (Dawn dishwashing liquid recommended) right after the application. Any spills may be cleaned with soap and water before they dry. Flush all spray equipment with soapy solution.
Removing the stain or over-spray: If not yet cured, scrub off using a stiff bristle brush and plenty of water. If already cured for couple days, remove the stain with our Novion Universal Concrete Cleaner. Note this will not remove the penetrating sealer from inside the concrete, which will remain waterproof, as well as paintable (except for latex and silicone).
Combination with RadonSeal
For the tightest seal against water, water vapor, and radon gas, seal the concrete first with RadonSeal Deep-Penetrating Concrete Sealer. As RadonSeal reacts, it also reduces the alkalinity (pH level) of concrete. Let cure for at least five days and sweep off any purged minerals or efflorescence. .
Since the concrete is already deep-sealed, it will not absorb as much of LastiSeal and the resulting color will be less intense. Apply just one lighter application (at 300–400 sq. ft./gallon) of LastiSeal Color Sealer.
Confirm that the Stain has Penetrated
While the sealer component usually penetrates deep into the concrete, it is more difficult for the color pigments. This is not a paint and there should be no film left on the surface because it would easily wash or wear off.
When properly applied and cured, LastiSeal stain is difficult to remove. Do the following tests on the samples and three days after the application:
The "wet rag test": Pour on some water, let it sit for several hours and then, scrub the surface with a wet rag. The stain should not come off! If it does, the stain has not penetrated well enough and would wash off easily.
The "fingernail test": There should be no film on the surface. Using a fingernail or similar, confirm that the color does not flake off.
Note that even in case that the color pigments have no absorbed well, the sealer in LastiSeal has likely penetrated and waterproofed the concrete.
Storage
Keep unused sealer in closed containers in protected storage out of direct sunlight at 40–90 °F. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
Avoid freezing, do not store outdoors in freezing weather.
Shelf life – 6 months to 1 year, depending on the color.
Personal protection
Masonry Color Sealer is water-based, non-toxic, nonflammable, non-carcinogenic, and non-hazardous. No hydrocarbon solvents and very low VOCs. No odor. Does not harm vegetation or grass.
Using splash goggles is a good industrial hygiene practice. Gloves will keep the sealer from drying on hands. No other special precautionary measures are normally required.
Good ventilation will remove the evaporating water.
Mask glass, metals, and surfaces that should not be stained. When sprayed on glass, wipe it off with a wet rag before it dries or clean it later with Novion Universal Concrete Cleaner.
SURFACE PROTECTION
Since the sealer is below the surface, it has little impact on surface friction. Water will bead on smooth concrete surfaces.
As the LastiSeal waterproofing component seals deep inside the concrete, it becomes waterproof virtually for its life. However, the color pigments remain close to the surface, where they are exposed to wear and tear, and to the weather. Moreover, if the concrete prep was not quite up to par, LastiSeal will reliably waterproof the concrete but the color pigments will lay shallow in the surface.
Avoid deicers and rocks salts on outdoor surfaces. They are strong enough to "eat away" plain concrete and would gradually remove the LastiSeal color stain from the surface. Unfortunately, vehicle tires will carry road salt on to the driveway.
Snow shoveling and scraping can damage the concrete surface and the LastiSeal stain. Use a shovel with rubber blade.
PROTECTIVE TOP COATING:
A clear coating will "lock in" the color, even if it has not properly penetrated, and help protect it against wear, snow, salts, and UV-rays. It will also add sheen. There are many clear coatings available in stores – acrylic, urethanes, epoxies, and hybrids, water-based or solvent-based. Solvent-based coatings are usually sturdier but just spray it on instead of brushing, which might smudge the color.
Most floor adhesives and paints adhere very well to LastiSeal Color Sealer but not latex paints (they do not bond chemically) or silicone sealers. LastiSeal is a great primer for epoxies and other coatings.
Maintenance – none required. If you wish to clean the surface occasionally, we recommend a weak solution of Dawn dishwashing liquid.
Deep, visible scratches can be easily touched up with the sealer.
Refreshing the color: If the color fades or the surface gets worn after say 5 or 10 years, wash it off with water and mild soap and let dry for 2 or 3 days. Re-spray it lightly with LastiSeal Color Sealer. It will not absorb fast, because the pores still remain filled and sealed.
