Sovereign Isle

Surface Type: Schist | Product Used: Premium Impregnating Sealer| Completed: 2009

Applicator: Australia Blue Pty Ltd. | Phone: 0414 858 185 | Email: johrina@australiablue.net

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THE PROJECT:

After only two years, the unsealed New-Zealand schist stone showed extensive yellow-brown patches of oxidation (rust) and white patches of salt- efflorescence. Both conditions were caused by water being able to move freely through the material. Water carries dissolved minerals which can be deposited on the surface when the water evaporates. If the stone contains metal oxide deposits (as in this case) the water speeds up oxidization of these deposits, causing the rapid appearance of rust stains. The owners wanted the staining and salt deposits removed, but were also looking for long term protection to help prevent these problems from quickly returning.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Common penetrating sealers help to prevent water entering from the exposed areas of the wall, but are unable to penetrate such dense stone and create a water-repellent barrier inside the stone. So, water entering the stone from the ground underneath could still travel right through the interior of the wall up to the visible areas. The only way to help prevent this is to use a treatment which is able to penetrate the stone deeply and create a substantial water repellent barrier.

THE STAIN-PROOF^® SOLUTION:

STAIN-PROOF’s impregnating sealers are technologically different from common impregnators. STAIN-PROOF Premium Impregnating Sealer, formerly known as STAIN-PROOF Original™, has specially engineered molecules that are hundreds of times smaller and are designed to migrate deep into even very dense stone. The special sealing molecules also bond permanently by chemical reaction to become a permanent part of the molecular structure of the stone. This creates a substantial liquid repellent barrier which keeps water and damaging salts well away from the visible surface of the stone.

Premium Impregnating Sealer is also fully breathable, so water which is absorbed from the earth underneath the wall can still evaporate and escape freely as water vapour. Australia Blue Pty Ltd specialist deep pore cleansing expertise was able to remove the existing staining, after which they applied 2 coats of Premium Impregnating Sealer. By creating a deep dry barrier, Premium Impregnating Sealer will continue to protect against future salt efflorescence, and dramatically slow down oxidization of the metal deposits in the stone. The presence of air (oxygen) will still cause oxidization, but without the presence of water this process will be dramatically slowed, taking many years instead of mere months to occur.