Frequently Asked Questions

Q & A Water Based Sealers

What is the difference between water based and solvent based sealers?
A solvent based sealer gives the “wet look” appearance to the color when applied.  The water based sealer gives the appearance of a lighter, dry look.  Solvent based sealers tend to have a long lingering smell, whereas the water based sealers have very little odor.

Can you use SS Cherry Wax on water based sealer?
Yes, but check the manufacturer’s technical data for their recommendations prior to applying any maintenance product.

Can I put solvent based sealer over water based sealer?
No. Solvent based sealers will melt the water base sealer and cause both sealers to fail.

Can I put water based sealer over a solvent based sealer?
Yes.

What product do I use to strip water based sealers?
Soy Gel.

Can I use SS Rainbow over SS EpoSeal?
No, it has nothing to adhere to. It will not penetrate through the SS EpoSeal.

Can you use the SS EpoSeal 20 and SS EpoSeal 38 at the same time?
The SS EpoSeal 20 acts as a stand alone sealer or as a primer to the SS EpoSeal 38.  The SS EpoSeal 38 is not a stand alone product.

Can you get a wet look using Water Based Sealers?
Water based sealers will not deepen the color for that wet look like a solvent based sealer.

How is Water Based Sealer applied?
Rolling or spraying out of an HVLP is the preferred method. Most water based sealers roll out white and dry clear. Refer to the manufacturer’s Tech Data for recommendations.

Q & A Solvent Based Acrylic Sealers

How should I maintain my inside and outside sealed concrete?
Inside it is recommended to use a maintenance wax such as the SS Cherry Wax once every three or four months in your high traffic areas.

Outside sealer can be maintained by occasional washing with mild soap and water, and reseal as needed.

Can I put water based sealer over a solvent based sealer?
Yes, but it is not possible to reverse this procedure.  Check the manufacturer’s tech data for recommendations before mixing sealers that might not be compatible.

How soon after I pour concrete can I seal it?
The solid content of the sealer is going to determine the amount of time to wait before sealing.  The lower the solid content, the sooner you can seal.  Read all manufacturers recommendations and tech data before applying.

If you use our SS Supreme 2500 Plus, which is a cure and seal, you can apply it as soon as you can walk on the concrete.

Why do I have to wait for 28 days to use Supreme 3000?
The SS Supreme 3000 is a 30% solid sealer.  It is not breathable, therefore it will not allow any moisture in the slab to escape.  If applied to early it traps in moisture which will cause the sealer to blush.

How soon after acid staining concrete can I seal?
Once all residues from the acid stain are cleaned off and neutralized (test with a white cloth) and the slab has dried.  24 hours is a good recommendation.

How many coats of sealer can I apply?
Depending on the porosity of your concrete, two or three very thin coats are recommended for most solvent based sealers.  It’s always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s recommendations and tech data before hand.

How do I apply the sealer?
Rolling the sealer with a ¼” or ½ ”, hard plastic core roller is recommended.  Some can be sprayed and back rolled depending on the solid content of the sealer (consult the Tech Data).

Why is my sealer bubbling after I applied it, what can I do now?
More than likely the sealer was applied too thick.  Roll a fine coat of xylene to knock down the bubbles and reapply another thin coat.

My sealer is turning white at the edges.  What’s wrong and how do I fix it?
Sealer turning white is an indication of moisture or efflorescence.  Wipe the edges with xylene and reseal the whole floor.

The sealer is flaking up.  What’s wrong and how do I fix it?
Moisture and contaminants are the primary reason for sealers flaking.  Suggest stripping and resealing.

I have sealed concrete and would like to change the color.  What can I do?
If it was sealed with a low solids, solvent based acrylic sealer, a wash can be applied over the original sealer.  If not, strip and apply a stain and re-seal.

My sealer is dull and scratched.  Do I need to reseal it?
On an interior floor, applying SS Cherry Wax will rejuvenate the shine.

Outside, resealing with the same sealer is the best option.

I can’t get my sealed floor clean.  What should I use?
A mild neutral cleaner and water are sufficient.

What is the difference in the amount of solids in sealer?
A higher solid content sealer is not normally breathable and needs a better profile.  A lower solid sealer is a better penetrator.

Can I acid stain over the sealer?
No, the sealer is actually doing its job by sealing the concrete.  Acid stain will not penetrate through a sealed surface.

How many coats of sealer should I use when I reseal?
A single coat should be sufficient for resealing.  Always apply in thin coats.

Why should I use a solvent based acrylic?
If you want the color to pop, acrylic sealers are the most user friendly product which delivers the most desired look.  They are also the easiest is to reapply.

Q & A Acid Stain

How soon can I acid stain after my concrete has been poured?
The industry standard is to wait 28 days, to allow the slab to cure and for any moisture to escape.

What prep is required before applying acid stain?
It is recommended that SS Surf Prep be applied to a clean surface before using Sedona Acid Stain.

Can I adjust the color of my acid stain if it is too dark or light?
As a rule of thumb you can darken the stain by applying more stain or using a darker color.  To lighten color you can apply Surf Prep which may pull out some color.  We always recommend testing the slab for proper dilution rate before staining.

Why is my concrete coming out orange?
This can happen when the acid stain is applied to early or not diluted enough.  This is called burning the concrete.

What do I dilute the acid stain with if it’s too dark?
Dilute the acid stain with water only.  Several tests are recommended to determine the shade that is desirable.

How much can I dilute the acid stain with water?
Sedona Acid stain can be diluted at 1 to 1 with water for full strength.  Sedona Acid Stain is concentrated and can be diluted with up to 20 parts water for a very light stain.  Making a sample is always recommended.

What happens if I dilute it too much?
It will be too light.  Add more stain to the solution.

What will adding calcium do to the staining of my concrete?
The stain will still take.  The problem comes in when you seal it.  The sealer may entrap the salts and minerals resulting in a blush under the sealer.

How does adding a water proofer affect the stainability of my concrete?
Adding water proofer to the concrete will keep the stain from penetrating and reacting.

If I want to use more than two colors, do I need to clean the first color’s residue first?
Cleaning the residue from the first color is not necessary but sweeping up the residue will help keep the two colors more defined.

How clean does the concrete have to be before I can seal?
Give it what we call the white glove test.  All residue from the stain needs to be cleaned off and dry for 24 hours before sealing.

Can I use all the colors outside?
All colors can be used outside.  However, the blues and greens tend to fade in direct sunlight.

Can I use acid stain on a vertical concrete surface?
You can use acid stain on vertical surfaces.  Keep in mind that the acid stain is not heavy bodied and when applied vertically it will run.  The way around this is to start from the bottom and work your way to the top.

Will acid stain affect other surfaces like wood, metal, stone, concrete blocks?
Yes, Acid stain will stain and corrode any surface.  It is recommended to tape plastic on the wall at least two feet up prior to staining.  For particularly sensitive surfaces such as light colored masonry surfaces where the acid stain could have the potential to wick vertically consider using LesCoat to block the migration of the stain.

Will the wash water stain other areas where it runs off?
Yes the residue is still active.  If the acid is not rinsed then neutralized it will stain other areas.

How long after I rinse can I seal?
A good rule of thumb is to wait about 24 hrs. for the slab to dry.  This also depends on the ambient temp and the porosity of the concrete.

I am getting white areas under my sealer, why?
This could be one of two things or a combination of both.  Either surface moisture is being trapped under the sealer and/or salts and minerals (efflorescence) being forced to the surface by moisture which is in the slab.

I pulled up carpeting and there is glue, paint and nail holes.  Do I need to do anything first?
Remove the paint and mastic because it will prohibit the stain from reacting. We have a number of different products depending upon what you are trying to get up. As for the nail holes, it adds character.  If you can live with them, then leave them. If the nail holes are a problem, fill these with a cementitious patch and do a micro topping over the entire floor.  Otherwise, the patched areas will stain completely different.

There are areas that stained lighter on my floor, why and how do I fix it?
This is due to the finish of the concrete.  The difference in finishing techniques decides how the stain will take.  Open and porous areas will stain darker.  Tight finished areas will stain lighter because the stain cannot penetrate a tightly closed finish.  That is why we recommend using SS Surf Prep prior to staining.

Can I apply acid stain to integral colored concrete?
Yes, but consider the base color of the concrete.  Our color samples are based on gray concrete.  Testing is very important.

Can I apply other coloring products to my acid stained floor?
Only prior to sealing, a number of color options are available to change the color.  Water based stain, and SS DYE-namic can all be applied to acid stains.

I applied my acid stain to my floor and nothing happened, why?
It is possible the finish has been hard troweled.  The stain may not be penetrating the surface.  Chemicals such as; muriatic acid or water proofer could have been applied which will keep the stain from reacting.

Q & A enPOXY

Why should I use enPOXY?
enPOXY is one of the toughest coatings for counter tops. enPOXY has a long lasting shine, very hard surface, chemical and stain resistant.

What is lowest temp that enPOXY should be stored?
enPoxy should be stored at temperatures above freezing.

My epoxy seems to have crystallized. Can I still use it?
Any epoxy subjected to near freezing temperatures or below is subject to crystallization. If heating the container in hot water dissolves the crystals, the product is usable.

What is the shelf life of enPOXY?
enPOXY has a shelf life of one year. Once mixed the enPOXY must be used immediately. Please store at temperatures above 40 degrees.

What is the process for eliminating the white spots under enPOXY?
“white spots” are caused by moisture being trapped under the sealer. The way to eliminate this problem is to wait a minimum of 4 days for the concrete to cure before applying the enPOXY.

What is the process to remove enPOXY?
Some strippers, such as Soy Gel will soften the enPOXY to a point where it can be scraped up. Other removal methods involve sandblasting or grinding.

What is the procedure for removing the bubbles that sometime occur with enPOXY when applied?
First scuff the surface with 120 grit sand paper. Then, run a tack rag over the top to remove any loose particles and dust. Then apply a second coat of enPOXY.

Is using enPOXY dangerous?
No, 100% enPOXY has a minimum amount of solvent in Part B container. This product is an eye irritant but not a skin irritant and has a slight odor. Do not inhale or ingest it.

What precautions do I need to take when applying enPOXY
Follow the instructions on the Tech Data sheet when mixing enPOXY.

How can I minimize air bubbles?
Bubbles come from two sources – from mixing and out gassing form the concrete.  A spiked roller and a heat gun will pop air bubbles. Priming with any sealer prior to applying the enPOXY will help seal off pinholes in the concrete surface.

How can I protect my countertop sealed with enPOXY?
Treat an enPOXY coated countertop as you would any other fine finish – use cutting boards and hot pads.