Problem Solvers

Sealer turns white or hazy:

CAUSES

MOISTURE can cause water based acrylics to "blush" when they get wet. This happens when the sealer is applied to a damp surface or when the sealer gets wet from other sources, i.e., rain, heavy dew, sprinklers, ground water, etc. Good water based, exterior grade acrylic formulations have a fairly liberal tolerance to moisture in the substrate. Initially areas on the floor will look hazy, foggy or cloudy, then clear when dry.

ACID residue will also severely affect the performance of water based acrylic sealers, especially while in a liquid state, causing them to streak, turn white and ultimately peel from the surface. Typically this occurs when the floor has been acid rinsed to remove grout haze or smears and the acid was not properly neutralized before sealer is applied. Upon contact, the water in the sealer reactivates the dried acid residue, which attacks and destroys the sealer. Sealer damaged by acid residue must be stripped and resealed.

Solvent based acrylics, unlike water based acrylics, have a very low tolerance to moisture in the surface to which they are applied. They will turn white when applied to wet surfaces, or when moisture comes up from underneath, but may not clear on their own. When correctly applied to a dry surface and allowed to properly cure, solvent based acrylics are usually unaffected by rain or sprinklers, which makes them useful as a topcoat remedy for blushing water based acrylics.

REMEDIES & PREVENTION

Avoid using water based acrylics in low lying areas, areas subject to frequent standing water, ground water, hydro-static pressure or around swimming pools. Take a "wait and see" approach before attempting to strip. The floor will usually show significant improvement after the water has evaporated and the sealer has dried. This could take several days. Also, the sealer is soft while in this state and can easily be damaged. So avoid walking on the floor, if possible, until corrected. Strip the tiles that don't clear and reseal with RoVal Sealer 1044. To stop water based acrylics from blushing, try topcoating the sealer with RoVal Sealer 1088 cut four parts sealer to one part Xylene solvent. The solvent based sealer will have a "clearing" effect and may show significant improvement.
Caution: you must wait until floor & sealer is completely dry before attempting this procedure. This is not a text book method, but has proven successful in many field applications.

Pay particular attention to grout clean up procedures and avoid using acid of any kind. Chemically neutralize all acid residue, before applying sealer, by rinsing floor with a solution of one cup RoVal NuClean Concentrate mixed with one gallon clean water. Baking Soda and water will work, but can leave a powdery residue on the floor that has to be removed before sealer can be applied. Note: Water rinsing may not completely neutralize acid. Water based acrylic sealers that have been damaged by acid must be stripped and resealed.

RoVal impregnators or penetrating seals will not turn white or peel when exposed to moisture, making them ideal for use in areas prone to damp conditions.

Phone:  813.988.4910
Fax:  813.988-4840

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