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sealer whitening
jarolonm	11-28-2009 14:26:35
Member Posts: 27 Joined: 07-16-2009	Hi, Recently we aplied Surecrete Spray Tex in Terracota integral color.The job was fantastic and the customer was very satisfied.We used Sureseal solvent sealer and in 2 days the half of the floor was white.I think the floor has a terrible moisture problem.How can i solve this problem without afecting the initial look of the floor? THANKS JOSE

Lindy A.	11-30-2009 09:21:29
Member Posts: 3368 Joined: 05-11-2009	When sealer was applied and dry it appeared it was clear right; but, then after 2 days it took on a whitish cast? How many coats did you apply; at what temperature did you apply them (ambient/air and substrate/surface temperature)? Your whitish problem is probably due to excess MVER (moisture vapor emission rate) ... did you test the surface prior to application to be sure that MVER did not exceed 3 lbs per 1000 sq.ft. (using calcium chloride test kit or moisture meter)? Is it cold were you are located? If the room is warm, but the concrete substrate is cold, it sets up conditions for the drawing of vapors within the slab up/out, that enters into the sealer; however, vapor permeable sealers will usually clear back out once substrate and room temperature acclimate to each other (vapors will rise, pass through, escape). I'm assuming since you said "floor" it is an interior surface; is it possible that your overlayment (done in a texture) had not dried/cured completely before sealing and the moisture that brought about whitish cast was being emitted from it ... how long did you allow the substrate to dry before applying the textured overlayment material, and under what conditions (circulating air, warmth, etc.), after initial surface prep/cleaning? Although I am am overly safety conscious on interior surfaces, as well as try to steer clear as to the application of flammable/hazardous sealers containing solvent on interior/closed air environments; there are those that do so quite successfully professionally (exercising caution and heeding all safety/application guidelines). When these random whitish problems occur, many mist the floor with xylene to release the vapor, with the result being the sealer will clear back out. Personally, when I did use solvent based sealers, I used to use a heat gun to clear sealer back out, so long as the sealer had cured completely and ANY/ALL solvent fumes in the area were LONG GONE ... waving it back and forth, about 18" from the surface, to release the trapped vapor/moisture in the sealer to clear them back out (BUT AGAIN, never do this if there could be ANY solvent fumes remaining in the area); this method will not subject homeowners to fumes/hazards of misting the whitish sealer surface with xylene in attempt to clear them back out). If you do have a true case of excessive MVER, it will be an ongoing problem; or, one that is more seasonal in nature. Question ... when you say the sealer whited out on only 1/2 the floor, what's different about that 1/2? Is it on a side of the house where more moisture could be wicking in due to inadequate drainage away from the slab? (If so, a french drain on outside perimeter wall or redirecting the run off away from the slab in another way may alleviate the problem. If this floor all one slab, or was it two slabs poured at different times (such as a room addition; perhaps 1/2 has a moisture barrier beneath the slab and the other one didn't). If you can't get the sealer to clear back out you may have to remove the sealer, apply a moisture vapor treatment product, then apply compatible sealer over it. Lindy A.

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