[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: bad luck with green concrete sealers

[Lawrence Lile]

Well, to the best of my knowledge we used proper techniques.  The
concrete was about 7 months old when we applied it, and the supplier
told us to check PH levels, which we did in several places, and clean it
thoroughly with mild soap which we also did, and rinse off the soap
which we did as well.  

  Yes, the play was quite good, despite some difficulties with a Mr.
Boothe during the second act.  


 
 
Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Winston [mailto:keith at earthsunenergy.com] 
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 9:40 AM
To: Lawrence Lile
Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] bad luck with green concrete sealers
Importance: Low

Wow, that's impressively bad. You're "plus side" is like a joke -- 
besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Are you sure the concrete was sufficiently cured? Maybe it was too 
green? Or, alternatively, too cured? Or a funny admixture? I'm not 
trying to plug the product at all, but it seems weird that it could suck

that badly.

Keith


Lawrence Lile wrote:
> Well here is the verdict so far on Green Building Supply Gloss
Penetrating Concrete sealer, A.K.A. envirosafe trojan ultra sealer
>
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>  
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> http://www.envirosafemfg.com/trojan_ultra.htm
<http://www.envirosafemfg.com/trojan_ultra.htm > 
>
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>
> http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/utility/showArticle/?objectID=413
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> This was used on stained concrete, or the colored sealer version was
used directly on bare concrete. 
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> On the plus side, it is definitely low odor and fast drying.  I could
walk on it with socks on after ten minutes.  But the minuses are not too
attractive:
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>
> 1.  The sealer, despite being applied properly after thorough cleaing
and measuring PH of the floor, is not adhering well and chips off easily
if an object is dropped on the floor.  It scratches easily.  It seems to
be a very fragile finish.  
>
>  
>
> 2. The sealer doesn't seal.  Water does not bead up on it, but soaks
in.  Stains soak in as well. 
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> 3. It is matte finish, not glossy at all.  
>
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> 4. After some discussions with the manufacturer, he recommended
topcoating it with a water-based acrylic sealer.  This extra coat
actually achieved the things a gloss sealer was supposed to do -  adds
gloss and water does bead up, stains can be washed off.   This leaves me
wondering why I didn't just go buy a jug of water based acrylic from the
local hardware store in the first place.  
>
>  
>
> 5.  Stains cannot be cleaned off of it.  A drop or two of latex paint
soaks in, and the entire layer of sealer has to be removed to remove the
paint. Same luck with any other spill - food, etc.  Recoating it makes
another mess.  There are several spots where latex paint was spilled,
and I have a choice of either living with a glaring white spot or
scrubbing up the finish.  The manufacturer recommended carefully
brushing the latex with a cue-tip, which didn't really accomplish
anything.  
>
>  
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> 6. The finish continues to be water soluble, although it was applied
two months ago.  Alcohol will dissolve it as well.  There isn't anything
you can clean it with, that I can see, that doesn't dissolve the finish.

>
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> 7. The colored versions were very hard to apply evenly - if they pool,
they color the floor much more intensely.  Even using a roller, I found
it very difficult to apply an even layer.  Backrolling would sometimes
turn it cloudy.  
>
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>
> All in all, I am quite unhappy that I used this product and would not
recommend it at all.  
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> Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP
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-- 
Keith Winston
Earth Sun Energy Systems
Hyattsville, MD 20781
301-980-6325
send me mail at 
keith at the company below
www.EarthSunEnergy.com