Easy to Clean Surfaces with Protectosil®
Application
Surface Preparation
The facade to be treated must be clean surface-dry. Dirt, grime, efflorescence, algae and moss must be removed. Water absorbed during cleaning must be allowed to dry so that the surface is dry before application begins. Imperfections such as cracks, cracked joints or defective seams must be repaired using appropriate methods. Mortar used for repairs must be fully cured and surface dry.
Do not apply the product in rain or strong winds.
Due to the water content, the treatment solution is susceptible to freezing and must not be used at temperatures under 0 °C.
Adjoining areas such as windows, glass, painted surfaces, surfaces to be painted, plants and landscaping should be protected with plastic from overspray. In case of accidental contamination the resulting film can be removed with standard cleaners, silicone removers, mineral spirits or solvents if applied immediately before it hardens.
Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE reacts with the interface of the mineral substrate’s pores and capillaries to form invisible, hydrophobic interface-compounds. Since previous building material treatments may not be known, a small Protectosil® SC test patch is recommended to avoid any undesired side effects.
Diluting Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE
We recommend diluting Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE with water to achieve an easy-to-clean treatment for mineral-based substrates. (In some areas, solutions of Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE may be available pre-diluted and ready-to-use, please check with your local dealer.)
The exact dilution and the amount of dilute solution required depend on the absorbency of the substrate to be treated, and also if the surface has already been treated with a penetrating water repellent (e.g. Protectosil® BHN oder Protectosil® WS 405). In general a mixture of one part Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE to 2 to 14 parts water is recommended. Porous, absorbent substrates can require more than 300 ml ready-to-use solution per square meter. The optimum dilution and exact amount of dilute solution required should be determined by testing. In some cases (tiles and natural stone) Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE is applied undiluted.
The recommended application method is with HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) equipment. Product application using airless sprayers (low pressure, so-called “flooding” method) is also possible if the substrate is sufficiently absorbent. The ready-to-use solution (a dilution of 1 part Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE to 2 to 14 parts water) is best applied starting from the bottom and going up the wall. This avoids pretreating the substrate with runoff from above. Avoid using dirty application equipment, which can contaminate the product.
Less absorbent substrates should not be treated with highly dilute solutions of Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE. We recommend treating smooth stone surfaces by polishing with undiluted Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE.
Consumption Rate and Number of Treatments
If a solution of Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE is applied by the flooding method, the amount of solution required is dependent on the porosity and the absorbency of the substrate combined. Exact values should be determined using test patches.
The amount of product used can be greatly reduced by using HVLP equipment. As a rule 80 – 120 ml/m2 are required in the first step. The easy-to-clean effect may be in many cases (especially on very coarse and very porous substrates) be enhanced by additional treatments. Especially in the case of very coarse and very porous materials we recommend more than one treatment. The amount of product required for the second and all subsequent treatments is considerably less. Additional treatments should be performed using HVLP technology; the resulting droplets must be rubbed in quickly using a brush or swab to distribute the liquid evenly across the surface.
In most cases the hydro- and oleophobic effect forms within just a few minutes (especially in warm, dry weather). Some substrates, such as limestone, are less reactive. In such cases the efficacy may take some days to develop fully. The application should be continuous and uninterrupted so that no overlapping occurs. The aqueous solution of Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE cannot penetrate a previously treated section. The resulting droplets can cause mottling if not rubbed in with a brush.
A single treatment is usually sufficient for polished stone and glazed tiles. In this case simply apply undiluted Protectosil® SC CONCENTRATE with a cloth, microfiber glove, or other suitable aid until a liquid film is no longer visible. Significantly less product is required for polished surfaces compared to rough ones.
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