Frequently Asked Questions

Aqua Shield HD™ is a penetrating sealer based on the latest fluoro-bond nano technology, engineered for all types of surfaces. It penetrates into the pores of the surface rather than sitting on top, so once cured it won't alter the appearance of your tile or paving. It protects against water and oil-based stains by chemically reacting with the surface pores, creating a long-lasting, breathable protective barrier that also makes regular cleaning much easier.

Topical sealers form a physical barrier over the surface, which can create a darkening, yellowing or glossy effect. Surface (topical) sealers usually don't last long, can make floors slippery, and need to be completely removed the next time sealing is required. Salts and efflorescence may also build up under the non-breathable surface, causing the coating to appear cloudy.

Building materials such as natural stone, brick, concrete, tiles and grout are made up of countless invisible capillary pores. This makes them porous and allows them to absorb damaging liquids such as water, water-borne salts and oils, which cause premature deterioration — weathering, loss of strength, efflorescence, salt attack and unsightly staining. Sealing can eliminate or significantly reduce most of these problems.

Yes. Aqua Shield HD™ will not damage any stone, tile or grout surface and is specifically designed for highly polished surfaces as well as denser surfaces such as granite, marble and bluestone.

Yes — that's another major advantage of Aqua Shield HD™. One flood coat is all that's required, unlike many other sealers which need at least two.

Try the water test. Place a tablespoon of water on the surface for 20 minutes, then remove it with a cloth, pressing hard to soak up any water in the texture. If the water is absorbed or leaves a dark mark, the surface needs sealing; if not, it's adequately sealed.

If you have sealed with Aqua Shield HD and maintained your surfaces properly, the sealer should last up to 15 years. Longevity varies with the type of stone, tile or grout, the location and the wear the surface is exposed to.

Clean weekly using a pH-neutral cleaner to remove dirt and grime. Strong acidic or alkaline detergents may affect the sealer; mild, pH-neutral products are strongly recommended.

No. Aqua Shield HD™ doesn't change the slipperiness of the surface, and doesn't cause any darkening, yellowing or visible shine. It's also ideal around swimming pools and other wet areas.

Three main factors set penetrating sealers apart: the carrier, the expected lifetime of the sealer, and the depth of penetration below the surface. A good depth of penetration provides longer-lasting protection against traffic wear and weathering.

No. Aqua Shield HD™ penetrates and bonds to the pore structure of your surface. It is not a surface coating and will not crack, peel, yellow or discolour at any time.

Yes, these calcium-based stone types are porous, leaving them susceptible to acidic
stains. Many food products, such as lemon, wine, tomato sauce and coffee are acidic and
will cause damage.

Water and solvent are only carriers for the active ingredients; once applied, the carrier evaporates and only the active ingredients remain. You should always avoid solvents because of the health and environmental risks. Water-based sealers are easier to apply and contain no toxic chemicals.

We recommend regular cleaning of treated exterior surfaces with pH neutral products.
The long-term good looks of a sealed surface will depend on regular maintenance. Removing
spills immediately, removing marks and routine cleaning of the surface will maintain the look
of your surfaces for longer.

All Aqua Shield HD™ products are non-toxic and safe for use in food-preparation areas.

Since penetrating sealers don't completely fill the surface pores, marks from things like rubber-soled shoes can still discolour the surface. These are surface marks and can usually be cleaned away.

No sealer can prevent all stains all the time. The sooner any spill can be cleaned up the
less likely a stain will result. Acidic spills such as juice, soft drinks or wine can etch and dull
polished stone if not wiped up promptly. Clean your tile and grout regularly so dirt and
stains don't have a chance to build up.

In short, you can’t. Surfaces sealed with penetrating sealers can still mark. To obtain
maintenance a free surface you will need to use an epoxy or polyurethane surface coating or
use a vitreous tile. However, surface coatings do have several significant problems as they
do not breathe and can trap unsightly water vapour under the surface, they also need to be
completely removed when re-coating, are very expensive to install and significantly change
the look of the surface.

Aqua Shield HD™ sealers are some of the best of their type available on the market and are used
daily by hundreds of professional applicators as well as thousands of DIY homeowners.
However, even penetrating sealers have their limits. For instance, our sealers will not stop
sensitive natural stone from etching, so to minimise absorption, spillages should be cleaned
up immediately.

Yes, Aqua Shield HD™ works well on many types of surfaces including those that have pre-existing or old sealer.

Solvent sealers are not recommended for health and safety reasons. They also require
more skills when applying, and surfaces that contain any moisture could result in the surface
turning white and become a costly fix.

Not completely, a sealed stone will not become 'salt safe'. Rather, it becomes far more
resistant to the ingress of salt. Our sealers are the best available and are quite easy to apply,
however, they must be applied correctly. With proper application our sealers can
significantly improve the durability of natural stone in a saltwater environment.

Efflorescence appears as a white deposit of mineral salts and is caused by moisture
ingress. As the moisture enters and moves through the wall or floor, it dissolves mineral
salts. This mineral salt solution eventually finds its way to the surface and as the water
evaporates, it leaves behind a white deposit. On porous construction materials it may
present a cosmetic problem only (primary efflorescence) but can sometimes indicate serious
structural weakness (secondary efflorescence).
To help stop efflorescence, surfaces should be sealed with a high-performance sealer as
soon as practical. By using a deep penetrating, alkaline resistant sealer such as ASHD™, the
surface will be able to withstand the highly alkaline environment found in cement-based
materials. Aqua Shield HD™ is completely breathable so moisture cannot be trapped below the
surface.

Sealing a surface with a penetrating sealer will make the surface stain resistant, but not
dirt resistant. The sealed surface should be cleaned as regularly as other non-sealed
surfaces. If a problematic substance such as sticky tree gum falls on a sealed surface, it can
still be difficult to clean, but should not permanently stain the surface, as it might an
unsealed surface.

There are products available specifically designed to remove efflorescence and fresh
cement grout haze from most types of stone and tile surfaces, including acid sensitive
surfaces. Watermarks appear as white residue once the water has dried consisting of
calcium, fluoride, magnesium, and other minerals, which can also be removed using these
products.

Yes. Aqua Shield HD™ sealers are non-toxic water-based sealers and can be used indoors and
outdoors, with no unpleasant odours or flammability issues.

The market offers many brands with similar claims. Aqua Shield HD™ sealers differ in two important
ways. Firstly, their deeper penetration provides extra protection against weathering, traffic
wear, efflorescence, salt attack and freeze-thaw attack. Secondly, Aqua Shield HD™ has a lifetime of
up to 15 years.

Aqua Shield HD™ can be used immediately after grouting, another unique benefit of the sealer. No delays like many other sealers.

Unfortunately, nothing can stop mother nature however Aqua Shield HD™ sealers will result in the
water beading, and running off the surface rather than soaking in. However, moss, mould
and other biofilms can even grow on glass under the right environmental conditions. Moss
can return as moisture and easily accumulate on top of your tiles or concrete. Sealing won't
prevent moisture being deposited on the brick by fog/mist or dew, especially in relatively
high humidity, therefore sealing will help a lot, but without the right care, growth can still
occur. Sealing the surface with ASHD™ penetrating sealer will significantly reduce the
amount of water penetrating the surface and so greatly reduce the chances of moss &
mould growth.

Yes, but it must be a solvent based sealer otherwise you will have bonding issues.

No, Aqua Shield HD™ seals the pores within the tile or stone surface and will not change the feel,
texture, or colour of the treated surface as Aqua Shield HD™ dries invisible. Aqua Shield HD™ sealers are also
resistant to UV light.

Aqua Shield HD™ will be touch dry after 2 to 4 hours and requires 24 hours to fully cure.