when you get a brick surface installed in your home, office, driveway, sidewalk, patio, or balcony, you may think that no more work is required. That installation alone takes a great deal of time and labor, not to mention the expenses, hopefully with an impressive and sturdy result. What more is there to do but enjoy it, appreciate it, and show it off?
However, time wears down all things, and exposure to the elements can help that process along. As durable and solid as brick may be, it is still extremely vulnerable to moisture. The mere presence of any water within even the tiniest cracks and gaps can create all kinds of trouble over time. Your brick surface may look great at the moment, but if you want it to look great for a long time, you have more work to do. Here is some information on the value of the brick sealer and advice on how to use it.
Why is Brick Sealer Important?
You may be wondering how a little water could ever compromise the integrity of a masonry material as tough as a brick. Water is deceptive in its strength. A single drop may not even register on your skin, but a sufficiently intense torrent can press on you and toss you around. Brick can be damaged even more easily because for all its density and tensile strength, the material is porous. If enough water enters and remains, the interior may expand and the exterior may eventually begin to crack or crumble. Corrosion is also possible.
Complicating matters further is the possibility of fungal growth. Mold tends to take root on hard surfaces like a brick when it has a consistent source of water. Though seemingly not as dangerous as water damage, the presence of spores can also weaken the structure. They also pose a health threat to those who smell them or touch them — or eat them, in the case of pets.
Water damage can remove all the benefits that masonry materials offer for a surface. It can jeopardize the integrity, appearance, and longevity of your home, office, patio, and anywhere else where brick may be installed. Thankfully, the problem is preventable, even for surfaces that are outdoors, with high-quality brick sealer. Neither rain clouds nor stray hoses nor any other source of moisture can penetrate the surface if you apply a layer or two. Any water drops that do fall on it may simply bounce off.
Sealing and Waterproofing Walls and Surfaces
If you have brick walls and surfaces in or around your own home, then a brick sealer would be a wise investment. You do not even need to hire someone else to handle it for you. All you need is to purchase a high-quality sealer, a low-pressure sprayer, a little patience, and the right instructions.
Before you can begin, you need to clear and clean the space on which you intend to apply the sealer. After all, an artist cannot commence work on a painting if the canvas is buried in dust. Your surface may be covered in all kinds of contaminants, from dirt and dust to grease and rust and more. All of this debris and gunk can get in the way of your work. Worse, it can block the product from properly sealing the brick. We recommend the Easy Brick Cleaner for the surface.
Once you give those cleaners some time to set in, you have to rinse the surface and rinse it well. This step is where the sprayer, which should be 20 psi at the very most, comes into the fore. It will blast the remaining cleaner and contaminants right off, cleaning the surface and clearing the way. Afterward, you will use the sprayer to cover the surface with a coat of the sealer.
You will know that you have done enough if every 200 square-foot area takes about a gallon of sealer to cover. Once the entire surface is covered, give it some time to dry and get in place. The sealer will bind with the bricks, filling in any cracks and cavities, reinforcing their strength. If you wish to test it, wait until it dries completely, then splash a bit of water over a random spot. If you see what appears to be a bubble, you are good.
Advice for Using Brick Sealer
If you live in a region that experiences chilly days and nights, you should be careful about when you decide to apply the brick sealer. The chemicals in this formula are sensitive to temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and that includes both air and surface temperatures. They may not settle and function nearly as well if they are subjected to the cold.
To prevent any problems and ensure the best possible performance, you may need to wait until spring before applying a layer. In fact, you may want to wait a little longer, until the masonry is between 70 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These are the ideal conditions for applying a brick sealer. Wait for a period between 24 and 36 hours when the temperature is not forecasted to fluctuate outside of those bounds.
This product may not be the only layer you wish to apply to a wall. If you want to paint a brick wall after sealing it, be careful. First, you must give the sealer time to dry and become part of the brick. Then, you must look for a paint product that is compatible with the ingredients of your sealer. Oil-based paint is good with a polyester polymer sealer. So is acrylic paint, as long as it is not vulnerable to moisture.
Protect Your Bricks with Envirosafe Brick Sealer
Here at Envirosafe, we strive to provide high-quality products that can protect both a wide variety of masonry surfaces and the environment. That includes brick sealers like the Trojan Ultra Masonry Sealer and the Trojan Masonry & Concrete Sealer. If you need a product that can penetrate and preserve your brick surfaces, check out our selection right away.
