Actichem Stone Sealer Pro 5L

Product Overview

Actichem Stone Sealer Pro is a premium water-based penetrating sealer for porous stone, masonry and clay products. It uses high-grade fluorochemical polymers carried on penetrants that draw the protection into the substrate rather than leaving a film on top of it.

The result is a surface that repels both water-borne and oil-borne contaminants while still looking and behaving like bare stone. It does not gloss, it does not darken, and because it is vapour permeable it does not trap moisture in the substrate — which matters a great deal on external paving, sandstone and anything laid over a slab.

It is genuinely non-hazardous. Actichem's safety data sheet classifies it as a non-hazardous chemical and non-dangerous goods, with no signal word, no hazard statements and no Poisons Schedule. That is unusual in this range and it is one of the reasons this product is easy to specify for occupied buildings.

Product code AP172. Also listed in this catalogue under its earlier name, Tile & Grout Sealer Pro.

Why Professionals Choose It

• Dual protection. Fluorochemical chemistry repels water-borne and oil-borne contamination — food and beverage staining, oil and grease, biological growth such as mould and mildew, efflorescence, pollution and weathering. Most cheaper sealers handle water only.
• Penetrating, not film-forming. The protection sits inside the pore structure. There is no coating to scuff, peel, flake or go milky underfoot, and no annual strip-and-recoat cycle.
• Natural appearance. It will not discolour or alter the natural look of recommended substrates. Where a client wants the stone to still look like stone, this is the correct product.
• Vapour permeable. It does not hinder the natural passage of water vapour, so trapped moisture cannot build up behind the sealer and cause spalling or delamination.
• UV stable. Suitable for exterior as well as interior work.
• Independently tested. Performance tested by a NATA-accredited laboratory, and meets the VOC requirements of Green Building Council of Australia Green Star Office Design v3 IEQ-13 — which is what allows it to be specified on Green Star projects.
• Non-hazardous and water based — usable in occupied premises without the solvent management that a solvent-borne sealer demands.

Recommended Substrates

Formulated for medium to high porosity fine stone, clay and cement products.

• Marble, limestone and travertine
• Sandstone and bluestone
• Granite
• Cement and clay pavers
• Terracotta, Saltillo and quarry tile
• Slate
• Concrete and masonry

Suitable for interior and exterior applications — fine stone flooring and walls, outdoor sandstone features, patios, walkways, and concrete and clay paving.

Where it is not the right product

• Dense, low-porosity surfaces. A penetrating sealer needs somewhere to penetrate. Fully vitrified porcelain and polished granite absorb very little, so coverage will be high and the benefit small.
• Where the client wants a wet look or a gloss. This sealer deliberately does not change the appearance. If enhancement is the brief, this is the wrong product.
• Over an existing coating or wax. A penetrating sealer cannot penetrate through a film. Strip first.

How to Use

Read and understand the safety data sheet before use. Always pre-test in an inconspicuous area, including for appearance, before sealing a whole floor.

Preparation

The surface must be clean, free of coatings, wax, sealer residue, efflorescence and grout haze, and thoroughly dry. Sealing over contamination locks it in permanently. Where wax or coating removal is needed, Tile & Grout Cream is the stripping product — allow the surface to dry completely afterwards and confirm no solvent residue remains.

Application

1. Apply ready to use. Do not dilute.
2. Saturate the surface using a polish applicator, roller or low-pressure sprayer. Apply one to three coats depending on porosity.
3. Keep the surface visibly wet for at least one minute so the penetrants can carry the fluoropolymer into the pore structure.
4. Allow 5 to 10 minutes absorption, then move excess product across the surface with a squeegee to even it out.
5. Wait 20 to 30 minutes between coats.
6. Wipe off residue after 10 minutes with absorbent toweling. Do not allow excess to dry on the surface.

Curing

• Keep off foot traffic for 12 hours.
• Keep the surface dry for 24 hours.
• Full cure in 24 to 48 hours.

Plan the job around those numbers. A sealer rained on or walked over at six hours will not perform as tested.

Coverage

• Highly porous substrates: approximately 5 – 10 m² per litre
• Dense substrates: approximately 10 – 20 m² per litre

Coverage varies widely with porosity, surface texture and application method. Estimate from a test area on the actual substrate rather than from the figures above.

Expected Life and Maintenance

Actichem currently states protection of up to 7 years. Carpet Cleaners Warehouse has published a figure of up to 5 years for this product for some time, and we are seeking clarification from Actichem on which figure applies to the current formulation. In the meantime, the practical guidance below is what we would give a contractor over the counter.

• Plan on re-sealing every 2 to 3 years where harsh conditions exist — external exposure, high traffic, wet areas, commercial kitchens.
• Application method, weather at time of application, traffic, cleaning regime and stone type all affect wear. Two identical floors sealed on the same day can wear very differently.
• Avoid solvents, strong acids and strong alkalis on a sealed surface. Nothing shortens sealer life faster than aggressive routine cleaning.
• Clean with a neutral product. Actichem ProNeutro is the recommended maintenance cleaner. Stone Soap is also suitable for routine work on sealed stone.

A simple field test for whether re-sealing is due: drop water on the surface in several places. If it beads and sits, the sealer is working. If it darkens the stone and soaks in within a minute, it is time to re-seal.

Safety Information

Actichem's safety data sheet, version 2.1 issued 26 April 2021, classifies Stone Sealer Pro as a non-hazardous chemical and non-dangerous goods. There is no signal word, no hazard statement, no Poisons Schedule and no dangerous goods classification. Engineering controls are not required.

Two points are still worth knowing.

• In a fire, decomposition products include hydrogen fluoride. This follows from the fluorochemical polymer content and is stated in the safety data sheet. It is not a use hazard, but it is relevant to how you store bulk quantities and it is worth knowing if you are ever asked by a building manager or a fire safety consultant.
• The surface will be slippery while wet during application. Barricade the area.

This safety data sheet was issued in 2021 and is the oldest current sheet in Actichem's range. We have asked Actichem to confirm whether a more recent revision exists.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Sealing a surface that is not properly dry. This is the most common cause of a failed seal. Residual moisture blocks penetration and can produce a patchy result that is difficult to correct.
• Sealing over grout haze or efflorescence. You will lock it in. Deal with it first.
• Letting excess dry on the surface. Wipe residue after 10 minutes. Dried excess on a low-porosity area can leave a visible sheen or a white bloom.
• Under-applying to save product. A penetrating sealer only protects what it reaches. A thin single coat on high-porosity terracotta is close to no protection at all.
• Returning traffic too early. Twelve hours for foot traffic, 24 hours dry, 24 to 48 hours full cure.
• Maintaining a sealed floor with a strong alkaline or acidic cleaner. It will strip years off the sealer.

Technical Specifications

Actichem's safety data sheet does not publish a numerical VOC figure. We have asked for it, since Green Star documentation often requires the measured value rather than a compliance statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it change the look of the stone?

No. Stone Sealer Pro is formulated not to discolour or alter the natural appearance of recommended substrates. If you want a wet-look or colour-enhancing result, you need an enhancing sealer, not this one. Pre-test on the actual stone regardless — some very porous, very light materials can take up a slight tone from any sealer.

How many coats do I need?

One to three, depending on porosity. The surface tells you: keep applying while the substrate is still drinking it in, stop when it stays wet on the surface. Highly porous terracotta and sandstone typically need two to three; dense bluestone and granite typically one.

Can I use it on a shower or wet area?

Yes. It is vapour permeable, which is important in a wet area — a film-forming sealer over a wet-area substrate can trap moisture behind it. Note that a penetrating sealer resists staining; it is not a waterproofing membrane and does not replace one.

Is it slippery?

Because it penetrates rather than forming a film, it does not add a slip layer of its own the way a coating sealer can. It will not restore or improve slip resistance either. The surface will be slippery while wet during application — barricade it.

Does it stop mould on external paving?

It resists biological growth by making the surface repellent and reducing the moisture and contamination that growth needs. It is not a biocide and does not kill existing growth. Clean the surface properly first.

Can I apply it in the sun or on a hot day?

Avoid it. On a hot substrate the carrier flashes off before the fluoropolymer is drawn in, which gives poor penetration and a surface residue that is hard to remove. Work in the shade, early or late, and on a substrate that is not hot to the touch.

What do I clean a sealed floor with?

A neutral cleaner. Actichem ProNeutro is the recommended maintenance product, and Stone Soap is suitable for routine work. Avoid solvents, strong acids and strong alkalis — they will shorten sealer life considerably.

Why does this product appear under two names?

Actichem previously marketed AP172 as Tile & Grout Sealer Pro and now markets it as Stone Sealer Pro. It is the same product code and the same formulation. Older safety data sheets and technical literature carry the earlier name.

Related Products

• Actichem ProNeutro — the recommended neutral maintenance cleaner for sealed surfaces. Using it is the single biggest thing a client can do to make the seal last.
• Actichem Stone Soap — routine cleaning of sealed natural stone.
• Actichem Tile & Grout Cream — the stripping product for wax, coatings and grout haze before sealing. Classified DANGER — read that page before use.
• Actichem Pre-Seal — surface preparation ahead of sealing.
• Actichem Instaseal — the alternative where a different sealing approach suits the substrate.

Stone Sealer Pro replaces PowerClean Sealer Pro in this catalogue.

Summary

Stone Sealer Pro is the sealer to specify when the brief is long-term stain protection with no change to the appearance of the stone, on a job where solvent management would be a problem. It is water based, non-hazardous, vapour permeable, UV stable, NATA performance tested and Green Star compliant on VOC — a combination that is hard to find in a sealer that also repels oil.

The result depends almost entirely on preparation and cure time. A clean, dry, fully stripped substrate, enough product to properly saturate the pore structure, excess wiped back, and the full 24 to 48 hours to cure will give years of service. Anything less will not, regardless of how good the chemistry is.

Safety Data Sheet

Actichem Stone Sealer Pro (T&G Sealer Pro) Safety Data Sheet — version 2.1, issued 26 April 2021

SKU: AP172.05

Not sure whether a penetrating sealer or an enhancing sealer suits the stone in front of you, or how much product the job will take? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before you order. Getting the sealer choice right the first time is far cheaper than stripping a floor that has been sealed with the wrong product.