It's hard to imagine that anything as small as a drop of water could wreck havoc on something
as solid as a brick and mortar, a piece of stone or a slab of concrete. But constant exposure
to water, and especially to winter's freeze and thaw cycles, can damage or destroy masonry
surfaces in a surprisingly short amount of time.
The answer is to seal the masonry's porous surfaces against the intrusion of water. For most
masonry surfaces - brick, stone or ceramic tile - a masonry sealer is the proper choice. Depending
on the type of masonry sealer, some will also work to seal concrete slabs. The sealer also helps
to protect against buildups of dirt, oil, grease and markings from automobile tires. Masonry sealers
are not intended for use on asphalt, glazed ceramic tile or on wooden surfaces.
Sealers also come in different surface "sheens." depending on the look you want. While all of
them are clear, some types dry to a completely flat sheen and leave the surface looking unsealed.
Other types dry to a glossy "wet" look, and the depth of the gloss increases with each application.
There are also semi-gloss sheens that are in between flat and glossy. The choice of how glossy
you want the finished surface is typically one of personal preference - however, with some types of
sealers the glossier the product is the more abrasion resistant properties it has.
At Laporte, we offer a high grade industrial epoxy and professional installation.
This is not a water base solution that you can purchase from your home improvement
center but a complete masonry solution.