Guard Hardener® WO 5L

More Than Just a Sealer

Guard Hardener® WO is more than just a sealer. Not only does it produce exceptional water and oil repellency like other products in the ProtectGuard® range. It also hardens and consolidates materials providing increased protection against chemical attack and physical abrasion.

These combination of attributes makes it an ideal treatment for all porous materials that are exposed to harsh conditions. It is perfect for protecting paving around swimming pools, restoring and protecting old stone monuments and for fixing materials that already have visible signs of erosion. 

Crystallising, Consolidating and Hardening Treatment 

Guard Hardener® WO consolidates inorganic, porous, friable materials. It is ideal for restoring old monuments, fountains, facades, statues or any stone or masonry that is showing signs of physical erosion.

Porous materials are susceptible to deterioration from a number of naturally occurring processes:

• Freeze/thaw cycles,
• Etching and attack from acid rain,
• Damage due to salts (crystallisation, hydration and hygroscopy),
• Microcracking from thermal expansion and contraction of the material,
• Modification of the structure of limestone carbonate under the action of CO2-containing water,
• Colonisation of pore structures by organic organisms (algae, moss, lichen etc.),
• Damage from aggressive cleaning and/or graffiti removal chemicals

If left unchecked, degradation will not only continue, but will quickly accelerate. This is because every crack, crevice, and defect creates an opening where these processes can begin to attack deeper and deeper into the substrate.

Guard Hardener® WO penetrates deep into the substrate, replaces lost minerals and rebuilds the mineral crystalline structures destroyed by these processes. This restores the mechanical properties of the material, so that structurally the material is as good as new (or even better).

A Water and Oil Repellent Sealer

Guard Hardener® WO also has exceptional water and oil repellent properties. These provide lasting protection for all porous materials against penetration by water, oil and stains of all kinds. By actively repelling liquids and stains Guard Hardener® WO is able to eliminate many of the contaminants that cause degradation of porous materials. This not only prevents staining to keep them looking good. It also protects them.

Guard Hardener® WO slows the aging of substrates, makes maintenance a breeze and keeps out the main causes of deterioration such as pollution, grease, soiling, water intrusion, moss, algae etc

Guard Hardener® WO will actively repel contaminants for 10 years. The re-mineralising effects are permanent and will continue to provide ongoing protection once the repellency effects dissipate. At this time we highly recommend a new application of product to protect the materials for another 10 years.

Why ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium is a Better Colour Enhancing Sealer

Like all Guard Industry Sealers, ProtectGuard® Wet Finish Premium does not produce a surface film, but penetrates into the surface. This means that the substrate can freely breathe. Any moisture that gets in can evaporate from the surface as water vapour.

In addition, since the colour enhancement has gone deep into the substrate, the wet look will not wear away to create an unsightly contrast in high wear areas. It can only wear away if the surface itself gets worn down. Further, it cannot delaminate, blister or peel.

Since it penetrates into the surface and produces no surface film, it does not make surfaces slippery. As such it is a great colour enhancing sealer for external paths, walk ways and surrounds. It is also a great option for honed concrete around pools. The colour enhancement will hide scratches from course grinds, or even shot blasting. Enabling a very course surface with excellent grip levels that are not normally possible with a colour enhanced look.

Further, the colour enhancement is permanent! This colour enhancing sealer retains it’s enhancing properties throughout it’s service life. It will look as good after a couple of years as it does after a week.

ProtectGuard® Wet Finish Premium is a 98% active product. This means that you get excellent coverage rates, up to 20m2/L on dense surfaces. The remainder is solvent and is required so that the sealer does not set in the container. The solvent used is an eco, non hazardous alcohol based solvent. This wet look sealer contains less than 160g/L total VOC’s and achieves an A+ indoor air quality rating. This makes it safe to use even in enclosed areas.

ProtectGuard® Wet Finish Premium also provides a protection against water, oil and stains. It also provides long-term protection for materials and prevents the principal causes of deterioration such as atmospheric pollution, dirt and grease. It slows down the ageing of the support and makes it easier to maintain.

Preparation

• • Apply the product to a surface that is clean, dust-free, grease-free and above all dry.
  • Mechanical cleaning with a brush or pressure cleaner and/or chemical cleaning may be required to properly clean the surface prior to application.
  • To remove grease stains and traces of pollution use Guard Cleaner® Eco Soiled Floors. For efflorescence, laitance or grout film use Guard Remover® Eco Efflorescence & Cement. To remove Moss and lichens use Guard® Anti-M 24.
  • Rinse carefully until the surface is free of any trace of cleaners.
  • For new concrete allow substrate to stabilise for at least 28 days prior to treatment.

Application

• • Use the product in its pure form: do not dilute it.
  • Shake the packaging well before use and perform a preliminary test to check that the product has correctly penetrated and the appearance after drying.
  • The material must be impregnated up to saturation in two coats with at least 10 minutes between coats.
  • Protected drying: 24 hours.
  • Optimum efficiency reached after 7 days.
  • The treated surface must not be covered with any other types of coating.

Uses

• • Porous materials: natural or reconstituted stone, concrete, terracotta, bricks, etc.
  • Floors, facades, roofs and walls.
  • New or old
  • Internal or external
  • Recommended for pool surround areas, and any materials exposed to salt water or high erosion environments
  • Not recommended for very low porosity materials, unless they are already salt damaged. Use ProtectGuard® MG instead.

Indicative Coverage

• • 0.5-10m2/Litre
  • Coverage will vary depending on the porosity of the surface.

Tools Required

• • Apply using a low pressure sprayer (with Viton seals),  a roller or a brush.
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