A Safe Alternative to Acid Based Cleaners
Guard Remover® Eco Efflorescence & Cement is a patented new generation cleaner and stripper that uniquely removes cement, concrete, efflorescence and lime from any substrate. It is significantly less hazardous than other acid-based products on the market. It is non corrosive and non irritant. It requires no neutralisation after rinsing with water.
Mineral based staining is chemically removed by breaking strong chemical bonds within the mineral structure. The chemicals required to do this are called reducing agents. The cheapest and most prevalent reducing agents are acids. The problem with acids is they aren’t selective in what they dissolve. This means acids will likely etch the surfaces being cleaned, just as effectively as they remove the targeted staining.
Depending on the type of acid being used and the materials being cleaned, the rate of etching can far exceed the rate of cleaning. The result is a damaged surface and a persistent stain. This is not to mention the EH&S risks associated with the use of acids.
A Better Efflorescence Remover than Acid
Efflorescence is unsightly and damaging to many materials. It is caused when mineral rich water leaches through porous surfaces. The water evaporates and the salts are left behind as a mineral stain or scale. Efflorescence can vary in colour, texture and difficulty to remove depending on the type of minerals present in the salt.
Many friable materials will erode at highly accelerated rates in the presence of efflorescence. This is because as the water evaporates salt crystals form within the surface pores of the material. As they form they can apply internal stresses and cause micro cracks in the substrate material. Crystals then form in these cracks and cause further fractures.
Using harsh acids on such a surface will cause more damage. Strong acids will dissolve more than just the efflorescence. They will dissolve minerals in the substrate that are stable under normal conditions. This adds more minerals into the mix and can cause unexpected side effects. In particular, metal oxides that are dissolved will later precipitate back out in various colours causing unsightly staining.
Guard Remover® Eco Efflorescence Remover is tough on efflorescence but gentle on stone and brick. It’s a safe acid alternative that will remove efflorescence without all the collateral damage.
To stop efflorescence coming back you need to stop water soaking through the material and evaporating off the surface. The best solution is to waterproof the side of the material where the water is coming from. That way the water can’t get into the material in the first place. The second best solution is to use a full penetrating sealer from the ProtectGuard® range so that water only comes through as a water vapour. That way salts don’t make it to the surface.
For badly damaged materials it is recommended to treat with Guard Hardener® WO. This product will not only repel water to prevent further efflorescence formation, but will re-mineralise and consolidate materials so that erosion is slowed. Such a treatment will significantly extend the service life of eroded materials.
Environmentally Responsible
Guard Remover® Eco Efflorescence & Cement was awarded a Laureate award for environmental innovation in concrete cleaning taking out the “2012 i.d. trophy”.
Guard Remover® Eco Efflorescence & Cement is safe to use and safe for the environment. It is a water based product that is non corrosive and non irritant. It is non toxic and has essentially no VOC’s (>1g/l). The surfactants used in this product are biodegradable to 70% within 28 days.
Excellent for Concrete Sealing Preparation
Guard Remover® Eco Efflorescence & Cement removes surface contaminants and thereby increases penetration of sealers, paints and other coatings. It is recommended preparation for most of our sealers, particularly when applied to concrete and cementitious materials.
An Exceptional Coloured Concrete Cleaner
If you are looking for a concrete cleaner to make your coloured concrete pop, then look no further. Guard Remover® Eco will remove laitance and bloom from the surface of the concrete without dissolving any of the mineral oxides. This exposes the full colour potential of the concrete. If the intensity of your concrete is less than you were expecting, cleaning with this product is where you should start.
Cleaning with regular acids will remove the laitance and bloom but will also strip out or dissolve the oxides. This results in washed out colour. Worse still, in many cases the colour will be patchy or weird coloured stains may appear. This is because the dissolved oxide pigments will precipitate back out as the concrete dries if they are not completely washed off.
Still not enough colour? Check out our ProtectGuard® WF Premium wet look sealer. It provides a proper fully wet colour enhancement without making surfaces slippery. It’s completely breathable too, so it won’t discolour, flake or peel like other wet look sealers.
