Why You Should Choose Our Wet Look Sealer
✔ Protection against water, oil and stains
✔ Intense wet effect that restores the colour
✔ Long-lasting resistance
✔ Can be used on a wide range of materials
✔ Does not form a film, lets the material breathe
✔ High performing product
✔ Delays ageing and makes maintenance easier
Love how your materials look when wet?
ProtectGuard WF Premium is a wet look sealer with a difference! This sealer gives porous and low-porosity surfaces an intense “wet effect”. It provides the same colour enhancement as a wet surface. It is the ideal solution for restoring old faded pavers, reviving them to their original colour.
ProtectGuard Wet Finish Premium is traffic resistant and produces a true, long lasting wet look effect. It also has excellent water, oil and stain repellent properties. It is a full penetrating sealer which is breathable. It won’t alter the natural grip levels of the material and cannot peel or delaminate.
Beware of Cheap Wet Look Sealers
Most wet look sealers on the market are topical solvent (oil) based acrylic. These products do not penetrate into the pores of the substrate but instead form a thick film on the surface. This film is not breathable. Any moisture that gets into the substrate, gets trapped in the pores beneath the film. As such these traditional wet look sealers are not a good option for any external sealing applications.
Moisture trapped by a topical sealer exerts a force to the underside of the sealer film. Areas in direct sun often suffer worse as heat will cause the water to vaporise. It expands in the process and therefore applies much more force to the underside of the film.
Over time these forces can overcome the adhesion of the film to the surface causing delamination. These failures appear as white patches. These stand out in contrast to the rest of the darkened ‘wet look’ surface. The only way to fix this is by stripping off the sealer and starting over.
Further, the colour enhancement of a standard wet-look sealer diminishes over time. A typical solvent acrylic wet-look sealer will look dark for the first week. Within a month the colour depth is about half of what it was. Within six months there is rarely any significant colour enhancement when compared to a non-enhancing sealer.
This is because the wet look is produced by the oil based components of the solvent. Most, if not all, of these components are volatile, meaning they evaporate into the atmosphere. As they migrate out of the substrate and the sealer the colour goes along with them.
Solvent-based acrylic wet-look sealer contains up to 80% xylene and other hazardous volatile hydrocarbons. These compounds are known as volatile organic compounds or VOC’s. These VOC’s evaporate and create a respiratory hazard for applicators, clients and anyone else exposed to them. They are quite pungent and you can easily smell if a solvent-based acrylic has been used.
The majority of these components are released during application and curing. So after a week, which is the average curing time for such products, most of the VOC’s have escaped. However, low levels of VOC’s will continue to leach out of the sealer and the substrate for months to come. These low levels go unnoticed by most homeowners. But if you have pre-existing sensitivities, or have children or pets that will spend a lot of time on the sealed surfaces, there could be ill effects.
A solvent acrylic sealer will make the surface slippery. As such these products should be avoided wherever slipperiness is of concern. Particularly on sloped external footpaths and walkways, or areas where the surface is often wet.
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, walkways and surrounds. It is also a great option for honed concrete around pools. The colour enhancement will hide scratches from coarse grinds, or even shot blasting. Enabling a very coarse surface with excellent grip levels that are not normally possible with a colour enhanced look.
Further, the colour enhancement is long lasting! This colour enhancing sealer retains its enhancing properties throughout its 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.
FAQs
ProtectGuard WF (Wet Finish) Premium is a colour enhancing penetrating sealer. It will make materials look like they do when damp. Whereas most products in the ProtectGuard range do not change the look of materials.
It is designed for porous materials like concrete, stone, brick, and bluestone.
It is not suitable for non-porous surfaces like most ceramic or porcelain tiles (it will only affect grout).
Tip: If the surface darkens evenly when wet, the product will work.
It is a penetrating, water and oil repellent sealer. It prevents liquids from soaking in, creating a beading effect, which helps reduce staining, dirt build-up, and algae growth.
No if the product cannot physically soak into the surface it will not darken it. Therefore existing coating must be completely removed first.
If you are unsure if there is an existing coating you can test by wetting the whole area down with water. If it all darkens and does so evenly then most likely there is no sealer active on the surface. If it does not darken, or some sections don't darken, then there is an existing sealer which would need to be removed first.
When applied properly the finish will be matt because there is no sealer on the surface, it has all soaked in. If there is any gloss you have applied too much product. Wipe off all excess (any gloss) before the coating begins to cure (within 10 minutes).
Over application will make the surface shiny and slippery. It can also reduce the breathability, longevity and performance of the sealer.
Only if it is overapplied.
Independent slip tests have proven that when applied correctly, ProtectGuard WF Premium will not alter the natural grip levels of the surface.
However, overapplication will create a surface film which will be slippery.
- Timber: Yes, but it won’t prevent UV fading of the timber.
- Tiles: Only if porous.
- Loose stone/gravel: Not recommended (high usage and uneven results).
Best applied with cloth, roller, or brush. Spraying is possible but only for trained applicators. Spraying significantly increases the risks of overapplication and getting unwanted overspray on other materials.
Always wipe off excess product before it dries. If you under apply and don't get enough colour enhancement you can always do another light coat if required. That is much easier than trying to strip off excess if you apply too much.
Yes, it can be thinned with up to 20% methylated spirits. Although this may reduce colour enhancement, and can increase product usage on porous surfaces because it will penetrate in further.
Methylated spirits can also be used to soften and remove excess product.
Yes. The surface can be mopped and cleaned as normal. Use a suitable cleaner like Guard Cleaner Eco for best results.
Yes. By repelling water and keeping surfaces drier, it helps reduce algae growth and makes cleaning easier.
- Wait at least 7 days after sealing before grouting
- Wait at least 28 days after cement based grouting before sealing to allow grout to properly cure
Yes, it's very popular for stamped concrete. It enhances the colour to make the concrete appear as it does when wet, bringing out the pattern and detail beautifully. As a full penetrating breathable sealer, it will not trap moisture or delaminate.
Yes. It is breathable so works well on clay.
No, it does not form a surface layer or smooth textures.
For slight surface build and easier cleaning, consider ProtectGuard Plant Based instead.
