Under the influence of moisture, many materials can be destroyed, for example, concrete, wood, brick, stone, etc. In order to protect such materials from destruction and extend the service life of the entire structure, special compounds called hydrophobizers were invented.
The principle of operation of the hydrophobizer
The principle of operation of hydrophobizers is that it fills the pores of the material and creates an invisible protective film on the surface, which protects the surface from moisture.
At the same time, an important point is that the surface remains vapor permeable.
What are the advantages of using a hydrophobizer?
In addition to its main function – protection from the destruction of the surface under the influence of moisture, hydrophobizers have a number of other advantages.
Among them:
- Protection of the surface from the effects of alkalis;
- Surface protection from UV rays;
- Increasing the strength characteristics of the surface.
How does moisture destroy natural stone?
Stone is one of the favorite building and decorative materials.
But, like most other building materials, the stone does not tolerate constant contact with water very well. The constant influence of moisture reduces the strength of the material, worsens many technical characteristics and, as a result, the service life of the stone structure becomes shorter.
It is to extend the service life and came up with special compositions that are recommended to cover the stone.
Which hydrophobizer is suitable for natural stone?
There are several types of hydrophobizers behind the main component, but we will talk about a solvent-based hydrophobizer, since it is suitable for protecting natural stone from moisture.
The solvent-based hydrophobizer has a better penetrating ability, thanks to which the material can penetrate into the pores of the stone and create an upper protective layer.
The density of the solvent based hydrophobizer averages 0.8 kg/l, and the consumption ranges from 120 to 200 g/m2, depending on the tool for applying the material. It can be a roller, a brush or a spray gun. For maximum penetration of the hydrophobizer into the stone, the latter is used.
How to apply a hydrophobizer correctly?
The material is applied to natural stone in 2 layers.
The break between them is 4 hours. The surface for application should be clean, smooth and dry.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in applying a hydrophobizer. The main thing is to choose a quality composition.
