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Concrete Brick
Cleaning - Problem Solving - Protection - Care
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There is no need for confusion or problems brought about by misidentification of a surface type, yet it happens all too often. If you would like to see why this is the case and how to properly identify a surfacing material .....
Click here
If you are concerned about doing it yourself - consider that the satisfaction of a project is directly related to your knowledge of what needs to be done and how. Who actually does the work is less important. We estimate that 25% of the usage of Aldon products is by "do it yourself" homeowners and we know they are happy because we hear from them.
| MATERIAL DESCRIPTION - With Identifying Characteristics
- Finishes vary greatly - smooth, stone pattern, sandblasted, etc.
- Approx. 2 1/4 inch. high
- Brick are either wet cast or dry vibration packed.
- The concrete is anything from regular aggregate concrete to various mixtures of light weight aggregates.
- Usually colored with iron oxide pigment at the surface, or throughout the mixture.
- How do you know if the brick is concrete or clay? Concrete will fizz from a drop of swimming pool acid. Clay will not.
- Some batches of this surfacing can be very absorbent and will tend to soak up a lot of sealer if you just keep pouring it on. Too decrease the amount of sealer required - click
here
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ADVANTAGES TO THIS MATERIAL
- Great variety of colors and shapes allow for a wide spectrum of creative design.
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CONSIDERATIONS (All Are Preventable!)
(Click links for Aldon's solutions to these issues!)
- Removing grout residue with acidic cleaners is risky for concrete surfaces. Do not use a sealer as a grout barrier (
pre-seal). Prevent grout smears, surface scratching and keep grout residue out of any surface texture characteristics by coating with Aldon "Grout Easy" before grouting. "Grout Easy" is a water soluble coating that comes off easily while grout is being cleaned up with water and a sponge. It also prevents grout trapping in the texture.
- Efflorescence (subsurface originating white powdery stains) and scuffing can occur. However, this is
easily cleaned.
- Colors can "fade". Actually the iron oxide pigments used in concrete products do not fade. Nor do the colored clays in clay products. The appearance of fading is actually from light efflorescence and
can be stopped by sealing with the appropriate Aldon sealer.
- All concrete products are subject to damage from acids. However, the appropriate Aldon sealer prevents this.
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Following are recommendations for products you may need (in sequence of use ) for whichever of the categories applies to you. Please review each and mark your printed
worksheet accordingly.
Layed, But Not Grouted
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 Grout Easy
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 Efflorescence Treatment
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 Grout Residue
Remover
(should not be needed after using Grout Easy)
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Grouted, But Not Sealed
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Grout Residue
Remover
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Efflorescence Treatment
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.............Sealer ( see below )
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 Lifeguard
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Care ...........
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Sealer Has Been Applied
Important! - First -
Click here!
 Premium Stripper- ...........Cleaners ?
- ...........Sealer ( see below )
- Lifeguard
- Care ..........
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Protection:
Use the Aldon  for "Concrete: Block - Pavers - Slabs" to pick the appropriate sealer for the desired finished appearance.
An Aldon sealer does far more than just bead water and look pretty! To see what that is -
click here.
Your results may vary somewhat from these pictures due to variations in computer display and the surface materials themselves. Nevertheless, you will be able to see the differences well enough to make good choices.
Different areas of the same piece are used as much as possible to minimize raw material variations.
Of all the sealers Aldon manufactures, the ones shown are recommended as best suited to this surface type.
(Important: If your project has had any sealer applied in the past, it must be evaluated differently. To see why,
Click here!)
* Note: will add another level of gloss to any of the above sealed surfaces.
It also prevents traffic wear to the sealers finish.
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