Step by Step Tips for Sampling and Testing Aldon Products

  • Read the label on the web site (aldonchem.com)
    • Click on the product information page Aldon Products .
    • Click on the product about to be tested.
    • Go 2/3 down the page to the reproduction of the product label.
    • Read the application instructions and review the description of the goals of the application process (i.e. deep penetration, flow to a film, etc).  Note that this is for the project itself and is not necessarily for the sample testing. 
    • Just above the label you will find this button:   .  This is the first place to go if your testing has unexpected results.  Even before testing, this page can give you some potentially important tips because it is an accumulation of the surprises experienced by others since 1984.

  • Read the label on the sample bottle for tips on the application of a small sample.  This is many times different than for the full project.
    • You are applying 1/2 of the sample bottle.
    • You are applying only to a small 3 inch x 3 inch spot, not the full surface of a piece of the surfacing material.  That is all that is required to evaluate the performance of any Aldon product.
    • The remaining 1/2 of the bottle is if you do not see the expected results and need to test again after contacting us per the emails you have received from us.   Or, better and much faster is to go here http://www.aldonchem.com/form-product-concern.htm and give us the information that we will need in any case before we can assist.  This form will quickly accumulate the data that you may not think is important, but we know that it is very important.

  • Remember, as you look at the results of your first test:
    • Every product does exactly what we describe.
    • You natural reaction if you do not see the expected results is that the product did not work.  This is not true.   It works!  The results only mean the conditions are different than you thought and this is the ideal time to find out.  You just saved considerable time and money and work.
    • Now, if the results have not shown you what to look for (usually the unexpected does give you common sense clues), click the link above and we will assist you very quickly.
      • An example of unexpected results is when an existing floor or wall has an old sealer/waterproofer below the surface and nobody knew about it.  Once you know this, you know how to approach the project differently.

If the results you see do not tell you what you need to do next, go here to give us all the information we will need to assist you: http://www.aldonchem.com/form-product-concern.htm  .

Other tips for applying samples:

  • No tools are normally needed for applying samples.  Just pour it on and let the surface determine what happens.
  • Let the liquid flow naturally and don't pull it out to a thin coating.  Just move puddles if needed.
  • For surfaces with high and low spots - liquid will run from high to low of course.  Use some convenient tool to move from low areas so you do not have pooling.  On the full project you will accomplish this with the larger suggested tool. Although solvents will melt plastic, for a quick push to move any of the liquid products around, a plastic or paper drinking straw can be bent to a convenient shape and works well.  Be sure that straw never goes in a mouth and is immediately thrown away.

You have already read the label on the product's page on the web site and have a good idea of what to expect.  Here are some of the effects to consider after reading label on sample bottle and before testing on a 3" x 3" area. 

  • "Grout Residue Remover" will "fizz" on contact with grout, marble/limestone, concrete.  No fizzing means it is something else or is covered by a sealer type coating.
  • "Efflorescence Treatment" will create a temporary darkening the lightens up over time to be just a little darker than before use.
  • SBS Sealer, Porous Stone Sealer, Mexiglaze will permanently enhance colors of most, but not all, surfaces.  This is similar to how it looks from water.  They will also build to some gloss depending on the absorption rate of the surfacing.  Same Day Sealer and Fine Stone Sealer do not enhance colors or build gloss.
  • Crystal Glaze Sealer penetrates a little bit, but is a film former that flows out and self-levels to a higher gloss.
  • Lifeguard and Tile Cover protectors are not sealers.  They are flow out film formers that self-level and protect from traffic wear of sealers.
  • "Penetrating type Sealers" - beading water shows a sealer is present, but may not be the indicator of a good deep penetrating bond.
  • Do not judge sealer effectiveness by any color change. Water drop tests before and after each sealer application show evenness of absorption and effect of sealer. 
  • "Premium Stripper".  A thicker tougher sealer may require longer dwell time of multiple heavy applications, and a little brush movement to get broken down components out of the way of active chemicals.