Resene Walk On Concrete Clear problems advice needed

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AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#303048 12-Jan-2023 21:14

Has anyone used Resene’s Walk On Concrete Clear and been able to remove it? We thought we had purchased the right product after reading on line and their product info sheet for our 6 month old concrete pavers but definitely not! And not helped by using a ‘swish mop’ that was suggested. A LOT of money down the drain. The product basically sits on the tile and is not a penetration product. Some of the pavers had efflorescence and basically the off white tiles are now the colour of dirty dishwater. They are also lethal when wet and that’s very surprising for a product that is recommended for outdoor pavers.

Anyway, what I want is a guaranteed product that can get this stuff off. Grinding the pavers is not an option so it has to be some sealer remover. We had a go with Resene’s Sea to Sky… not much luck there.

Any advice? The photos show the original colour and what they look like now.

Thanks in advance

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#3020725 13-Jan-2023 00:42

I had a similar issue using a sealer that was supposed to dry without darkening the concrete tiles.
But not as severe as yours. Mine had darker shades along the grout lines and areas where I have gone over a second coat.

I think yours is water based, like mine , it was supplied by Concrete Tool Importers.
They tried removing it with Xylene and with a stronger chemical, but to no avail. So we left it as it was and a year later has faded quite a bit
Grinding down a layer was not an option as it will expose the darker aggregate.

Give a go with Xylene on a small area first.

eracode

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#3020728 13-Jan-2023 05:10

Quote: “We thought we had purchased the right product after reading on line and their product info sheet for our 6 month old concrete pavers but definitely not! And not helped by using a ‘swish mop’ that was suggested.”

Did you make a mistake or was the product info sheet misleading? Did you discuss it with Resene in store before buying?

Just trying to establish whether Resene have any responsibility to you here.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3020729 13-Jan-2023 06:13

I think we have to own the responsibility of buying the product although I had read the product info on line quite extensively before purchase and it sounded correct. The biggest thing is that it should have been a penetrative sealer not a surface one. Unfortunately, on the day the shop was short-staffed and busy and they did admit later when I went in to show them picture that using the swish mop was definitely not the right choice, although it says it on the tub!, and that should have been queried at the till (everything was purchased together and we did ask).

Recently we'd bought a stain there and the product info on e and the big display in the shop about it with examples of the colour changes on different wood, was spot on. We got the exact colour that the board showed. It was also less busy in the shop and a staff member confirmed our choice and sold us the right brush.
I said they needed the same info for this product. She agreed but said there were two pieces of concret with the product on, but they were in the window!

AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3020730 13-Jan-2023 06:23

Thanks. Yes grinding won't work and it's too risky.
I'll check out the xylene.
Resene technical said the product is made to withstand outdoor elements so it'll be there for a while :/ - he also said it could be painted over but I'm a bit unsure about that because the original product is satin (was told after that the gloss would have been a better option which definitely sounds weird).

jm3

86 posts

Master Geek

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#3020731 13-Jan-2023 06:30

Sorry that happened. Any chance the pavers look good enough on the bottom and you can flip them?

I've found emailing the resene technicians/experts through their website very helpful and better than asking in-store They've given me detailed responses each time and answered follow-up questions. I also like the email trail for referencing later.

eracode

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#3020735 13-Jan-2023 07:26

High-pressure water-blasting?

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qwertee

709 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#3020788 13-Jan-2023 11:09

eracode:

High-pressure water-blasting?

I did try high pressure water blasting, but wasnt much use. Just be careful if you do, as I had a small coin sized pit created when the surface
came off. So thats when I stopped and went about gently.
Being water based, the supplier said it will be hard to remove due to the porous nature of concrete.

Even tried a sandpaper block. It helped to smooth out the darker wayward drops from the brush.
I used a small paint roller and a brush for the grout lines. I should have stopped with the first coat.
I went over the grout lines with a brush as they were more absorbent, and that caused the hideous dark brush lines .

I feel your pain, as I was really gutted with the outcome when you think that you were doing right thing by sealing the tiles.
i felt I shouldnt have sealed it in the first place.

Another thing, make sure the tiles are really dry, assume rain free sunny three days.
But I thought that should not be the case for a water based sealer. Mine had the colour of milk and runny like water.

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AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3020819 13-Jan-2023 12:26

We were advised against water blasting and also told it was unlikely to work as the product is meant to withstand it as it's an outside product. It's going to be a hands and knees job whatever we end up using.

AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3020822 13-Jan-2023 12:37

Sounds like we've been very much on the same frustrating journey! I contacted three water blasting companies and sent them photos and they all said 'no'. At least no one said yes just for $$.
I also wish we'd just left them alone. We thought we were doing the right thing :/
What I've since learnt is that a penetrating sealer should have gone on immediately, almost as they were individually being laid, or even better, in the factory but that's a massive cost.
The company we bought them from has offered us new ones at cost but of course the money was in laying them not so much the tile purchase. I'm debating about painting them but .... Maybe we'll let them weather, if they will and then see. It's just been so frustrating and I feel very let down by Resene's attitude. I've asked to speak to a regional manager, that's been over a week and just got an email yesterday with the word, No. They're too busy! Not to busy to take money, though.

neb

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#3020850 13-Jan-2023 14:08

AGarry: I'll check out the xylene.

If you want a bigger hammer, try Gunwash, which contains Xylene amongs its cocktail of carcinogens. Also if it's water-based paint possibly generic paint stripper, just make sure it doesn't contain something like sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) since that will attack concrete.

AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3020892 13-Jan-2023 15:56

Thanks for the info. I’ll check that out and I appreciate the tip about sodium hydroxide. I’d rather not make any more mistakes!

neb

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#3020893 13-Jan-2023 16:04

AGarry:
Thanks for the info. I’ll check that out and I appreciate the tip about sodium hydroxide. I’d rather not make any more mistakes!

More generally, any stronger acid or alkali will attack concrete, which is why you seal it in the first place :-). I think the general problem you're trying to solve is "how do I remove paint from concrete", for which there's a ton of advice online, from old favourites like WD40 and vinegar (which is a weak acid so should be OK) although I can't imagine either doing much, through to paint stripper. I'd try the cheaper stuff/stuff you've got on hand first before buying exotics like Gunwash, or see if you can borrow a splash of various things from people you know to test.

AGarry

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#3020923 13-Jan-2023 18:12

Hi unfortunately we can’t turn over the pavers - they are ‘good side up’ at the moment and all grouted in.

We have spoken to technical - nice guy but confusing response in that they suggested painting over them with their concrete paint, however the technical sheet on that says it can’t be painted over with a product like Walk On Concrete Clear so I am not prepared to take the risk. I was also disappointed that they could offer no accurate advice about how to get the product off and when I also pointed how lethal it is when wet the response was that they ‘had not measured the slip resistance of the product’. This product is not cheap and I am very surprised that for an exterior ground product it has not been tested.

qwertee

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#3021091 13-Jan-2023 20:20

@AGarry These are some photos of my concrete tiles bought from Urban Paving, but not as bad as yours I think.

The 2 tiles that are steppers, they reckon its due to moisture underneath .

Bung

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#3021149 13-Jan-2023 21:19

AGarry: and when I also pointed how lethal it is when wet the response was that they ‘had not measured the slip resistance of the product’. This product is not cheap and I am very surprised that for an exterior ground product it has not been tested.

Slip resistance not tested?? They knew enough about the lack of it to print a warning on the data sheet and can label.

"• Trafficable areas coated with this unmodified product will not comply with the Building Act
Clause D1.3.3d. SURFACES COATED WITH RESENE WALK-ON CONCRETE CLEAR MAY BE SLIPPERY
WHEN WET."

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