Thompson’s patio seal and rust

[Paulodeebs]

I’ve read a few posts about Thompson’s patio seal and understand that you don’t recommend it....however, I was advised to use it on my new Indian sandstone patio by the installer and I went ahead and applied it today (25th Nov) as on a dry day so I thought all was ok (I had not read any of the bad reviews before doing this)

During the process I accidentally knocked over an old piece of metal that was next to the patio which was rusty and a load of rust particles got into the sealant. I tried to brush it off but I think it was too late and there appears to be a stain.

What are my options? I also noticed when I started to apply the coat that there were other stains and sections of dirt in the stone that I hadn’t seen when cleaning initially and I’m worried that I have sealed in these stains!!

I can wait till spring to do anything if that is a better time of year but don’t want to be left with any permanent damage?

Please help!

[Tony McC]

The safest option is to strip off this so-called "sealant", give the patio a bloody good cleaning, and then put all your tools away until next Spring.

It's the wrong product at the wrong time of year on an unprepeared surface.

The paving should be fine over the winter (but who knows if it's been installed by the sort of eejit that recommends Patio Ruiner!) and then you can get yourself a decent sealant and do the job properly once the warm, dry weather returns.

[lutonlagerlout]

sealing on the 25th of november?
did you not read any of the fantastic advice here?
I dont know what to say to this
good luck
you are going to need it

LLL

[stick999]

Take a look at the Nexus products. They are expensive but give a reasonable coverage.

[exoticpete]

Don't know about everyone else but I am really starting to feel that if it needs sealing its really not fit for purpose, all paving needs to be cleaned once or twice a year anyway.

[RAPressureWashing]

A solvent based stripper & heat is the best way to remove that rubbish sealer

[RAPressureWashing]

Take a look at the Nexus products. They are expensive but give a reasonable coverage.

Aren't the Nexus sealer's "surface" type sealers?

[Paulodeebs]

The safest option is to strip off this so-called "sealant", give the patio a bloody good cleaning, and then put all your tools away until next Spring.

It's the wrong product at the wrong time of year on an unprepeared surface.

The paving should be fine over the winter (but who knows if it's been installed by the sort of eejit that recommends Patio Ruiner!) and then you can get yourself a decent sealant and do the job properly once the warm, dry weather returns.

Thanks Tony!

So what is the best product to strip the thompsons off? and what would you recommend for cleaning off the rust?

I've looked at some of the old posts here and some of the recommended products don't seem to be available anymore?

Thanks for your help!

[Tony McC]

You should check with RonSeal/Thompsons to see what they suggest - I think it's xylene or summat xylene based. There are other, more powerful strippers, such as Paramose, but they need handling with *extreme* care.

As Roger says, a bit of heat even a hair-dryer, will also help loosen the stuff, especially at this time of year.

[RAPressureWashing]

You should check with RonSeal/Thompsons to see what they suggest - I think it's xylene or summat xylene based. There are other, more powerful strippers, such as Paramose, but they need handling with *extreme* care.

As Roger says, a bit of heat even a hair-dryer, will also help loosen the stuff, especially at this time of year.

Tony
When I say heat I mean you use steam (as in a Doff or Torik machine) & a solvent stripper to remove that sealer, if the OP wants to message me, I can give them details for someone who can do this for them, as it is a very messy & time consuming job. That sealer is noting more then a glorified glue total rubbish.

[Old Codger]

Lithofin Wax Off will remove the sealant(if you can call it a sealant) but how installers can 1, advise sealing with Thompsons and 2, sealing when it is obviously too cold and too damp. Rust stains may come off with the sealant.

[Old Codger]

Lithofin Wax Off will remove the sealant(if you can call it a sealant) but how installers can 1, advise sealing with Thompsons and 2, sealing when it is obviously too cold and too damp. Rust stains may come off with the sealant.

[Tony McC]

....I am really starting to feel that if it needs sealing its really not fit for purpose.....

This obsession with sealing has only really come about in the last 15-20 years. We never used to seal anything, no matter how much it cost per square metre.

I know that we lay a far, far wider range of materials nowadays, but I do tend to agree that if sealing is *essential* then the paving isn't suitable for Britain and Ireland, so that should see the end of crap such as Fossil Mint, Rainbow, Teak, Travertine and far too many of the honed/polished sandstones that are in vogue just now.

Paving of all sorts has always suffered with algae, lichens and mosses, but we accepted it. Nowadays, people are expecting everything to maintain the 'looks like new' appearance forever and a day....and this sily notion is partly behind the rise in the use of porcelain/cermaics, fine materials though they are.

Even with a sealant, and even if a porcelain/ceramic has been used, there will *still* need to be some basic maintenance. Sealants don't prevent birds making deposits on the paving; they may make it easier to shift, and similarly, porcelain/ceramics won't prevent the build-up of litter and detritus; no matter how much you paid, it doesn't sweep itself, it doesn't wipe off berry stains or burger fat.

I prefer to think selants are *optional*. There will always be some customers that want the alleged protection and are quite happy to splurge out on having it all re-sealed every 2-3 years, but that has to be an option and not a necessity. If the selant is necessary, then it's the wrong sort of paving!

[exoticpete]

Here here Tony customers expectations of how their garden should look has been set far too high in my opinion,super clean paving, plastic grass/plastic decking and even worst plastic plants what's next plastic people.... it's almost like they want to be outside in a....plastic bubble... not good

[seanandruby]

Give me a well worn cottage garden anyday.