NCC Porcelain Protector is required because, whilst exterior porcelain tiles have a very hard and dense surface that is denser and easier to clean than normal stone and ceramic surfaces, the surface of porcelain tiles can and will still discolour and stain, dirt and grime will build-up and this can be difficult to remove! It is not rocket science but a question of the degree of being ‘easier to clean. plus external porcelain is usually sold as having some degree of slip resistance, well guess what, this is achieved by making the surfaces micro-profiled and textured. This texture increases the dry slip resistance (not wet note!) to meet the standards referenced, BUT will also increase the dirt-pick-up of the surface, as well as making it somewhat harder to clean. It should not really be a surprise, though it often is, as people have read the marketing brochures for porcelain that only focus on the positives!
However there is now a good solution, by using NCC Porcelain Protector to enhance the surface of your paving. The innovative NCC Porcelain Protector is a water dispersed, protective surface treatment for interior and exterior applications on all types of porcelain tile surfaces.
The NCC Porcelain Protector treatment can be used before and/or after grouting the porcelain paving joints as follows:
- Before the joint grouting: Treating porcelain tile surfaces with NCC Porcelain Protector before application of the grout / joint mortar, is useful for contractors as this makes their grout removal and final installation cleaning easier, faster, and generally more efficient and effective.
- After the joint grouting: Treating porcelain surfaces with NCC Porcelain Protector after the grout / jointing mortar has cured and hardened is done to help make future cleaning and dirt removal easier, particularly the discoloration caused by the tannins in organic plant materials, as well as any other stains from organic matter.
Directions for use (Always Shake the Container Well Before Use)
As with all paving cleaning and surface treatments, we strongly recommend that you always test NCC Porcelain Protector on an inconspicuous area, particularly of the jointing material, prior to its general use.
Surface preparation: Ensure the surfaces to be treated are completely clean, dry, and free from any dirt and grime, cement and grout, or any other surface contaminants. Where necessary, prepare the surfaces by washing them with NCC Cement, Grout & Salt Remover solution (diluted 1 to 5 with clean water), scrubbing as required to remove any contaminants, then rinse well to remove any residual materials and allow to dry.
Application of the material:
- Before grouting: Prior to grouting / jointing the porcelain tiles, apply NCC Porcelain Protector uniformly over the surface using a suitable wide paint brush, foam roller or low-pressure sprayer. Allow to dry on the surface for 30 minutes at 20°C (do not apply below 10°C), then apply a second coat. Leave this to dry and harden for a minimum of 1 hour before commencing the grouting or pointing works.
- After / post-grouting: After the porcelain joints have been grouted and allowed to harden and cure appropriately, and any / all dirt and residues have been removed, then NCC Porcelain Protector can be applied, including over the joints as well.
Important Additional Application Notes:
- Before applying the NCC Porcelain Protector, any difficult / hard to remove, dried on cement and/or cement grout stains can be removed using NCC Cement, Grout & Salt Remover. Any other jointing compound stains can be removed using NCC Resin Residue Remover.
- Lower surface temperatures will increase all the stated waiting times e.g. at 10°C they will be doubled, but at higher temperatures these minimum waiting times must still be maintained as stated above.
Consumption / Coverage (per litre):
Typical coverage on porcelain and other dense, limited porosity surfaces is approx. 30m²