Time to refurb some PIC!
The weather has improved, the sun is out, less rain and we’re spending more time outside. Could a Pattern Imprinted Concrete (PIC) driveway or patio benefit from a bit of TLC?
If it could, now is certainly the time to start thinking about it.
PIC can be given a new lease of life with the added benefit of long-term protection of the decorative surface, which can be easily undertaken. It is recommended that any area of PIC would benefit from a reseal every 3-5 years, depending on use. Very few tools or equipment are required and in the scheme of things the material costs are negligible.
People often ask if the sealer can be coloured and/or whether it is possible to change the colour of an existing area of paving.
The answer to both these questions is that we would strongly recommend NOT adding colour to the sealer in an attempt to enhance an existing area, and we certainly wouldn’t recommend attempting to change the colour of the existing paving.
Just use clear sealer, unless, in the rare instances that it is absolutely necessary and there is no other option other than to use a coloured sealer and in effect ‘paint’ the surface of the paving.
Before you start, to make sure you’ll be happy, judge the job when it is wet with water. This is a very good guide as to what it will look like when sealed. If a wet installation looks good when it is wet, it will look good when it is sealed.
Once determined that the area is looking good when wet, it is time to get ready to seal, and all that is normally needed is just a good wash with a high-pressure waterjet. If there are oil drips or green algae growth or similar, then use some Picsclean degreaser for the oil stains or Mossclean for any hard to remove algae growth or hard to remove stains.
Remember, whatever it looks like when wet, is a good guide as to what it will look like when sealed. Any questions or concerns, don’t seal until you’re sure, and if necessary, call the PICS technical department for a bit of advice.
Once clean, the area needs to be thoroughly dry prior to sealing. It may look a bit dull and uninspiring when dry, but remember what it looked like when it was wet!
So, to seal the PIC, all you need is….. the sealer, (one drum does between 50 & 75 m²) a soft broom (preferably a natural hair broom rather than a coco broom) and that’s it.
When applying sealer, on a very hot sunny day, apply in the coolest part of the day. It is always best to apply two or three small coats rather than one big coat. It really takes no longer. It dries very quickly and once touch dry another coat can be applied.
The whole area does not need to receive three coats (unless necessary). For example, and do not take this literally, the whole area has one coat, 75% of the area has two coats, 25% of the area has three coats and 5% has a fourth final little touch up.
Once the area is all touch dry, looks uniform and has a uniform ‘sheen’, you’re finished. Don’t be tempted to apply another coat (and we’re telling you this and we sell the material!). Just pop the lid back on, store in a cool dry place and it’ll be ready to use again in another 2/3/4/5 years.
Oh, and the soft broom you’ve used to apply the sealer. Don’t attempt to clean it. Let it go hard, and next time you want to use it, soak it in the drum of sealer for 5 minutes and it’ll become soft and ready to use again!
Happy sealing!
Dr Concrete
