Frequently Asked Questions

No! Customer Beware! 

The concentration of Sodium Hypochlorite (Formula: NaClO) used in most soft-wash batches, will do away with mold, algae and other organisms, while making the concrete surface porous, further compromising any existing color and concrete surface.

 Almost all Soft Wash (individually mixed - math skills are important) batches are made up of POOL Chorine in a significantly higher concentration than your pool water. It also tends to have surfactants added ( too stick to surface, as with roofs) some deodorizers to mask the chlorine smell, and to not raise any alarms.  Some folks claim they have the "magic potion. " None of the potions work without higher chlorine concentrations PPM (parts per million) than your pool chemistry. *Think about the chrome ladders and rails pitting after years, or the rail or ladder cups needing to be replaced due to corrosiveness? 

*** We utilize eco-friendly products that will not result in chemical reaction and create aesthetic issues. We apply a quality film-forming acrylic sealer.  We need to clean it!

Customers Beware of Soft washing your stamped or exposed aggregate concrete!

The  sSodium Hypochlorite (Pool Chlorine) will become absorbed into the concrete as a sponge absorbs water, This not only causes the film forming sealer to get sucked into the concrete, as opposed to remaining on the surface, as it is designed to provide some surface protection. This will result an uneven sheen in appearance, as with older stamped and exposed concrete. Additionally,  Sodium Hypochlorite ( pool chlorine) being salt will leave deposits in the concrete pores/capillaries. Concrete is a living organism with its own PH, as do our bodies, therefore concrete sweats, gets cold, hot, absorbs ground moisture and the sun's heat on the surface draws moisture to the surface, including any groundwater moisture, through the concrete slab into the atmosphere. This natural process results in the chlorine from the soft wash (salt) in high concentration PPM. Becoming trapped at the surface under the sealer, causing a white, sometimes chalky looking residue or film, as well as other aesthetic issues. 

Customers Beware! Customers who have their stamped or exposed aggregate projects soft-washed or cleaned by someone utilizing any commercial cleaning chemicals of products almost always severely damage the stamped or exposed aggregate concrete surface integrity, its appearance and its appeal, making it problematic to apply any type of sealer. We explaining in our communications with customers, that we have no way of telling what’s been done to their project. that is types or sealers, such as cheap sealers, wrong types of sealers and in many cases the too much sealer and sealing it every year will result in serious aesthetic problems in appearance. Customers need to wait years for the sodium hypochlorite to become diluted over time, and even then there are no guarantees the chemical reaction will not happen when the sealer is applied. Customer knowledge and integrity is the only thing that can help prevent this from happening. Please be honest and tell us and avoid the frustration and appearance issues. Please see our Important things you should know! Customers agree to not hold Bristol County Sealing Company,  corporate officers, employees liable for any aesthetic issues, that result, regardless of the reason for any issues with aesthetics nd/or concrete surface appearance . We apply the same sealer every time following the same cleaning process and customers agree when they approve and accept the requested quote provided.

Yes. Depending on the location of our stamped concrete customers' project, the amount of exposure to the sun, weather elements in the North East and traffic, will determine the frequency at which one should wash, treat (as applicable) and seal their stamped concrete project. *Also note that no de-icing salt or similar product can damage the stamped concrete surface integrity, and should not be used. Stamped and conventional concrete need quality concrete sealer protection. Following this guidance, our stamped concrete customers will ensure, that releasing agents and integral color in their stamped concrete project remain intact, along with protection of the stamped concrete surface integrity. Concrete scaling, spalling, and flaking will severely damage the stamped or exposed aggregate concrete surface's appearance, integrity, and its appeal.

I suppose you can, although, not recommended. But, do you want to? Conventional or stamped concrete should be properly cleaned, to avoid future problems, which can be quite expensive to try to make it look better. See concrete sealer issues. Ensuring your stamped or exposed aggregate concrete surface is properly cleaned from containments such as grime, mold, and mildew to name a few, or any other organisms living in or on the concrete’s surface. See the wash & seal page. You will also prevent future surface problems, thereby reducing your cost and overall expense, while protecting your exposed aggregate concrete or stamped concrete investment.

Here is where the majority of DIY decorative, stamped concrete corative owners, customers and contractors goof up and costs owners, customers or contractors big time. There are many types and brands of sealers on the market today. Many different sealers with many different pricing, which is very confusing to understand when shopping for a quality concrete sealer, to provide protect and beautify your stamped concrete project. Failure to protect your concrete’s surface, can in most cases and will eventually result in the color loss, increase in the surface porousity, possible spalling, scaling-a type of concrete flaking, (also from surface colors having been used) that will compromise the exposed aggregate concrete or stamped concrete surface and color integrity. Water based sealers, penetrating sealers and regular concrete cure an sealers should not be used and most likely create serious aesthetic issues and is problematic when applied onto stamped or exposed aggregate concrete surfaces. See concrete sealer issues.