Spring Showers: Protect YOUR Property!

Never mind April showers: this year they have lasted well into May and look set to carry on into June as well! This edition of the Greengate's blog showcases Water Repel, a highly effective silicone water repellent manufactured by leading brand Sika.

Sika was founded over a century ago in 1910 when entrepreneur Kaspar Winkler invented a quick-setting waterproofing admixture which he named Sika-1. The innovative formula was first used to waterproof Switzerland's Gotthard Tunnel, allowing the Swiss Railway Company to electrify the crucial connection between the north and south of Europe.

Sika has since grown to become one of the world's leading chemical companies, with over 300 factories located across more than 100 countries. The company employs in excess of 25,000 employees and now produces a wide range of items which it distributes through an extensive network of suppliers including Greengate's, your local builders merchant.

Sika Water Repel is designed to offer exceptional protection from the damaging effects of rainfall and can be used with equal success on many different substrates including brick, natural/cast stone, rendered, mortars, fibre cement and concrete. Properly applied, it improves dirt resistance and reduces staining while inhibiting the growth of unsightly lichens and fungi. The formula is vapour permeable and enhances frost resistance and external salt penetration, all the while maintaining the original appearance of the surface it is applied to.

Before applying Sika Water Repel, it is important that the surface to be treated is clean, dry and free of any contaminants like oils, paint, lichens and moss. While hairline cracks will not affect performance, any larger cracks or poor mortar joints should be made good before application.

The formula is supplied in convenient 5L packs or, for the ultimate cost-effectiveness, in 25L containers. Ready to use, Sika Water Repel can be applied with a roller, brush or low-pressure spray unit. One coat is usually enough but a second coat may be required on surfaces that display high rates of absorption: if applying a second coat, this should be done immediately after the first coat has fully dried, which takes between 6-24 hours depending on environmental conditions.

Water Repel is one of many Sika products proudly supplied by Greengate's. Please browse our website to discover the complete collection.