“Kailangan lasunin yung pader”, you may hear a painter say. They will then mention that they need Boysen Masonry Neutralizer to do it. If you’re not sure what that is exactly, this blog post is for you!
What is Surface Preparation
You’ll need Boysen Masonry Neutralizer when you’re prepping a concrete surface for painting.
Surface preparation are the steps you need to take before you begin painting a surface. These can change depending on the specifics of the project (i.e. type of surface, whether if the surface is bare or has existing paint, if there are problems on the surface, etc.).
Whatever you’re working with, surface preparation is essential to any painting project as these will help ensure a successful paint job. Improper surface preparation or none at all can result in paint problems, poor paint adhesion, uneven and rough final results, and other unwelcome issues.
Why You Need a Neutralizer for New Concrete
Working on new concrete will require surface preparation. First, new concrete will need to be cured for 14 to 28 days under normal weather conditions before painting. After the curing time, the concrete will then need to be neutralized. This step is called paglalason in Filipino painting terminology.
But why neutralize anyway? Concrete is made up of different components including cement, aggregates like sand and coarse gravel, and water. The sand in the concrete will have salt in it.
When a concrete surface is painted without being neutralized, the water in the concrete will evaporate and leave behind salt on the surface. The salt will look like crusty, white patches on the paint—this is a painting problem called efflorescence. To avoid efflorescence, we neutralize a concrete surface before painting.
How to Use Boysen Masonry Neutralizer
As in the name, Boysen Masonry Neutralizer is used to neutralize a concrete surface. For those interested in the technical details, this product is a diluted phosphoric acid solution.
To use it to neutralize a concrete surface, dilute 1 part of Masonry Neutralizer with 16 parts of clean water. Apply the resulting mixture to the surface with a paintbrush or roller. Leave this overnight.
The next day, you’ll notice white crystals have formed on the surface. Rinse the surface with water and let it dry completely before you begin painting.
An Alternative: Using Skimcoat
Typically, there is no need to neutralize a concrete wall prior to painting if you’re planning to apply skimcoat. The concrete will only need to be cured for the allotted 14 to 28 days and then you can proceed to applying skimcoat. The neutralizing step can be skipped.
Skimcoat is a surface preparation product and an alternative plastering material that corrects surface imperfections, giving concrete walls a smooth appearance. It repairs bubbles, honeycombs, and other concrete defects like waviness and plumbness.
If you need a product recommendation, consider Konstrukt Permaplast K-201 High Performance Acrylic Skimcoat. Formulated to have excellent paint compatibility, you can use it with different concrete paint types like water-based, solvent-based, or elastomeric. It can also be used on both interior and exterior applications. Learn more about it here.
Again, proper surface prep is essential to a successful paint job. Good luck!
If you have any questions or inquiries about Boysen products, our technical team will be happy to assist you. Send an email to ask@myboysen.com or call (02) 8363-9738 local 413 to 418 during office hours for a one-on-one consultation.
