Friday 16 October 2015

Dealing with excess Sealer - Always read the instructions


Sealers, learn how to use them properly and they are an added benefit to most paving jobs but get that wrong and you will be in a world of grief!


Fortunately, Azpects Ltd are not happy if their customers experience problems and see it as their moral duty to help find solutions to problems. Two recent applications of EASYSeal SSP and EASYSeal Ultimate ended in near disaster for the contractors for the simple fact that they didn't understand how to apply them and what the consequences would be for getting it wrong.

Both paved areas were laid with six side sawn Indian Sandstone, calibrated to 22mm. Both areas formed parts of very high calibre designed gardens which had both had extensive landscaping to very high standards. The final job on both was to seal the paving to protect its appearance and make it easier to maintain in the future. Unfortunately, on both occasions the contractors left excess sealer on the surface which dried to leave ‘tide marks’ which showed up terribly and spoilt the whole look of the garden.

An artist's impression of the Wizard
As you can imagine, both contractor and client weren't happy bunnies and the finger of blame swung round to the sealer supplier…Us! As previously mentioned we at Azpects don’t like fingers being pointed so we jumped straight on the phone and started to sort it out. Firstly we showed our Wizard the photos and the Wizard confirmed what we thought to be the problem. They then proceeded to mix up a magic potion for us and we trotted off to see the unhappy people. The first patio looked very sad but with a splash of the potion we soon saw that all was not lost and the excess sealer could be removed. We left the remaining potion and trotted away to have a cup of coffee-feeling very pleased with ourselves.

I visited the second site on my own, armed with more magic potion but upon arrival I found there were more than excess sealer problems. The reported ‘tide marks’ had virtually faded away and were difficult to see due to the very light sandstone sucking up dust and dirt and leaving what I call ‘shadow marks’ over some of the slabs. The big downfall with thin paving is that you can almost see through it and any voids under the paving will be very noticeable after a few weeks. (Especially if it’s kept wet due to rain or general watering) With this job I opted to leave the contractor with a bottle of EASY Patio & Deck cleaner. The concentrated formula will help remove any surplus sealer residue (as it’s only lightly built up) and the diluted product will help to clean the shadow marks and go on to help keep things cleaner for months to come.

What’s interesting is that out of these mishaps we get to learn new methods and the quality of the workmanship improves as you can’t get away with cutting corners without being caught out. That’s great news for consumers who pay a lot of hard earned money to get their dream gardens.


Personally I really enjoy the detective work involved in finding the causes of problems and I am in the fortunate position to be working for a great company who’s ethics are the same as mine. We don’t turn our backs on people and we endeavour to help to find solutions when things go wrong. It’s not a case of playing the blame game; it’s about being professional and sorting things out.

Jeff Carter
Customer Support Manager
Azpects Ltd

Monday 12 October 2015

*BRAND NEW* The Azpects EASYJoint tub calculators


Azpects are excited to announce our new tub calculators for single and multiple slab jobs

One of the most common requests we get via email and the phones is how many tubs will be needed for a job or simply the coverage with EASYJoint, we've therefore developed a system which estimates* this very thing.

Bookmark, try them out and use them today and please let us know what you think!


*These calculators only estimate the number of tubs of EASYJoint required to complete a job and therefore no responsibility can be taken by Azpects Ltd to the accuracy of the figure given. 

There are several factors that can effect coverage and you should consider these before limiting the number of tubs to purchase. For further assistance feel free to call the Azpects helpline on 01473 760777. 

(Helpine Open: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

Wednesday 30 September 2015

The new Azpects YouTube Channel - Check it out and subscribe!

Azpects on YouTube

Azpects are proud to launch our new YouTube channel with three brand new EASYJoint videos, we hope you like them!


I'm sure you've seen the old EASYJoint video which whilst informative is starting to show it's age.

Whether it's fresh new graphics, better wording, modern filming techniques or new fangled technology like 'HD'; we have been working hard to refresh our video content and we hope you appreciate the results! 

Have a watch and let us know what you think, we are aiming to offer more video content in the future months so watch this space.

Azpects EASYJoint videos for 2015

For more information on all our products please visit: http://azpects.co.uk/

Monday 21 September 2015

What's new for this year?

here's a closer look at our new products for 2015



EASY DriveFix+
EASY DriveFix+The all weather easy-to-use modified bitumen pot hole and road repair system
(Part of the new EASYRepair range)

Ideal for potholes and utility reinstatements, EASY DriveFix+ is a truly "all weather" repair system.



EASYSeal Slate & LimestoneEASYSeal Slate & Limestone
A Sealer & Colour Enhancer formulated especially for denser stone, such as slate and limestone.

Enriches and stabilises colour especially black, does not form a 'skin' on the surface, delivers good levels of protection from oil and stain substances, allows the stone to breathe, improves slip resistance and helps to keep algae away.

EASYSeal Water Defence



EASYSeal Water Defence
Increases the thermal qualities of your home

A high performance water repellent for all porous building materials. The product can be applied to already damp surfaces which will then, over time dry out, as the coating allows water to escape out and not penetrate in. EASYSeal Water Defence uses technology which is proven to increase Thermal Efficiency, so reducing heating bills.


EASY Masonry Revive


EASY Masonry Revive
Cleans all Porous Stone & Concrete

An Excellent rejuvenator for heavily soiled paving, brickwork and masonry.
(Part of the EASYCare range)


For more information on all our products visit: azpects.co.uk/

Friday 11 September 2015

The EASYCare range is a year old!

here is a reminder of the products in the range and what they do


The EASYCare range launch at Glee 2014 (September)
Algae Remover - The EASY solution to remove Algae, Mould and light infestations of Lichen.
Black Spot Remover - Designed to remove stubborn areas of Lichen and Algae from paving & driveways.
Efflorescence Destroyer - Removes and neutralises white salt stains (efflorescence).
Grease & Oil Away - Solution to remove unsightly oil and grease stains from drives, patios and decking.
Grime Buster - A versatile general purpose cleaner ideal for cleaning smooth surfaces.
Mortar Stain Remover - A fast acting powerful ECOLOGICAL cleaner to remove mortar stains
Patio & Deck Cleaner - Removes heavy build-up of the most stubborn dirt and grime from paving
Masonry Revive - 
Cleans all Porous Stone & Concrete

Sealer Remover - The EASY way to remove old sealers and protectors from paving and driveways.

For more information on all our products visit: azpects.co.uk/

Wednesday 26 August 2015

EASYSeal Ultimate Staining Performance Test

EASYSeal Ultimate, the clue is in the name. This is our best water based sealer for natural stone and concrete paving, see it in action now!

Here are the results from recent stain tests.
Tests carried out on Sandstone (section of the paving shown below)

Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 1: The right hand side of the stone was treated with two coats of EASYSeal Ultimate and left to dry.
Stage 2: After a couple of weeks a variety of food solids and liquids were added and a photo taken minutes after they were applied.
Stage 3: About an hour later the food solids and liquids were mopped up with absorbent kitchen roll paper. You will notice that many of the substances have been absorbed into the stone on the untreated side.
Stage 4: The stone was then washed with ordinary washing up detergent and warm water. Both sides were
gently agitated with a nail brush and rinsed. The photo shows the stone dry. The treated surface is almost
completely clean whilst the untreated surface has been noticeably stained.

EASYSeal Ultimate currently comes in a 1 litre bottle of concentrate which can make up to 8 litres covering upto 48 metres squared of paving.

For more information on EASYSeal Ultimate 
visit: http://azpects.co.uk/products/easyseal-ultimate-sealant.aspx 
and for our full list of products visit: http://azpects.co.uk/products/


Monday 27 July 2015

Why should I seal my paving?

If it's a sensitive stone then sealing is a must but that's not the only reason to do it

If you've just spent a lot of money on a new patio you'll want it to keep looking it's best for years.

Our range of EASYSeal protectors are specially designed to keep your patio doing exactly that, helping to protect your paving investment.

If you look below I think you'll agree, the results speak for themselves!

To find out more about our EASYSeal range visit:
http://www.azpects.co.uk/sealers-and-protectors.aspx

For our full product ranges visit our website: http://www.azpects.co.uk/ 

EASYSeal Colour Enhancer results on Sandstone

EASYSeal Colour Enhancer - 0 mins EASYSeal Colour Enhancer - 15 mins

EASYSeal Slate & Limestone results on Slate


EASYSeal BCS results on a block


Wednesday 1 July 2015

Applying EASYSeal in hot conditions


So our summer and the current heatwave are in full swing but you want to seal your paving?  Here are our top tips for using EASYSeal in hot weather:

Working as a pair whilst using EASYSeal SSP

In hot conditions sealers can, if you’re not careful, dry out on your paving very quickly and not get the chance to seal your paving properly.  You will need to be cautious in the type of heat we are currently experiencing.

At this time of year we would always recommend using our sealers in cooler conditions at the start or end of the day, to avoid a situation where the paving dries out too quickly. To help to mitigate this situation we would recommend having two people working at a time for speed of application and to ensure that the first coat doesn’t dry out before the second one is applied.

For our full product ranges visit our website: http://azpects.co.uk/

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Applying EASYJoint in hot conditions

with a heatwave in full swing, here are some helpful tips for using EASYJoint in hot weather


Paving, especially sandstone will dry quickly in hot weather so it's important to keep your working area wet, very wet!
Paving can dry quickly in hot conditions, making sure
you regularly soak the paving during hot spells

A top tip is to empty the contents of the bag into the tub and then add water. This 'slurry' will flow  and fall much easier, keeping the paving area wetter.

Quite simply, the wetter the better!


To see our full instructional website 
or for our full product range 

Friday 22 May 2015

May Showers


Did you know there has been double the average rainfall for May in 2015? 


Of course that's no problem for EASYJoint, in fact the wetter the better. We positively encourage our wet application method; in our new videos coming soon! Our new videos will show how much we recommend saturate the paving.


Soak the Paving
A sneak peak from one of our new videos
There are two reasons for this,

• The water aids the flow of the compound into the joints, making it more workable, speeding up the process and aiding the self compaction by flushing the compound right to the bottom.

• The water acts as a barrier from the natural oils and hardeners within the EASYJoint, minimising oil residue on the paving surface.

EASYJoint top tip
Did you know, if you have left over compound, you can place it back into the tub, cover it with water, reseal the tub and use it for a later job?

Here's our link to applying EASYJoint using the recommended wet application method
http://easyjoint.eu/using-easyjoint-application-method.aspx

For more information on EASYJoint visit our comprehensive instructional website: http://easyjoint.eu/
For all our products including EASYJoint, visit: http://azpects.co.uk/

Monday 30 March 2015

EASYJoint, Block Paving & Water

An example of narrow jointed block paving not suitable for EASYJoint

On a recent visit to one of my customers, I was asked if EASYJoint could be used in block paving with quite large gaps due to the blocks having ‘cropped edges’. The short answer is yes & no. 


With traditional block paving, the blocks are laid on a bed of sharp sand and compacted and then the joints are filled with kiln dried sand before a final pass with the whacker plate. 
Kiln dried sand is used because it is very fine and funnels in to virtually any gap. Now EASYJoint can fill joints of 3mm and above and once cured it is hard and very permeable. The downsides to using EASYJoint for block paving are twofold.

1. The compound MUST be removed completely from the surface of the blocks or it will harden and be very difficult to clean up.

2. Because block paving is not bedded in concrete there is a chance that the blocks may move about a bit and this movement could cause the hardened slither of EASYJoint to rise up out of the joint. 

If you have laid blocks in concrete and have large gaps then it is ok to use EASYJoint just as long as you clean the finished area of any leftover compound.

The permeability of EASYJoint means that it is very efficient at displacing water from the surface and providing your sub-base is free draining you will not get any problems.

A top tip if you are a DIYer is to go to your local building material supplier and ask them for a couple of contacts of local tradesmen. These people usually know who to avoid!

For information on all our products including EASYJoint visit: azpects.co.uk/products.aspx

Written by Jeff Carter; employee Of Azpects Ltd (plus ex Landscape Gardener and Paving Centre Manager) 

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Applying EASYJoint in Cold Weather

Applying EASYJoint in cold conditions - azpects.co.uk


EASYJoint can be used in virtually all conditions including rain and light snow. 


If torrential rain is forecast it would be beneficial to cover the area to prevent any possibility of the compound being washed out by the force of the rain.

Once EASYJoint has been applied it will not be compromised by cold and freezing conditions. Cold & wet conditions will increase the setting time considerably - freezing weather will cause the process to virtually cease & it can take many days for the joints to set hard. However, it will eventually set & the weather will not have impaired its qualities in any way.  EASYJoint can take up to 3 weeks to gain maximum hardness & strength.

In freezing conditions, EASYJoint can be applied using the Dry Application method. There is a greater risk of staining or ‘picture framing’ with this method but the effects can be lessened by sealing the paving first.  Our experience has been that if any marking occurs it will weather over time & eventually fade away. Azpects have a range of easy to use sealers to meet your needs  -  visit our website to find out more: http://azpects.co.uk/sealers-and-protectors.aspx

As water can turn to ice in freezing conditions, we strongly recommend you avoid the wet application process. If ice has formed in the joint prior to installation avoid using EASYJoint until the ice has melted.

If your intention is to use the wet application method, ensure that ground temperatures are greater than 3 degrees Celsius.

To access our instructional guides for our dry application and wet application methods, please visit our instructional website: easyjoint.eu/

For information on all our products including EASYJoint visit: azpects.co.uk/products.aspx

Written by Jeff Carter; employee Of Azpects Ltd (plus ex Landscape Gardener and Paving Centre Manager) 

Monday 19 January 2015

To seal... or not to seal?

Appying EASYSeal with a roller

Now as many of you are aware, there are many paving sealers on the market and they all do the same basic function- Seal and protect. 


Go into any Builders Merchants or DIY store and you will be offered a selection of different brands so choosing the right one for you can be a bit hit & miss. It’s unlikely that you will know how good your choice is for months as any sealer is good when first applied.

One thing you can usually rely on is the old saying- “You get what you pay for” If you buy a cheap sealer its unlikely to have the same degree of protection as the higher priced brands.
I have to admit that once upon a time I wasn’t a fan of sealers as the information I had at the time didn’t give me much confidence. I was selling plenty of Natural Stone paving and I would never recommend sealing as I didn’t want any comebacks later in life. People saying that it’s all gone wrong and it’s my fault!

What can go wrong? Well try applying a solvent based sealer when the paving is not totally dry or trying to brush or roll on a hot, summer’s day and you will get it ‘wrong’.

I recently had a play with some samples of our new EASYSeal ULTIMATE and EASYSeal COLOUR ENHANCER and I learnt a few things.  Good sealers work! Take EASYSeal ULTIMATE for example. I applied one coat and as directed, I then applied the second coat but alas I had not expected that the first coat would dry so fast and as a result the second coat just ‘sat’ on the top of the stone; after some time the liquid disappeared leaving a horrible Leopard skin effect. The solution to that problem was to apply only one coat system and make it a good one. The next piece of stone I treated had very impressive repelling results, the water just beaded and wobbled about on the surface.

Do I need to seal?  The answer is yes and no (a popular phrase used a lot by our  IT guys).  It’s purely a matter of choice and if you feel better for doing it then great. I would use an invisible sealer if I thought it might help reduce the number of times I needed to clean my patio and I would use an enhancer sealer if the paving looks better when wet/damp.

As mentioned in an earlier blog, sealers will not protect against all things. Animal waste will eat through most coatings and cleaners and bleaches usually have a good go to.

Ask yourself why you want to seal. Do you need to? Will it help? Will it matter if I only do it once?

If it makes you feel better, then do it- but do your homework before you do.  I would always suggest leaving new paving for one season before thinking about sealing as this gives time for efflorescence etc. to calm down. It will also give you a better idea as to what sort of things you may have to seal against.

For more information on our sealers & protectors, visit: http://azpects.co.uk/products.aspx

Written by Jeff Carter; employee Of Azpects Ltd (plus ex Landscape Gardener and Paving Centre Manager)