Waterglass technology – durability through silicification

Lime Green Silicate Finish in combination with our Warmshell system offers the ideal properties for a healthy building. It offers low water absorption yet high vapour exchange, combined with excellent durability. Additional attributes are absolute light fastness and resistance to Ultra Violet light.

An effective self-cleaning effect results in pure bright facades - even after many years - free from dirt and algae.

This is made possible by the chemical process of silicification; the liquid product reacts to become solid silica, permanently fused to the sand in Prepbond WP. This results in a finish highly resistant to weathering, fire and Ultra Violet light. Lime Green Silicate Mineral Finish does not form a film that is “bonded” to the surface, but becomes part of the Warmshell render through silicification – the chemical reaction between our render and potash waterglass in the Silicate Finish.

This contrasts with conventional coatings which form films, such as synthetic dispersion or silicone resin emulsion paints. In these a resin dries and bonds the material to the surface with the pigments and fillers. This produces a far less porous coating and an impermeable film unsuitable for natural insulation systems and solid walled buildings where breathability is paramount.

These film-forming coatings tend to become brittle when weathered, cracking and eventually spalling - a sign of the lack of interaction with the substrate. For ecological and economic reasons, from the point of view of building physics and durability film forming coating systems should be avoided on the Warmshell system.