Permanent and Safe Odor Sealing is rare.

Feb 103 min read

Updated: Feb 14

In general, there are two types of odor sealers on the market :

Oil/shellac based products that work well but are high in fumes, are difficult to clean up and are (ironically) flammable
Water-based products that use acrylic as the resin, and that allow odor to continue to escape the surface even though they're easier to cleanup and are low in fumes.

As often is the case, years ago we did work in the area of micro-emulsions for industrial use. Micro-emulsions are sealants where the resin component of the product is developed with a molecular size that is less than the particle it is blocking. For odor blocking, that means selecting a resin where the particle size is less than 0.01 microns in size. Since acrylic ranges between 125 to 175 microns in size, it's obviously not the choice for successful odor sealing. Incidentally, that's why acrylic are great for coating after mold damage. At 125-175 microns, acrylics provide a breathable solution for moisture (water vapor) release.

There is a great choice in a water-based system that meets the size needs for odor sealing: VINYL. While vinyl particles can range drastically from 0.005 - 1 micron, there are vinyls that meet the <0.01 criteria for broad-spectrum odor sealing. And while shellac, our closest performance competitor, has a particle size that's much smaller than acrylic at 5-13 microns (vs 125 - 175 microns), the particle size of shellac is 1000 to 2600 times the size of the vinyl resin in VaporLock!

IT'S NOT ABOUT PARTICLE SIZE ALONE

While particle size is the most important aspect of odor sealing, maintaining a flexible coating surface that can elongate as temperatures rise and surfaces expand is essential to long term odor sealing. This again is where shellac products have an issue. They are very hard and therefore very brittle. What we tend to see over time is the formation of hairline fractures in the coating that expose the surface and therefore allow for long term odor escape. VaporLock products on the other hand are formulated with plasticizers to prevent this problem, assuring everyone of long term durability and performance.

To learn about how VaporLock compares to other popular oil/shellac and acrylic based products, download the "The Test" here.

FIRE EVENTS ARE GENERALLY ALSO WATER EVENTS

Because water is commonly used to extinguish fire, secondary damage frequently results. It's not uncommon for a fire damage to require S-500 water damage emergency restoration measures, and in many cases S-520 measures for mold remediation. With that in mind, VaporLock products are formulated with the same EPA-registered, marine grade antimicrobial found in products like MaxGuard and SafeGuard. It's just another measure of performance that we feel is important for minimizing problems during reconstruction or in unconditioned areas like basements, crawl spaces and attics.

SAFE + EASY TO USE

Unlike oil and shellac based products that work well but have definite downsides, VaporLock cleans up easily with water and soap. It's also fume-free making working with a pleasure. In that regard, VaporLock exceeds current LEED IEQ Credit 4.2 VOC requirements (LD-50). It is a unique technology that is water-based, non-flammable and formaldehyde-free.

THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR THE JOB

VaporLock are the right products for odor sealing. Both Clear and White formulas are available. The Clear formula is generally used for surfaces that will be seen in the future like attics or as a way to salvage odor damaged painted surface by top coating (instead of priming and re-painting). The White formula is generally used to cover staining or to prime surface while odor sealing at the same time. The white formula is tintable, so a pigment can be added to the product when color matching is needed. In all cases, VaporLock is the right product for every odor sealing job including but not limited to smoke, cooking, pet, nicotine, infestation, decomposition and more.

To learn more about VaporLock products or to ensure that your next job is being sealed using the best products on the market, link to guide, products, equipment and more below. Don't forget to join the Enviroguard website as a free member to access our growing digital library. And as always, if you need assistance don't hesitate to reach out. We're always happy to work through jobs, provide technical and train your team.

Email: info@enviroguarddirect.com

Phone: 828-548-3900

Download the REACT|EXTRACT for Fire Damage Step-by-Step Guide featuring the NEW IICRC S-700 Standard.