Faber Protex WB — VOC-Free Water-Based Stone Impregnator | Rising Damp & Stain Protection Combined | LEED-Mapped

Description

Faber Protex WB — Combined Rising Damp & Stain Protection for Polished Natural Stone

Most stone sealers address one problem well. Protex WB addresses two simultaneously — and is specifically formulated for polished stone surfaces where both problems are present.

On polished marble, granite, limestone, and travertine, surface contamination enters through the polished face while moisture can enter from any direction — through the surface, from the substrate below, or through the sides of the slab. A product that only addresses one of these leaves the stone vulnerable to the other. Protex WB is engineered to provide high water-repellency, rising damp resistance, and stain protection in a single, unified treatment.

100% water-based, VOC-free (content <0.05%), LEED-mapped, and food contact certified — it’s the professional specification where performance, environmental credentials, and installation convenience are all required.

Protex WB vs Hidro Protector MM — Choosing the Right Product

Both products protect against rising damp with the same LEED credentials and VOC specification. The distinction is in what they each do additionally:

	Hidro Protector MM	Protex WB
Rising damp protection	✓	✓
Stain resistance	Moderate	High — especially on polished surfaces
Optimised for	All natural stone	Polished and glossy stone specifically
Dewaxing resistance	Standard	High — resists aggressive maintenance chemicals
LEED credits	SSc5, MRc5, IAQc2	SSc5, MRc5, IAQc2
VOC content	<0.05%	<0.05%
Food contact certified	Yes	Yes
Coverage	10–15 m²/L	10–15 m²/L

Use Hidro Protector MM for general natural stone protection where stain resistance is secondary. Use Protex WB where polished surfaces need maximum combined protection against staining and moisture, and where the treatment must withstand aggressive maintenance cleaning regimes.

LEED BD+C V4 Mapped — Three Credit Categories

Protex WB is certified by GREENiTOP and mapped to the LEED BD+C V4 green building rating system, contributing credits across three categories:

LEED Credit	Category
SSc5	Heat Island Reduction
MRc5	Construction and Demolition Waste Management
IAQc2	Low-Emitting Materials

For architects, specifiers, and contractors working on LEED-certified projects, Protex WB can be specified and documented as a contributing product. Contact HF Flooring Supplies for certification documentation.

Food Contact Certified & Dewaxing Resistant

Protex WB is certified safe for food contact — suitable for kitchen worktops, bar surfaces, food preparation areas, and hospitality countertops. It also resists the action of dewaxing agents used in professional stone maintenance, meaning the protective treatment stays in place despite regular deep-cleaning operations. This combination makes it the natural specification for hotel lobbies, commercial kitchen areas, and hospitality environments where both hygiene certification and maintenance durability are required.

What Protex WB Protects Against

• Rising humidity and damp — deep penetration blocks moisture ingress through the stone body and substrate
• Salt efflorescence — prevents crystalline deposits forming on the stone surface
• Rust formation — protects against iron-based staining from moisture
• Yellowing — prevents damp-related yellowing of light-coloured stone
• Flaking and pitting — protects structural integrity against moisture-induced surface detachment
• Staining from oils, food, and liquids — particularly effective on polished surfaces
• Dewaxing agents — the treatment survives professional maintenance chemical treatments
• Surface aggression — general resistance to chemical attack at the surface level

Pre-Installation vs Post-Installation

Pre-installation (recommended for maximum protection) Treating stone before installation allows all six sides to be sealed — providing complete moisture ingress protection. Protex WB can be applied at factory, on-site during the dry laying stage, or shortly before installation.

Treatment	Sides Treated	Adhesive Requirement
Full 6-side treatment	Top + edges + bottom	High-quality adhesive or mechanical fixing required
5-side treatment (standard)	Top + edges	Medium-high quality adhesive
5-side with alternative bottom product	Top + edges	Medium-low quality adhesive or cement-mortar acceptable

Post-installation Protex WB can be applied after tiles or slabs have been laid. For best results, remove any existing yellowing first and ensure the surface is as dry as possible to allow maximum product penetration. Pre-installation is always preferred for maximum rising damp protection.

Production line application Protex WB is suitable for industrial production line application using sprinkler systems, silicone rollers, or other industrial tools — followed by residue removal with brushes or pads. Contact HF Flooring Supplies for industrial application guidance.

Key Features

• Combined dual-action protection — rising damp resistance and stain protection in a single treatment
• Optimised for polished stone — specifically formulated to address the combined protection requirements of polished and glossy surfaces
• Penetrates stone thickness — protection goes deep and cannot be removed by cleaning or dewaxing
• VOC-free — content <0.05% confirmed by UNI EN ISO 11890-2:2007
• 100% water-based — no harsh solvents, safe for indoor use, easy cleanup with water
• LEED BD+C V4 mapped — SSc5, MRc5, IAQc2 credits documented
• Food contact certified — suitable for kitchen worktops and food preparation surfaces
• Dewaxing resistant — treatment survives aggressive professional maintenance regimes
• Invisible finish — clear liquid, no colour change, no surface film, breathability preserved
• Long-lasting — tenacious protection that resists both chemical attack and mechanical maintenance
• Pre and post installation — suitable for factory treatment, dry laying, and retrofit application
• Production line compatible — suitable for industrial stone fabrication lines
• Ready to use — no dilution required

Suitable Surfaces

Marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, slate, basaltina, quartzite, porphyry, travertine, marble-cement agglomerate, marble-resin agglomerate. Indoor and outdoor.

How to Apply

Pre-Installation Treatment

1. Apply an even layer covering the top and edges of the slab or tile using a brush, roller, lambswool applicator, or by immersion.
2. After 5–10 minutes, before the product dries, redistribute any surface residues evenly. Residue left to dry is very difficult to remove — redistribution is critical.
3. Wait 1–2 hours, then move slabs to treat the bottom using the same method.
4. Dry residues can be removed with a white pad or damp cloth before boxing up or on-site before laying.
5. Wait 24 hours after treatment before laying the tiles or slabs.

Immersion method (6-side treatment): fill a container and immerse one tile at a time for 10–15 seconds, then redistribute residues immediately with a clean cloth.

Post-Installation Treatment

1. Apply an even layer to the clean, dry surface using a brush, roller, or lambswool applicator.
2. After 5–10 minutes, redistribute any residues before they dry.
3. Residues can be removed with a white pad or damp cloth, or with a single-disc machine for larger areas.
4. On highly absorbent surfaces, apply a second coat.
5. The product will be fully dry after approximately 24 hours — protect from water or moisture during this period.

Important: If residue dries on the surface and becomes difficult to remove, apply fresh Protex WB to a clean cloth or white pad and use it to dissolve and remove the dried residue.

Technical Specifications

Brand	Faber — Professional Line
Type	Water-based impregnating treatment
Formula	Clear liquid
Colour	Clear
Odour	Unscented
pH	11 ± 0.5
Specific gravity at 20°C	1050 ± 10 g/l
VOC content	<0.05% (UNI EN ISO 11890-2:2007)
Coverage	10–15 m²/litre
Drying time	24 hours (protect from moisture during this period)
Ready to use	Yes — no dilution required
Food contact certified	Yes
Dewaxing resistant	Yes
LEED mapping	BD+C V4 — SSc5, MRc5, IAQc2
Shelf life	36 months (sealed, cool, dry storage)
Available sizes	1L / 5L
Indoor/outdoor	Both
Made in	Italy

Downloads

• Faber Protex WB Technical Data Sheet