Alliance Gator Sealer Stripper is a ready to use, water based paste that removes acrylic sealer from concrete pavers and stone. You apply it thick, cover it with plastic, leave it for hours, then vacuum off the dissolved coating. Alliance states it takes off both water based and solvent based acrylic sealers, multiple layers in a single application. It is zero VOC and pH neutral, so there is no neutralization step, it has virtually no odor, and Alliance states it will not burn skin.
It is for homeowners and contractors dealing with sealer that is peeling, blushing white or worn through, or with an unknown coating that has to come off before resealing. This guide covers when stripping is actually needed, the site protection Alliance requires, the step by step process, coverage, and common questions, using figures from the Alliance Gator Sealer Stripper product page and technical data sheet.
Quick answer
- Gator Sealer Stripper removes water based and solvent based acrylic sealers from concrete pavers and stones, multiple layers in one application. Sold in 1 and 5 gallon.
- Apply no less than 1/8 in (3 mm) thick, cover with plastic sheet, and leave a minimum of 12 hours. Alliance lists 3 to 24 hours as best practice.
- Coverage is 40 to 50 sq ft per gallon. Work above 50°F and below 90°F on a clean, dry surface.
- Protect vegetation, pools and structures, contain the runoff, and wear oil resistant boots throughout.
What Gator Sealer Stripper is
Alliance Gator Sealer Stripper replaces the aggressive solvents, respirators and neutralization step that stripping used to involve. Here are its headline traits:
| Trait | Gator Sealer Stripper |
|---|---|
| Form | Water based paste, ready to use |
| Removes | Water based and solvent based acrylic sealers, multiple layers in one application |
| VOC | Zero |
| pH | Neutral, no neutralization required afterwards |
| Handling | Virtually no odor. Alliance states it will not burn skin |
| Sizes | 1 gallon and 5 gallon |
Gator Sealer Stripper specifications
| Specification | Per Alliance |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 40 to 50 sq ft per gallon |
| Reaction time | Minimum 12 hours. Best practice 3 to 24 hours |
| Application thickness | No less than 1/8 in (3 mm) |
| Temperature range | Above 50°F (10°C), below 90°F (32°C) |
| VOC | Zero |
| pH | Neutral |
| Surfaces | Concrete pavers and stones |
| Shelf life | 2 years, container sealed, kept warm and dry |
The full procedure, including site protection, reaction time, removal and disposal, is in the Gator Sealer Stripper technical data sheet, also listed in our TDS and SDS library.
Do you actually need to strip?
Stripping is slow, messy and the most disruptive job in hardscape maintenance, so it is worth being sure first:
- Sealer is intact but dull: you do not need to strip. Use Gator Seal Resealer, which reactivates the existing film. Alliance says Resealer can go over any Alliance sealer except Natural Look.
- Peeling, blushing white, or worn through in traffic lanes: strip. Nothing you apply over that will look right.
- Unknown coating: strip. Alliance requires unknown coatings to be removed before any of its sealers.
- Water based sealer applied over solvent: strip. That combination is prohibited and it will fail.
Where to use it (and where not to)
Alliance rates the Sealer Stripper for concrete pavers and stone with failed or peeling sealer, for removing an unknown coating before applying a new sealer, and for surfaces where a water based sealer was mistakenly applied over solvent.
The conditions and limits from the manufacturer:
- The surface must be clean and dry before you start.
- Use above 50°F and below 90°F. Always test the surface for suitability and reaction time first.
- Cover treated areas with plastic sheet, or the sealer readheres as the paste dries.
- Protect everything around it. Wet down and barrier off all vegetation, protect a pool perimeter with a coarse sand bed, and cover standing structures with plastic and exterior painters tape.
- Contain the runoff with sand berms and vacuum it up at the lowest point.
How to use Gator Sealer Stripper
This is the shape of the job, in the order Alliance gives it. Follow the data sheet for the full detail, and test a small area first for suitability and reaction time.
- Protect the site. Remove furniture, water the vegetation, build a barrier wall with stakes and fabric over a coarse sand bed, and cover structures with plastic.
- Apply the paste. Work in marked 40 to 50 sq ft sections, no less than 1/8 in thick, using a brush or roller, with a nylon brush to force it into intricate areas.
- Cover it. Cover every treated surface with plastic sheet and leave it a minimum of 12 hours.
- Remove and vacuum. Starting at the lowest point, peel the plastic back in 10 by 10 ft sections and shop vac the dissolved coating.
- Pressure wash and scrub. Pressure wash the vacuumed area, scrub any residue immediately with a nylon brush and clean water, then rinse thoroughly at low pressure.
- Repeat if needed. If a white sealer layer remains, repeat the process.
If the paste dries and hardens, Alliance says to apply a thin coat of fresh stripper over it, wait 30 minutes to an hour, and remove. Afterwards, the listing pairs the stripper with Gator Efflorescence Cleaner as the clean that follows stripping, then a fresh sealer from our paver cleaners and sealers. Our guides on cleaning pavers before sealing and how to seal pavers cover those next steps.
How much Gator Sealer Stripper you need
Alliance lists coverage of 40 to 50 sq ft per gallon, and it varies with how textured and porous the surface is. That is far less than a gallon of sealer covers, so measure carefully. Divide your area by 40 for a conservative gallon count. It comes in 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes.
Alliance has you apply in marked 40 to 50 sq ft sections, matching the per gallon coverage, at no less than 1/8 in thick. Budget for a second pass on any area where a white sealer layer remains after the first. For the resealing that follows, our paver sealer coverage calculator will size the new sealer.
Safety and storage
- Wear oil resistant boots throughout the job.
- Protect vegetation, pools and structures as described above, and contain all runoff.
- Dispose of dissolved coatings per federal, state and local regulations.
- Keep the container sealed, warm and dry. Stored that way, Alliance lists a 2 year shelf life.
For anything else, follow the label directions and the data sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Does Gator Sealer Stripper remove solvent based sealers as well as water based?
Yes, both. Alliance states it dissolves multiple layers of acrylic sealer in a single application.
How long do I leave it on?
A minimum of 12 hours. Best practice is between 3 and 24 hours, and never leave it beyond 24 hours without checking.
Do I have to cover it with plastic?
Yes. Without the plastic sheet the paste dries and the sealer readheres, and the application is wasted.
Do I need to neutralize the pavers afterwards?
No. The stripper is pH neutral, so no neutralization step is required. You still pressure wash, scrub any residue and rinse at low pressure.
What temperature do I need?
Above 50°F and below 90°F, on a clean, dry surface.
Sealer peeling or blushing white? Order Alliance Gator Sealer Stripper, or browse the full Alliance Gator range and our paver and stone cleaners. It ships same day from our New Jersey warehouse. Call us 24/7 at (856) 418-4895 before you order and we will talk through whether stripping is really the answer.