Technical Guide: Choosing the Right Remmers Funcosil Hydrophobing or Impregnation Product for Homes
Introduction
Protecting façades against moisture penetration is essential for the durability and appearance of a building. Hydrophobing or impregnating porous materials with silanes, siloxanes, or similar products makes them water-repellent while remaining vapor-permeable. This prevents frost damage, salt damage, and reduced insulation performance due to moisture.
The Remmers Funcosil range, supplemented with specialist products such as Facade Impregnation, Kiesol C Basic, and Funcosil BI, offers solutions for a wide range of substrates, exposures, and applications, suitable for both renovation projects and routine home maintenance.
This article provides a technical overview of the products, their properties, typical applications, and suitability for DIY or professional use.
Background
Hydrophobing works by creating a water-repellent layer inside the pores of mineral materials without forming a film on the surface. This ensures the material remains breathable, moisture can escape, and damage caused by water is limited.
When selecting the right product, consider the following:
- Substrate: brick, sand-lime brick, concrete, plaster/render, natural stone, aerated/ lightweight concrete (AAC)
- Exposure: standard rainfall, heavy rain/wind, horizontal surfaces, façade details
- Product properties: water-based or solvent-based, cream or liquid form, penetration depth, color enhancement, oil repellence
- DIY experience: some products are more forgiving, others require careful flow-coating and masking
Overview of Remmers Funcosil and Related Façade Impregnation Products
| Product | Base & Form | Main Substrates | Special Features | Typical Application | Durability / Performance | DIY Level & Risks | Key Advantages | Key Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funcosil SE | Silanes emulsion, water-based liquid | BR, KSL, NS, MR, AAC | Not for dense/glazed materials | General façade hydrophobing | Durable, breathable, driving rain protection | ●●● – water-based, low odor; risk: insufficient saturation | Classic water-based silane technology | Product name and availability vary by country |
| Funcosil SNL | Silanes/siloxanes, solvent-based | BR, KSL, MR, AAC | Highly absorbent porous materials | Exposed façades with high rain exposure | Very deep penetration, water-repellent, breathable, frost- and salt-resistant | ●● – experienced DIY; odor, flammable, risk to plastics/bitumen | Top-level penetration and durability | Less forgiving, overspray risk |
| Funcosil SL | Silanes/siloxanes, solvent-based | Lime-based natural stone | Not for dense/glazed stone | High-value stone façades and details | Strong water repellence, deep penetration | ●● – better for experienced DIYers | Breathable and effective | Niche product, complex application |
| Funcosil SN | Silanes/siloxanes, mild solvent | Sensitive connections, plastics/bitumen | Detail zones, junctions | Balcony edges, parapets, window junctions | Good penetration if properly absorbed | ●● – experienced DIY; careful masking & flow-coating required | Protection for sensitive zones | Not suitable as main façade product |
| Funcosil AS | Siloxane/acrylate liquid | Weathered porous façades | Color-enhancing, light surface consolidation | Façades with aged bricks/blocks | Breathable, minor strengthening | ●● – flow-coat required | Hydrophobing + color enhancement | Color change, more complex than neutral impregnation |
| Funcosil C40 -> Funcosil FC | ||||||||
| Funcosil FC / FC Plus / FC Pro / FC Ultra / FC Intense / FC new | Silanes cream for façades | Porous cementitious materials: BR, KSL, MR, NS | FC Plus: extra dirt/algae resistance, FC Pro: professional use | Porous façade masonry, driving rain | High water repellence, breathable | ●●● – very DIY-friendly (FC, FC Plus), ●● – FC Pro requires experience | Deep, long-lasting hydrophobing | Higher cost, more labor intensive |
| Funcosil OFS | Water-based hydrophobing + oil-repellent | Horizontal mineral and natural stone surfaces | Repels oil and grease | Terraces, stairs, worktops | Water- and oil-repellent, breathable | ●●● – easy on small areas | Hydrophobing + oleophobic protection | Not a classical façade impregnation |
| Funcosil Injection Cream | Hydrophobing injection cream | Masonry horizontal drillings | Chemical barrier against capillary rising damp | Basement walls, rising damp | Durable if applied correctly | ● – technically demanding, mistakes costly | Retrofit damp-proof course | Not suitable as façade spray |
| Funcosil BI | Silanes-based liquid | Concrete, masonry, brick, sand-lime brick | Capillary hydrophobing via surface absorption | Surface treatment for façades and renovations | Long-lasting water repellence, breathable, frost and salt resistant | ●● – careful application; correct substrate moisture important | Simple surface application, durable | Not suitable for very dense surfaces; no color enhancement |
| Facade Impregnation | Silanes/siloxanes, water-based liquid | BR, KSL, MR, NS, AAC | Universal façade hydrophobing, suitable for large surfaces | General façade protection | Durable, breathable, resistant to rain and frost | ●●● – water-based and forgiving | Universally applicable, low odor | Less effective on very dense stone; minimal color effect |
| Kiesol C Basic | Silanes/siloxanes, solvent-based | Porous bricks, sand-lime brick, concrete, plaster | Fast penetration, suitable for renovation projects | Basic hydrophobing of façades and renovations | Strong water repellence, breathable | ●● – requires experience with solvents | Fast penetration, long-lasting protection | Solvent odor, caution with plastics/bitumen |
| Funcosil AG | Fluorinated acrylic copolymer, solvent-based. | Brick, natural stone, sand-lime brick, and concrete. | Sacrificial layer against graffiti. | Protection of facades against spray paint and felt-tip markers. | Highly vapor-permeable, UV-resistant, eco-friendly. | ●● – Moderate; risk of slight gloss if over-applied. | Graffiti removal with hot water only (no chemicals needed). | Must be reapplied locally after each cleaning. |
Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting a Product
- Determine your main substrate and exposure: Porous brick, sand-lime brick, mineral render → WS, SE, FC, FC Plus/Pro, Facade Impregnation, Kiesol C Basic, BI; Natural stone details → SL, OFS (horizontal), AS (color/aged); Concrete structures → C40, BI; Rising damp → Injection Cream
- Check special conditions: Plastics/bitumen → water-based WS/SE or SN for details; Weathered façades → AS for color restoration; Horizontal surfaces exposed to oil/grease → OFS
- Match with DIY level: Beginner: WS, SE, FC, FC Plus, C40, OFS, Facade Impregnation; Experienced DIY: SNL, SL, AS, SN, AW, Kiesol C Basic, BI; Rising damp: Injection Cream (experienced DIY only)
- Always consult the datasheet: Download the official product datasheet and follow safety instructions and application guidelines.
Decision Flow Overview (Textual)
Start: What type of substrate do you have?
- Porous brick / sand-lime brick / mineral render:
- Normal façade: Beginner → WS, SE, FC, FC Plus, Facade Impregnation, Kiesol C Basic; Experienced → SNL, AS
- Exposed to heavy rain/wind → FC Plus, SNL, Kiesol C Basic
- Natural stone façades / details: Vertical → SL, AS; Horizontal → OFS
- Concrete / reinforced concrete / cement renders: Vertical → C40, BI; Exposed → BI
- Rising damp / basement walls: Injection Cream
- Special detail zones / plastics or bitumen: SN; Silicone-free needed → AW
- Weathered façades or light color enhancement: AS
Conclusion
The Remmers Funcosil range, supplemented with specialist products such as Funcosil BI, Facade Impregnation, and Kiesol C Basic, provides a comprehensive set of hydrophobing and impregnation products for homes. By carefully matching substrate, exposure, application, and DIY experience with the correct product, façades can be protected from moisture, frost, salt, and dirt while maintaining building physics properties.
This guide provides a systematic overview and practical recommendations, but always refer to official datasheets and safety instructions. The result is a façade that is both functional and aesthetically durable.
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