What is Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray, and when do you need it?
Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray is an aerosol accelerator formulated to speed up the setting of Selleys Point Works flexible roof pointing in cool and damp conditions, to reduce the risk of washouts. It is not a pointing compound and not a sealant in its own right — it is used only in combination with Point Works, sprayed onto the pointing after it has been troweled.
The problem it solves is straightforward. Point Works is a water-based product, so the water in it must evaporate before it will harden. Two hours of drying in good weather is enough for the product to develop a skin that will resist light rain — but in cold and wet conditions that drying time is greatly extended, and it may take some days before the pointing is resistant to persistent or heavy rain. That is a long window in which a shower can wash fresh pointing off a ridge line. A light spray of Accelerant immediately after pointing gives a fast surface skin and resistance to light or showery rain.
What the accelerant does to the timings
According to the product page, used with Point Works the Accelerant Spray:
- Brings the skin forward to approximately 5 minutes
- Speeds the full cure to approximately 6–8 hours
Compare that with unaccelerated Point Works, which needs about 2 hours in good weather before it will withstand light rain and 24 hours to cure — and considerably longer in the cold and damp conditions the accelerant exists for. The practical value is not really the shorter total cure; it is the five-minute skin. That skin is what stands between a freshly pointed ridge and an unexpected shower, and it is why the accelerant is described as reducing the risk of washouts rather than as a way to finish the job sooner.
The Point Works technical data sheet frames the same point from the other side: curing times are extended in cold and wet conditions, and curing times can be reduced by applying Point Works Accelerant Spray to the wet material soon after it has been applied. Soon after is the operative instruction — the accelerant works on wet material, not on pointing that has already begun to skin on its own.
How to apply it
- Apply Selleys Point Works as usual, troweled to 3 to 5mm with full contact to the roof tiles and under the edge of the hip and ridge tiles.
- Lightly spray the Accelerant over the bead from approximately 30 cm away.
- Avoid puddling or heavy application. This is a surface treatment; more product is not more effect.
- Allow to cure. A skin typically forms in around 5 minutes, with full cure in 6 to 8 hours.
Two details are worth emphasising because they are easy to get wrong on a roof. The 30 cm standoff is what produces an even mist rather than a wet stripe; spraying close puddles the accelerant in the low points of the pointing. And overspray should be avoided — the aerosol is meant for the pointing, not for the surrounding tiles.
Timing matters too. The Point Works Gen III data sheet notes that curing times can be reduced by applying Point Works Accelerant Spray within 30 minutes after the pointing has been applied. If you are working a long ridge, spray each run as you finish it rather than waiting until the whole roof is done.
Where to use it
Its stated application is narrow and deliberate:
- Accelerating the cure of Selleys Point Works flexible roof pointing
- Cool and damp conditions, where normal drying is too slow to be safe from rain
- Fast setting for urgent jobs
The application temperature range given on the product page is 5 °C to 35 °C. Bear in mind that this is the accelerant's own range, and the pointing compound it is used with carries its own restriction: Point Works should not be used when the surface temperature during application or curing is 10 °C or lower. The stricter of the two governs the job.
Limitations — where the Accelerant Spray should not be used
- Use only with Selleys Point Works. Do not use it with other sealants.
- Apply lightly. Avoid overspray, puddling and heavy application.
- Ensure proper ventilation.
- Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes.
The restriction to Point Works is the one to take literally. An accelerator is formulated to react with a specific chemistry, and there is no basis in the product information for using it on any other sealant or pointing compound. Full warnings and first aid information are in the product's Safety Data Sheet on the Selleys website.
A note on hot weather
The accelerant addresses the cold-and-damp problem. The opposite problem — pointing skinning too fast to trowel neatly — is addressed by a separate product, Point Works Retardant Spray, which the Point Works Gen II data sheet describes as slowing down skinning of the product surface in the pail and on the ridge in hot or hot windy weather. Do not use the accelerant when what you actually need is more working time.
Hazard classification
Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Warning.
- Eye damage/irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
What is in it
| Chemical entity | CAS number | Proportion (w/w) |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium chloride, dihydrate | 10035-04-8 | 10–30% |
| Non-hazardous or below reporting limits | — | Balance |
The accelerant is a calcium chloride solution — a salt, not a solvent. That single fact explains its hazard profile: one classification, eye irritation, and no flammability, narcotic or sensitisation classification at all. It is among the mildest products in the Selleys range.
Calcium chloride is hygroscopic and works by drawing moisture, which is what accelerates the set of the pointing compound in the cool, damp conditions where a washout is likely.
Two practical cautions that follow from the chemistry rather than the classification. Calcium chloride solutions are corrosive to bare and galvanised steel over time, so avoid overspray onto flashings, fixings, gutters and roof screws, and rinse any that lands on them. And because it is a salt, heavy application or puddling leaves a residue that can bloom white on the surface as it dries — which is the practical reason for the light application from about 30 cm that the directions call for.
It is an eye irritant applied as an overhead spray on a roof, often in wind. Eye protection is the control that matters here.
Protection
- Eye protection — safety glasses or goggles.
- Gloves — nitrile rubber for intermittent contact.
- Ventilation — use in a well-ventilated area.
- Wash hands after use, and wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
First aid
| Exposure | What to do |
|---|---|
| Eyes | Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, removing contact lenses if present and easy to do, then keep rinsing. If irritation persists, get medical advice. |
| Skin | Wash with soap and water. If irritation develops, get medical advice. |
| Inhalation | Move to fresh air. If irritation persists, seek medical advice. |
| Swallowed | Do not induce vomiting. Rinse the mouth and seek medical advice. |
If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.
Common questions about Point Works Accelerant Spray
What is it for?
Accelerating the setting of Selleys Point Works flexible roof pointing in cool and damp conditions, to reduce the risk of washouts.
How much faster does it make the job?
With Point Works, the product page gives a skin at approximately 5 minutes and a full cure of approximately 6 to 8 hours.
Can I use it with a different sealant or pointing compound?
No. It is to be used only with Selleys Point Works, and the product page states plainly not to use it with other sealants.
When do I spray it?
Onto the wet pointing soon after it has been applied — the Point Works Gen III data sheet specifies within 30 minutes of pointing.
How far away should I hold the can?
Approximately 30 cm, applying a light, even coat.
What happens if I put too much on?
Avoid puddling and heavy application. The instruction is to spray lightly; the accelerant acts on the surface of the pointing.
Does it change how the pointing performs?
Its stated role is to accelerate the cure and give a fast surface skin resistant to light or showery rain. Nothing in the product information describes it as altering the pointing's other properties.
What temperature can I use it at?
The product page gives an application temperature range of 5 °C to 35 °C. Note that Point Works itself should not be used when the surface temperature during application or curing is 10 °C or lower.
Do I still need to keep rain off the job?
Yes. The accelerant gives a fast surface skin that resists light or showery rain. It does not make freshly pointed ridging fit for persistent or heavy rain.
Is there anything for the opposite problem, in hot weather?
Yes — Point Works Retardant Spray is the product described for slowing down skinning in hot and hot windy weather. The accelerant is not a substitute.
What safety precautions apply?
Ensure proper ventilation and avoid direct contact with skin and eyes. Refer to the product Safety Data Sheet for full information.
What is Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray used for?
Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray is specifically formulated to accelerate the setting of Selleys Point Works Gen II flexible roof pointing in cool and damp conditions, reducing the risk of washouts.
How does the Accelerant Spray affect the curing time of Point Works?
It speeds up the full cure time to approximately 6–8 hours, compared to the standard cure time, and accelerates skin formation to approximately 5 minutes when used with Point Works.
How do you apply Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray?
First apply Selleys Point Works as usual, then lightly spray the Accelerant over the bead from about 30cm away, avoiding puddling or heavy application. Allow it to cure — a skin typically forms in about 5 minutes, with full cure in 6–8 hours.
What is the recommended application temperature range for the Accelerant Spray?
The recommended application temperature range is 5°C to 35°C.
Can Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray be used with other sealants?
No, the product should not be used with other sealants — it is formulated specifically for use with Selleys Point Works products.
What safety precautions should be taken when using this product?
Direct contact with skin and eyes should be avoided when using Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray.
Can the treated area be painted after using the Accelerant Spray?
Yes, the surface can be painted once the sealant is fully cured.
What technology does Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray use?
It functions as a curing accelerator for polyurethane technology.
How should the Accelerant Spray be cleaned up after use?
Clean up is done using solvent.
What size is the Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray product?
The product is available in a 5L size, as indicated by the product name Selleys Point Works Accelerant Spray - 5L.