Process for providing barrier properties to porous substrates

In a process for imparting barrier properties to porous substrates selected from the group consisting of concrete, masonry products and wood which comprises the steps:

• applying an aqueous based sealing composition comprising a polymeric resin to said porous substrate, evaporating the water and forming a water repellent coating of said polymeric resin on said porous substrate, the improvement which comprises:
• using a polymeric resin comprised of a polymer formed by emulsion polymerization in the presence of a stabilizing system and comprising emulsion polymerized units of ethylene and vinyl acetate and having:
• (a) a crystalline melting point ranging from 35 to 110° C. measured at a heat rate of 20° C. per minute;
• (b) a tensile storage modulus of at least 1×105 dynes/cm2 at a temperature of 115° C. and measured at 6.28 rad/sec;
• (c) a crystalline heat of fusion of from about 5 to 100 joules per gram as measured at a heat rate of 20° C. per minute;
• and,
• (d) a glass transition temperature from +25° C. to about −35° C. as measured at a heat rate of 20° C. per minute.