Masonry sealing compositions comprising semi-crystalline ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer emulsions

In a process for providing water repellency and stain resistance to a masonry surface wherein an aqueous based polymeric coating is applied to the masonry surface and the water removed thereby leaving a polymeric coating adhered to the masonry surface, the improvement in such process which comprises the aqueous based polymeric coating is an aqueous-based ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer emulsion, wherein the ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer is comprised of crystalline ethylene segments and is prepared by emulsion polymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate in the presence of a stabilizing system, said ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer having:

• (a) a crystalline melting point ranging from 35 to 110° C. measured at a heat rate of 20° C. per minute;
• and,
• (b) a tensile storage modulus of at least 1×10 5 dynes/cm2 at a temperature of 115° C. and measured at 6.28 rad/sec.