Concrete Hardener, Dustproofer, and S...

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2019 - 03:48 pm:    I've got a project where we had specified a penetrating sealer for the concrete that will harden, dustproof, and seal the exposed concrete floors. Many companies make similar siliconate-type products for this purpose. Our contractor is wanting to substitute a colloidal silica product that gets sprayed on freshly placed concrete as a penetrating treatment. It claims advantages for moisture mitigation, waterproofing, reduced shrinkage, densification, hardening, enhanced curing, among other things. The list seems endless. Would any of you more experienced specifiers consider these types of all-in-one treatments equal to the more tried and true (in my opinion) siliconate-type sealers and hardeners you've probably specified countless times for exposed concrete floors? Note: I'm intentionally leaving product names out so as not to promote or disparage any of these products unfairly. If it looks like it would be beneficial to the discussion to share them, I can clarify if needed ... though I'm sure most of you will know the products I'm asking about. Ed Storer Senior Member Username: ed_storer Post Number: 42 Registered: 05-2009 Posted on Friday, October 04, 2019 - 02:36 pm:    I know the products you're talking about. My personal preference is for the siliconate products (or potassium silicate), but they require more labor to install. There are also lithium silicate products that do a reasonable job of dustproofing and adding some hardness to the slab surface. They don't require as much water or labor to apply. I don't think the end result is as good as the traditional PS or siliconate products. Lastly: The colloidal silica products may be as revolutionary as the invention of the transistor, but I haven't seen any real durability information to back up the manufacturers' claims. Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, October 04, 2019 - 03:32 pm:    Ed, thanks for your input. Your last comment seems to be what I'm finding as I dig into the research on these all-in-one* products. Lots of claims, but little testing or verifiable evidence to back it up. Do these companies think we just trust everything they put in their literature? *By "all-in-one" I'm referring to the moisture mitigation, waterproofing, reduced shrinkage, etc., colloidal silica products. I realize that some may consider the siliconate products all-in-one as well as they do more than one function as well. Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP Senior Member Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip Post Number: 515 Registered: 02-2014 Posted on Sunday, October 13, 2019 - 03:46 pm:    Test methods that do not even relate to their claimed performance turned me away from those products. May work for polishing concrete.