If I use a densifier now does that prevent me from doing a different floor treatment later? I'm doing the densifier now because I won't have enough time to do an epoxy or similar type of job before I move into my new-to-me house. Depending on how well the densifier works I may want to do some kind of top coat later (urethane maybe?). Will that be an issue?
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Concrete densifier question
- Thread starter Camride
- Start date
Garage Flooring
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If I use a densifier now does that prevent me from doing a different floor treatment later? I'm doing the densifier now because I won't have enough time to do an epoxy or similar type of job before I move into my new-to-me house. Depending on how well the densifier works I may want to do some kind of top coat later (urethane maybe?). Will that be an issue?
Doing a densifier now does not generally prevent you from doing something else later, but the type of densifier you do and how you do it will have different effects on different systems.
For example, if you just mop on a standard densifier, generally you are going to have the same prep as you would have had if you had done nothing at all.
If you do a densifier with a stain guard or a grind and polish multi layer system, it is going to be important that you grind the surface before doing most other systems -- and some would argue that you should do that anyway on all systems.
The most important thing you can do. Get the full tech sheets from whatever you do now and put them in a file. If you go to do another system later on, send them those tech sheets, let them know that is what you did to your floor and ask them how you should proceed.
As a side note, there are a ton of different densifiers and they work in different ways. You have true straight densifiers (which come in a few varieties). You have some that have a sealer in them and a handful that provide a stain guard.
Last edited:
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You will need to grind the floor vs. an acid etch treatment when it's time to go for coatings. We have done this many times when a polished floor customer wants to switch back to a coating system.
Garage Flooring
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Awesome, that's what I needed to know. Thanks guys!
Glad we could HELP
Coating Guy
Member
You may not have to grind. There is nothing chemically incompatible between the densifiers and coatings. You only issue will be bonding to the floor. Test the floor first in several areas. Clean it, and allow to dry, then at each location put a small amount of water on part of it and a small mount of 10% muriatic acid and water solution next to it. If the concrete darkens with the water then you can coat on it. If the acid/water solution fizzes that's even better. Then you know you can acid etch it. If either works I would go with an epoxy primer first then a thicker coat. If neither does then grind first.
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Coating Guy, there are densifiers that contain water repellent additives. Coat over one and you will literally see the parting of the sea. Coatings do not like those additives.
Grinding is your friend, it reduces risk.
Grinding is your friend, it reduces risk.