Densifier? Another New Slab Question

[Bobthetractor]

I hate creating a new thread on this but I’ve searched and can’t seem to settle on best practices.

I have a week old slab so I think I can say I’ve gone officially from barn to garage. It’s under roof and power troweled and slick. I also have five 12’x12’ aprons that are broom finished. Post beam 40’x100’ with roof and gable walls (only) in place. Aprons are wet curing (submerged) and the main slab is getting 24/7 sprinkler treatment.

I hope to enclose it within 12mos end and air condition it within the next five years. I’ve dragged my feet as I still haven’t fully made up my mind on the ultimate layout (probably 50% dried in as office and 50% with separate ventilation for dirtier work). In the meantime I’ve got three tractors to park so I want to get something down (after 28 day cure) instead of parking on virgin concrete. I’m in non-coastal Florida so ice and salt isn’t an issue.

I was originally going to have a crew come polish the floor but honestly I think the floor looks fine when it’s wet or at least the extra cost of $5psf doesn’t seem like a smart use of money.

Questions:
So densifier seems like the way to go? How do I keep that wet/gloss look? If I want to do a light stain must I do that now before densifier? Type to use? Any metallic/sparkle stains? Once I use denisifier am I limiting myself to what I can do in the future to the floor? What about a final sealer? For the time being I’d consider this all to be “outdoor” but if I air-condition later will I have a high VOC issue and if so can I encapsulate it later? I know this part gets product specific and probably only applies on the sealer side.

This is an ag business and while I love to inhale fumes I don’t want to knowingly create hazards for workers/customers. I’m exempt from building codes but documentation is good if I ever want to open it up for customers and such. I’ve already spent a ton of time on spray foam and fire code which does apply if open to public but I digress.

I plan to DIY/Child Labor for this all of this. I didn’t make my kids set trusses 14’ up but you’re darn right they’ll be pumping that sprayer and taping off areas.

If you read all of this then thank you and I appreciate the do’s and dont’s.

 

[benwah]

I would suggest a lithium silicate densifier. Give one kid a pump sprayer and give the other a microfiber mop, similar to an O-Ceder. Wet out the concrete enough to keep with wet for 3-5 minutes, but not enough that puddles are visible. Back mop it quickly, just enough to spread it out.

You can rent a high speed burnisher, and burnish it, which will give a small bit of sheen.

If you want high sheen, I'd suggest a burnishable sealer like Prosoco PolishGuard, EXTGuard,

Or Ameripolish 3D SP.

The Prosoco product is a topical sealer, and the Ameripolish is a semi-penetrating sealer. For your application I'd suggest the Ameripolish, just because you'll have equipment and penetration is your friend. But the topical sealer looks the best.

There are many other sealers out there, I just use these frequently so I can speak for their durability.

First pic is PolishGuard, second is Ameripolish. Keep in mind both of these floors were taken up to 1500 grit by mechanical abrasion, then burnished with a 3000 grit Revive-Maxx pad. You wont achieve these results without a full polish, but you can still make it look damn good.

 

[Bobthetractor]

Thanks for the response. So it sounds like densifier first and then polish. If I add polish will I really need to burnish it or is it just for the extra shine? ie, if I don't will it look blotchy or just have less gloss?

Also, what about the broom finished exterior? Seems like most densifiers say for indoor use and I can't tell if that due to sunlight/elements or just because of slip resistance.

I would suggest a lithium silicate densifier. Give one kid a pump sprayer and give the other a microfiber mop, similar to an O-Ceder. Wet out the concrete enough to keep with wet for 3-5 minutes, but not enough that puddles are visible. Back mop it quickly, just enough to spread it out.

You can rent a high speed burnisher, and burnish it, which will give a small bit of sheen.

If you want high sheen, I'd suggest a burnishable sealer like Prosoco PolishGuard, EXTGuard,

Or Ameripolish 3D SP.

The Prosoco product is a topical sealer, and the Ameripolish is a semi-penetrating sealer. For your application I'd suggest the Ameripolish, just because you'll have equipment and penetration is your friend. But the topical sealer looks the best.

There are many other sealers out there, I just use these frequently so I can speak for their durability.

First pic is PolishGuard, second is Ameripolish. Keep in mind both of these floors were taken up to 1500 grit by mechanical abrasion, then burnished with a 3000 grit Revive-Maxx pad. You wont achieve these results without a full polish, but you can still make it look damn good.

 

[benwah]

Yes, densify then seal. Thin coats...

If you do not burnish you are correct it won't be quite as glossy, call it semi-gloss. You also might see application marks from the microfiber pads. Burnishing eases the application marks and brings the floor to a high sheen.

You can densify exterior concrete just fine in my experience. It shouldn't make the concrete extra slippery, that's usually what the sealer does. I use Prosoco GuardEXT for broom finished concrete and it holds up well, has some slip resistance, and looks just fine. I prefer to reduce it 50% with distilled water. The manufacturer says not to do that, but I think it's just a ploy to get us to buy more product, because it works just fine this way [emoji482].

 

[Bobthetractor]

Yes, densify then seal. Thin coats...

If you do not burnish you are correct it won't be quite as glossy, call it semi-gloss. You also might see application marks from the microfiber pads. Burnishing eases the application marks and brings the floor to a high sheen.

You can densify exterior concrete just fine in my experience. It shouldn't make the concrete extra slippery, that's usually what the sealer does. I use Prosoco GuardEXT for broom finished concrete and it holds up well, has some slip resistance, and looks just fine. I prefer to reduce it 50% with distilled water. The manufacturer says not to do that, but I think it's just a ploy to get us to buy more product, because it works just fine this way [emoji482].

That Prosoco isn't cheap. Might try an gallon on an apron and see how it looks. Last question, if I don't burninsh and see marks can I burnish a week/month later or am I stuck at that point? Thanks!

 

[Armorpoxy]

Hi, for about 60 cents/sq ft you could coat the floor with our SPGX clear one part polyurea and it would give a gloss/polished concrete look fast and easy.

 

[Redrhino]

That floor looks great! What did you do to the concrete before you used the densifier? I'm trying not to shot blast my concrete. Thanks

 

[benwah]

That Prosoco isn't cheap. Might try an gallon on an apron and see how it looks. Last question, if I don't burninsh and see marks can I burnish a week/month later or am I stuck at that point? Thanks!

Sorry, I never saw this reply! It can be burnished a month or a year down the road without issue. Obviously, deep scratches may still show thru. Another coat can be applied if deemed necessary