Densifier reduce dusting, without precluding future epoxy

[maverick302]

I am looking to apply something to my concrete floor to reduce the "dusting" I get from the concrete, ie every time I sweep it clouds the whole shop and I get a dustpan full of dust. A densifier/sealer combo seems to be recommended, but I see most sealers will cause problems if I want to apply epoxy in the near future. Will a densifier alone be enough to reduce dusting?

 

[Shea]

A densifier with sealer added can work well. All that is required if you want to epoxy at some point is to grind the surface.

 

[maverick302]

A densifier with sealer added can work well. All that is required if you want to epoxy at some point is to grind the surface.

Thanks Shea. I've just read that the sealer penetrates too deep to grind away, and will make epoxy adhesion impossible. Glad that isn't the case.

 

[Steve in UT]

I would still like to know the answer to the original question. Will a densifier alone help with dusting?

 

[Shea]

I would still like to know the answer to the original question. Will a densifier alone help with dusting?

Yes. There is an inverse relationship in terms of effectiveness, however. The better shape the concrete is in, the better a densifier works. The worse shape it is in, the less effective it becomes. As long as the dusting isn't really heavy, densifiers alone can do a good job at slowing the dusting down or even stopping it completely.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Densifiers and penetrating sealers make a dusting floor better but they don't fix it so to speak. If its bad you really need to grind the soft layer off

 

[maverick302]

So I pulled the trigger on some HD39 from Legacy. I intend to apply with a sprayer, however I have some equipment in place that I don't have the means to move out, a full 72" box, and an 8' work bench bolted to the floor. Would I be ok to apply "around" these things? There is no visible effect, and I'm not worried about densifying underneath these things...

 

[bigjon]

So I pulled the trigger on some HD39 from Legacy. I intend to apply with a sprayer, however I have some equipment in place that I don't have the means to move out, a full 72" box, and an 8' work bench bolted to the floor. Would I be ok to apply "around" these things? There is no visible effect, and I'm not worried about densifying underneath these things...

Go forth and apply.