densifiers... is more better?

[mburrus]

i just had my slab diamond honed and then treated with sr2 and xtreme hard densifier.

http://www.xtremepolishingsystems.com/Xtreme-Hard-Lythic-Densifier-Chemical-Hardener-p/xhd32oz.htm

http://www.xtremepolishingsystems.com/ameriposh-SR2-concrete-densifer-p/amp-sr2.htm

would putting on more of either make the surface harder or more sealed? or is it a once the chemical reaction happens theres no more that can be done sort of thing?

some history: my slab got caught in the rain just after floating it for 4 hours over a year ago, washing of the concrete cream layer, down to aggergate. we were able to power trowel some concrete back up, but the surface was very porous and soft. they ground down about a quarter inch, to much harder concrete with a lot of exposed aggregate. but there was still a small amount of weak and porous concrete left in patchy areas.

id love a quick answer before i move stuff back in... thanks!!

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

We encounter Floors like yours from time to time. The only true remedy is to grind through the weakness. Then you can treat what is left.

Over treating a weak surface does little to help. You are correct, once the reaction has been made there is no benefit to further treatments.

In this case, I might suggest a modular tile product vs. grinding further unless you can live with it.


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[mburrus]

they ground down about 1/4" down and exposed the aggregate, and it seems pretty solid... but i am going to spray some more densifier on it anyway, and see what happens with it... i may as well since the floor is the cleanest and emptiest it ever will be right now...

 

[James-W]

they ground down about 1/4" down and exposed the aggregate, and it seems pretty solid... but i am going to spray some more densifier on it anyway, and see what happens with it... i may as well since the floor is the cleanest and emptiest it ever will be right now...

Not trying to pick a fight with you, just trying to understand. An expert in the field just explained that,

". . . once the reaction has been made there is no benefit to further treatments."

That being the case, why would you want to apply more product when it won't give any benefit in return? I understand the floor is clean and empty and it would be a great time to do it, but applying more coats of product won't make it any better so in reality it would seem to be an exercise in futility. Anyway, I am just curious and I am trying to understand the reasoning behind it.

 

[mburrus]

i spoke with the guy who did my floor, and he said that generally that is true, but that my concrete was pretty porous, and that he was certain it would **** up some more densifier... maybe he was just trying to sell me more? not sure

 

[James-W]

i spoke with the guy who did my floor, and he said that generally that is true, but that my concrete was pretty porous, and that he was certain it would **** up some more densifier... maybe he was just trying to sell me more? not sure

Thanks for the explanation. I don’t know beans about it, I only know what I have read on this forum pertaining to floors. I do know the people who sell this stuff on this forum tend to be very knowledgeable about their products and about concrete floors in general. They also seem to be pretty darn honest when they give answers to questions. Since they don’t have anything to gain or lose in this particular situation, personally, I would think they would give you a more honest answer than someone who would be making a buck by selling you more product. But that is just my opinion and we all know what opinions are like.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck and hopefully it will turn out in a way that you can live with and not feel too bad about it.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

If it makes everyone feel better, there will be no harm done by adding more and densifier is relatively inexpensive.

 

[Steve_mc0]

Could he not just add a penetrating sealer over the top now and call it done?

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