Some are used on floors already acid stained or dye stained and could receive a membrane type sealer. What this illustrates is that a smoother surface (such as that produced with a steel trowel) will retard water penetration and efflorescence movement more than an open, porous surface (such as a float finish). It is important to get it right the second time so take time to diagnosis the causes as best you can with the information available. Apply an evaporation retarder instead. Do newly placed concrete slabs have to fully cure (28 days) before applying a Densifier? When a densifier is applied to the surface of concrete the silicate begins to immediately react with the calcium hydroxide. This will encourage a more dense pore and capillary structure and help close down the moisture transportation routes. How much "water of convenience" was added to the concrete? For consumers well versed in concrete, as well as for homeowners who just want to protect their homes, the plenitude of information is overwhelming. This is added to the concrete at the plant, but it has a downside. Concrete Sealer Reviews. Some densifiers can be applied at time of placement where others see problems and need to wait for at least the 3 days to cure. This seems workable, life is good. Once the concrete reaches its point of absorption any material that was unable to penetrate reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air. Contact us and view our privacy policy, terms & conditions, and press room, Causes of Efflorescence on a Stamped Overlay. It is important to determine how much moisture exists in the slab, the source of the moisture and also whether conditions, like seasonal ground water might contribute more moisture in the future. Why cant I use this product on brick or concrete blocks? Probably the oldest test method is the Plastic Sheet Test (ASTM-D-4263) which is taping down a clear 18" X 18" sheet of poly and checking 16 hours later for condensation or for a darkened concrete surface. Application is quicker (the slab is dry in 1-2 hours vs. 6-24 hours.) Answers to at least some of these questions can give a decorative contractor a heads up before wading into a project completely uninformed and unprepared. After concrete is poured it solidifies and hardens through a chemical process called hydration. Unlike sodium silicates, lithium silicates do not leave white efflorescent residues on the treated surface. Concrete densifier and hardener, compatible . Unfortunately, too many finishers (non-ACI Certified Finishers) routinely introduce large amounts of unnecessary "water of convenience" to the mix in order to facilitate concrete placement. A pump-up sprayer is used to apply a lithium silicate densifier to a newly poured concrete floor. Secondly, some contractors are following the application of acid stains with silicate type non-film forming sealers generically described as chemical hardeners, densifiers and soluble chloride reducers within a few days of concrete placement. We like the concentrated Lithi-Tek 4500. After the sealer is applied, you can reapply a stain or dye to the floor. Dry sand weighs approximately 100 pounds per cubic foot. PS107 is an economical, water based 100% active sodium silicate solution that penetrates into an unsealed cementitious surface to increase density, hardness, and strength of the concrete while retaining its breathability. The best approach would be to strip all the sealer and wax off the concrete. © 2020. If the water movement is low, a penetrating sealer designed to stop or slow efflorescence can be used. When can I polish a floor after using LS? The decorative contractor, being the sincere person he or she is, has proposed an upgrade from the acrylic sealer in the specifications to an epoxy or urethane because of the heavy foot traffic. It means doing a VTR test whenever you suspect there may be the potential for efflorescence problems. More accurate, but also more expensive, testing technology such as the Protimeter Moisture Measurement System (ASTM Standard F-2170-02) uses a probe to measure the presence of moisture on and below the concrete surface along with the relative humidity, dew point and temperature. What happened, and how do I fix this? It increases the density of the concrete surface, making it less permeable to liquids. Given the financial risk, not to mention damage to a contractor's reputation it makes sense for a contractor to explore procedures that more clearly indicate subsurface conditions in order to avoid the efflorescence problems caused by moisture. Acrylic sealers allow the vapor to pass through, but the salt deposits remain behind creating the unsightly blush that prompts owners to call the stain contractor. Efflorescence can occur months or even years after the contractor has left the job due to circumstances similar to those just described or from seasonal ground water seeping under the slab. The argument against the granular material is that it may become a saturated "blotter" before the slab is poured adding even more water that has only one way to leave. The amount of these salts, and the resulting difficulty of removing these white stains, depends on many factors, including the amount of salt dissolved in the water used to mix the concrete, the concrete itself and the amount of salt present in the sand and gravel used in the preparation of the conc… If applied too heavily, an unreacted white residue may develop on the surface. This creates a harder surface and decreases staining. ♦ USES • Densify and color concrete preliminary to . Efflorescence makes red look pink, brown look tan, and black look gray or even white. This will depend on the process being done on the floor later in the construction or what the end use of the slab will be. When concrete is kept moist for a longer period, especially the first few days, more capillaries and pores fill partially or completely to form a denser and more impermeable matrix that discourages the migration of moisture and soluble salts. Lythic Densifier with Reactive Colloidal Silica is 99.5% pure silica. Densifiers can be used on interior or exterior applications, and new or old concrete surfaces. more FAQs . The really important factor here is minimizing water in all the important areas...the sub grade, the concrete and the procedures performed by the decorative contractor. Doug Bannister is owner of The Stamp Store in Oklahoma City, OK, which provides a complete line of decorative concrete materials including products, equipment and training. you do not know what the water-cement ratio was when poured. That figures out to each 1,000 square feet of concrete surface having 1,670 pounds, or 200 gallons of water sitting on the underside of the slab with no where to go but up! SurfKoat Aqualon S-400 is an economical sodium silicate concrete densifier, hardener and sealer used in the process of polishing concrete. Best Concrete Water Oil and Stain Repellent Sealer with Saltguard. These two samples come from the same bucket of overlay mix. Claims vary from product to product and from manufacturer about how far the chemicals penetrate, their permanence and the levels of shine and slip resistance. The depth of the densifier’s effect is impacted by the i… When the salts reach the surface, they react with CO2 in the air and form insoluble calcium carbonate. As moisture migrates up to the surface of the concrete, it carries along with it calcium salts from within the concrete. This article is meant to be a common sense overview of the major efflorescence issues. This reaction leaves a white, powdery residue on the surface of the concrete. Wetted to achieve compaction, this sand could easily contain 10% moisture by weight, or 10 pounds of water per cubic foot of sand. We will offer useful explanations of this complex phenomenon in practical terms without a lengthy detailed chemical analysis. To give an idea how much water may be available to bring soluble salts to the surface when these factors are not given any consideration let us consider a typical residential slab pour...assume we have a 2" thick blotter course of sand residing between the concrete slab and a vapor retarder. This is often times difficult to remove. We hope this discussion clarifies some of the issues so that efflorescence is better understood and the appropriate measures are taken to prevent its occurrence. There is another aspect of this foreboding picture...this porous slab we have described acts like a hard sponge with large pores and capillaries throughout the matrix, able to wick moisture up and quite willing to act as a hard sponge, capable of absorbing hundreds of pound of water from the cleaning processes employed by the decorative flooring contractor. We have thought about tiling over it, but are any special preparations necessary, such as applying a thin-set mortar or a moisture barrier? fan tip, lint free mop, or soft bristle push broom. The costs associated with efflorescence prevention are minimal when compared to the cost and inconvenience of the remedies, especially when the space is occupied. Fly ash brings three important benefits to reducing efflorescence. One manufacturer has a thermal degrading wax that breaks down with hot water. Efflorescence is the white powdery substance on the surfaces of unsealed concrete and the white blush seen with sealed floors. Some contractors are following the application of acid stains with silicate type non-film forming sealers generically described as chemical hardeners, densifiers and soluble chloride reducers within a few days of concrete placement. The recommended temperature and humid-ity ranges for densifier application vary from This white, dusty, scaly salt can be minimal or dramatic, depending on the amount of free calcium salt present in the concrete. If excess S-400 is allowed to dry on the concrete surface, a white residue may form and can only be removed by mechanical means such as sanding or grinding process. If any whitening does result, it is usually limited to a fine white powder which can be easily swept away instead of a hardened residue like with Sodium and Potassium Silicates which attach to a surface and are very difficult to remove. How do you prevent and remove it? Efflorescence is normally worn off or washed away on unsealed concrete surfaces. What causes it? It is an aesthetic issue, an issue we would all like to avoid. We mentioned that a well drained site and a vapor retarder are deterrents to efflorescence. In stubborn cases, a mild acid rinse or even a light sandblasting may be necessary. Efflorescence is reduced as the silicate causes the matrix to become denser as we described earlier. WHAT IS EFFLORESCENCE? Moisture migrates and moves toward cool temperatures. The good news is that it will eventually go away on its own as the free calcium is depleted. Allow the product to dry and then check the surface of the concrete for surface residue. If too much water was added to the mix and the water-cement ratio is off, the aggregate will begin to separate from the cement paste. Not only does densifying begin but the once empty pores of the concrete are filled creating a tougher, stronger concrete slab. Imagine the consequences of the following unpleasant, but very real scenario... the project is completed, the contractor has been paid, the delighted owner takes possession and turns on the HVAC causing vapor in the slab to move towards the warmth or the lower humidity of the conditioned space bringing the whitish minerals with it. And in this situation, you can't wait.To fix the problem at this point, clean the surface with a mild acid or efflorescence remover (some manufacturers make special efflorescence cleaners) followed by sealing. They have a faster dry time than sodium silicate densifiers and they are a cost effective solution to harden concrete. Now for more specifics...an option to the vapor retarder is a waterproofing admixture to help prevent efflorescence. Diagnosing the causes of efflorescence after the floor has been sealed can be difficult. Not only does densifying begin but the once empty pores of the concrete are filled creating a tougher, stronger concrete slab. This eliminates the trapped efflorescence problem and also greatly reduces maintenance costs. This is not an uncommon set of circumstances. Some of these chemicals have been used for years and some are relatively new to market. It looked great for three days, but then it rained a little the night of the third day, and by the next morning all the black color had disappeared, hidden by a grayish-white surface discoloration. No matter what you do, the efflorescence problem will need to be mitigated. That being said when you buy a home that already has a poured concrete basement, driveway, patio etc. It can work alone or as a primer for other products in the Ghostshield family. Helpful mix design factors include ordering a well graded a mix from the ready mix producer. The market for concrete sealers is crowded with products all professing the same level of protection, quality, and benefits. If urethanes or epoxies are on the floor, hydrostatic pressure may build and possibly cause delamination. Efflorescence is caused by vapor migrating through the slab bringing soluble salts to the surface of the concrete. What do you suppose the chances are that the stained and sealed floor will escape with no efflorescence? Without moisture movement there would be no efflorescence on the surface to create the problem. Was the concrete placed directly on a vapor retarder? ft. per gallon using an industrial grade sprayer with a 0.5 gal./min, fan tip, lint free mop, or soft bristle push broom. Elevated slabs are quite common in commercial construction and they are not placed on a blotter material. Likely sources of secondary efflorescence would be a saturated base material, an improperly drained site or excessive amounts of water used by the decorative flooring contractor during his cleaning process - rinsing off the acid stain residue, for example. When you apply a liquid densifier to concrete during coloring or polishing, the solution reacts with the free lime or calcium hydroxide present in the concrete to solidify it, making the concrete surface much less permeable and more resistant to stains. If excess SP-450 is allowed to dry on the concrete surface, a white residue may form and can only be removed by mechanical means such as sanding or grinding process. ... tools and all equipment and sprayers with clean water immediately after use. A fast fix might be to use toluene, xylene or another coat of solvent base acrylic which reemulsifies the original sealer and clears the blush. Another important mix design consideration is the replacement of 15% to 20% of the Portland cement with fly ash which contributes significantly to lessening efflorescence. Water reducers of course, are also helpful at minimizing the amount of water and a reduction of cement (paste). White stains or a white powdery coating on new concrete is not uncommon. In addition, materials that are darker in color will show efflorescence more readily than lighter-colored materials. Concrete is composed of three ingredients, Portland cement, aggregate and water. Efflorescence is the white powdery substance on the surfaces of unsealed concrete and the white blush seen with sealed floors. Why is the sample exposed to the air loaded with efflorescence while the other sample has no effloresce and is the proper color? And forget the old notion that you can't use integral color with fly ash, you can. Water borne stains are becoming popular and manufacturers are working to formulate compatible curing membranes that will accept subsequent staining. Shop Now. Conversely concrete that is placed at a high slump and not cured acts as a sponge, full of miniature raceways allowing easy movement of moisture from the bottom up and top down. , it seems to be mitigated for smaller residential stained floors a home that already a! Right shows the backside of the concrete bad news is that it concrete densifier white residue in. Show efflorescence more readily than lighter-colored materials good surface moisture test is the proper color material left in the?... When and how to apply a lithium silicate densifier to a minimum helps that... And mortar residues if subsequent VTR tests indicate acceptable levels without a lengthy detailed chemical analysis more conspicuous darker! 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