I would like to address a few problems that we have experienced on past projects that I believe can be significantly reduced by looking at alternative products made by the same manufacturers that are currently being specified. 

 

1. Joint filler separation — I am seeing the same shore hardness of 85 or greater which is designed for heavy industrial traffic being spec’d in for light duty commercial and retail floors. A shore hardness of 85 or greater is rigid and allows for very little movement of the slab, so any shrinking or settling causes separation of the joint filler either cohesively or adhesively. A product with a lower shore hardness is more flexible and will allow more movement in the slab without joint filler separation. Below is tech data sheets on two different such products.

 

2. Final Sealer — For years “Guard” type semi-topical products have made a strong push into our industry, and while they have a certain aesthetic appeal when brand new they have proven to be difficult and costly to maintain. When there is a stain that happens, because the sealer is topical, to remove the stain it requires removing the sealer from joint to joint or wall to wall instead of being able to just address where the stain was. There are now penetrating sealers that give the same if not better stain protection but do not leave a topical film. This allows the stain to be addressed within the area affected versus having to go several feet beyond to find a joint or wall as a stopping point. One other point of interest is a penetrating sealer does not enhance or diminish the shine, so the polisher is required to make the floor shine with diamonds instead of relying on a semi-topical sealer to make the floor shine.

 

3. Densifier — It is important to have a densifier that works in unison with the final sealer that both hardens and helps with the sealing of the concrete.