The Best Densifiers for Stone and Concrete

With all of the advancements in the concrete industry, concrete densifiers stand out and are amazing products with important benefits. Concrete densifiers are not only confusing for those outside of concrete industries but can even cause some confusion for those within the industry as well. This article will discuss what a densifier is, how it works, and selecting the best Waypoint Sealants densifier for your project. 

What is a Concrete Densifier?

A concrete densifier is a topical, water based chemical hardener that is most commonly sprayed on top of a concrete product or concrete slab after placement, and if polishing the slab, it is used during the process of refinement. Regardless if the slab or poured deck is polished or left unpolished, using a densifier is an economical way to add strength, endurance, and longevity to a concrete slab. It also make it less permeable to stains.

Concrete densifiers are used as part of the refinement process of concrete polishing but are also widely used on unfinished concrete slabs, concrete tiles, and poured pool surrounds and patios. Concrete densifiers can be used on old concrete as well as new concrete. This product acts as a pore filler and increases the surface density of the concrete.

When applied, the densifier deeply penetrates the concrete, creates a chemical reaction, and produces a byproduct that fills every pore. This outcome the concrete surface reducing pitting. It increases the surface durability of new concrete significantly compared to concrete surfaces that are not treated with a densifier. The product hardens old concrete, decreasing wear and the effects of weather.

How Do Densifiers Work?

Throughout and during the process of curing, concrete slabs or anything made from concrete like pool decks and patio decks produce a byproduct called free lime. The free lime remains in the concrete. Free lime is calcium carbonate, which when it reacts with the concrete densifier can produce a stronger substance. Because products made from concrete are porous by nature, using a densifier is a great way to make them less porous and stronger overall as a finished floor surface.

When the concrete densifier reacts with the free lime, calcium-silicate-hydrate gel forms. This gel is a very dense and hard crystal which forms a continuous layer. The chemical reaction that is produced binds the concrete and densifier together, making the slab or concrete sections stronger and more to wear than it was before treatment. Another added benefit of treating concrete with a densifier is that it stops it from dusting (a continual natural occurrence with concrete over time). 

Benefits of Densifying.

Densifying for years has been associated with commercial building applications where polished concrete is preferable for many buildings, factories, and other facilities. Due to its strength and resistance to wear, concrete densifiers have been an ideal accessory for polished floor surfaces in a variety of settings including stadiums, hospitals, government buildings, airports, and factories. Densifying helps the finished floor’s to moisture, chemicals, oil, grease, and abrasion. Additionally, it takes much longer to show wear from pedestrian or vehicle tracks and increases light reflection. 

For concrete pools surrounds and patios all the same benefits apply. The concrete surface is made much stronger and resistant to wear, chipping and cracking. Because it is now less porous, it is also more resistant to stains. Importantly, densifying is a permanent application.

Waypoint has advanced Densifying to natural stone. These densifying sealers restore decaying and flaking stone and prevent new stone from deteriorating.

Which Waypoint Densifier is Right for Your Project?

Selecting the right professional Waypoint Densifier for your patio or pool surround’s unique circumstances is important. Over the last 15 years our densifier applications have made it through hurricanes and floods, scorching hot summer and freezing winters. We believe they are the best in the industry.  

Importantly and in addition, some of our consolidator/densifiers also contain chemicals that repel water and eroding pool salts dissolved in water. These chemicals penetrate into the surface where they chemically react to form a long-lasting hydrophobic barrier within the pores. Most of Waypoint’s densifing sealers also inhibit efflorescence from rising to the surface.

Concrete Densifiers

WPS-500: The Densifier WB (water-based) is a formulation of penetrating lithium and other silicates for new and existing concrete. They react with concrete to produce insoluble calcium silicate hydrate within the concrete pores. WPS-500’s cutting-edge technology easily makes it the premium hardener, densifier and sealer for concrete surfaces old or new. Click here to see more.. 

WPS-600: The Densifier Pro Plus is identical to WPS-500 plus it waterproofs. WPS-600 integrally waterproofs, densifies, strengthens and preserves concrete of any age at any point during the concrete’s lifespan. Click here to see more.

WPS-200: The Steel Seal Pro goes one step further than both WPS-500 and WPS-600. In addition to densifying and water proofing, it adds stain resistance. It is both a penetrating sealer and a film former. Click here to see more.

Stone and Concrete Densifiers

WPC-300: The Consolidator/Densifier is a unique densifier/consolidator. WPC-300 stabilizes, strengthens and densifies not only concrete but natural stone and masonry. It does this by replacing, similar to what happens in concrete, the natural binding materials lost due to deterioration, decay, weathering and other causes. Because of its uniqueness, it is usually used to restore the structural integrity to crumbling, decaying natural stone, concrete and masonry. It also provides a means of reducing future decay as opposed to being a preventative. Click here to see more.

WPN-800: It is the only sealant of its kind: it represents breakthrough technology in water based weatherproofing protection for concrete based products and for general stone that is porous or soft or friable. It is a powerful consolidator making the substrate stronger resisting deterioration, decay and flaking over time. WPN-800 was formulated to significantly improve the protection afforded by conventional sealants for protecting concrete tiles and pavers, porous stones, and for soft or friable or flaking stone, brick, roof tiles, floor tiles, grouts and more. Click here to see more.