Having to sweep your floor over and over again and still getting a thin layer of dust accumulated by the next morning is simply agitating. Below is a complete guide on how to permanently stop your floor from dusting.
Why Floors Dust
After constantly sweeping, many start scratching their heads trying to figure out the source of the mysterious white dust. Do not fret just yet, the dust is as a result of floor disintegration on its topmost layer caused by wear and tear induced by traffic and cleaning activities.
Other than the wear and tear due to old age, dusting may be as a result of poor mixing ratios for the concrete during construction, too much silt or clay in the concrete mixture or inadequate curing of the top layer. For most households, however, improper finishing of the surface such as using too much water is responsible for a weakened floor surface.
Troweling process involves water rising to the surface of the concrete when used in excess in the concrete mixture. This bleeding water transports fine cement and other particles to the surface creating a loose layer that readily disintegrates to create the white powder.
Remedies For a Dusting Floor
The process for fixing this is quite straight forward and if done right it creates a protective seal on the floor slab hence securing it from damage. For mild dusting situations, the most effective solution is applying a penetrative siliconate sealer.
The sealer will react with the concrete to generate a tough barrier on the surface made of calcium silicate. The good thing about this remedy is that it retains the physical properties of your beautiful floor and effectively secures it from road salts, excess water, damage from freeze-thaw as well as resisting stains.
Another functional sealer that can be applied is the acrylic topical sealer. Top of the line products such as acrylic sealer forms a firm top layer and makes cleaning easier. This is also applicable for mild dusting.
To remedy instances of heavy dusting especially for hard surfaces, start by scratching off the surface then apply a densifier. These are designed to harden the concrete as well as polishing it when necessary. Densifiers stand out as they are very reactive to concrete and have the ability to sip deep within the slab filling in all poles and weak joints.
Densifiers differ from sealers as they do not generate a protective layer as their molecular structure is very fine thus readily integrate with the concrete. If you choose to go with densifiers, the most recommendable option are those that are lithium based as their application is quite simplified.
For extreme cases of dusting, it is plausible to consult with a floor coating contractor to advise you on the best cause of action that will yield long term outcomes.
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