If you don't typically work with concrete, you might not be familiar with bonding agents. Concrete mixtures vary significantly between manufacturers, and many contractors may even create their own specific blends. Although all concrete contains a mix of cement, water, and aggregate, it may also contain admixtures that impact its final properties.

As a result, there's no guarantee that two different concretes will work together or that you can adhere new concrete to an old surface. Simply applying an additional layer of concrete on top of an existing concrete floor can result in delamination or prevent the two layers from bonding at all. Bonding agents step in to fill this gap and keep your old and new concrete happily entwined.

Life Without Bonding Agents

Concrete is a long-lasting and durable material, but nothing holds up forever. Concrete flooring will eventually wear out from everyday use, even if it doesn't suffer physical damage from other sources. Depending on your application, you may see anything from discoloration to visible cracks. Pooling water is another common sign of wear on flooring surfaces exposed to the elements.

If you couldn't resurface your existing concrete, your only option would be to tear out the old floor and replace it. This process is typically costly since you need to pay for both installing the new floor and demolishing the old one. Replacing a concrete surface is also a highly disruptive process, which can be a significant issue if you're dealing with a floor in a workshop or another commercial space.

Using Bonding Agents to Repair and Resurface

A much more cost-effective alternative is to repair your flooring when possible and resurface it once the entire area becomes too worn out to save. Bonding agents step in to save you money in both cases. Contractors must apply a bonding agent for repairs to ensure the new concrete forms a permanent bond with the old. This method works for a wide range of concrete repair techniques.

Bonding agents are even more crucial with severely worn or damaged floors. In these cases, you can often resurface the floor rather than remove the old concrete. Contractors will apply a bonding agent to the entire surface before putting down a new layer of concrete. This approach is often drastically cheaper than demolishing your old floor and usually takes less time, as well.

While bonding agents might not be all that familiar to anyone outside of the concrete industry, they serve a crucial role in making the upkeep and repair of concrete flooring affordable and long-lasting. Next time you need to repair or resurface your concrete floor, don't forget that the right bonding agent is what makes it possible.

Contact your local concrete dealer like Zirconia to find out more.