Concrete conditioners are in huge demand, especially since the resumption of construction activities in the post-pandemic period. These conditioners, essentially, provide solutions to concrete’s inherent problem of shrinking and cracking over time. Among the many advantages of concrete conditioners, resistance to dusting and skidding are the most important ones. Recently, LEED friendly concrete conditioners have also been launched by the manufacturers in order to suit the changing nature of the global construction sector.
Princy A. J |
July 27, 2022
One of the many sectors that are on the way to witness a V-shaped recovery in the post-pandemic period is the construction industry. Quick resumption of manufacturing of steel, iron, and cement, along with new product launches and adoption of innovative techniques are some of the driving factors behind the growth of the construction sector. One major shift experienced by the construction industry in the post-pandemic period is the increased demand for concrete conditioners.
Advantages and Benefits of Using Concrete Conditioner
Concrete, basically, is composite material created from a mixture of sand, water, and gravel, along with other admixtures. Concrete is one of the most widely used constituent in construction works due to its high compressive strength. However, one downside of concrete is that when compared to its compressive strength, its tensile strength is much lower. As a result, it needs to be used in tandem with materials that are strong in tension, such as steel beams. Due to this property, structures built using concrete show at least some shrinkage and cracking over time.
Concrete conditioners, as the name suggests, when applied over concrete structures, help in the preservation of hard, polished concrete surfaces and impart certain properties to it such as resistance to heavy footfall, resistance to skidding, etc. It is due these advantages, the concrete conditioner market is poised to grow substantially in the next few years. Some advantages of these conditioners are elaborated below:
- Resistance to Dusting from Efflorescence
Concrete surfaces normally push the dust on the surface due to hydrostatic pressure which results in efflorescence. Efflorescence, essentially forms a coating over the concrete surface, leading to dusting. Over a period of time, this dusting can change the whole look of the concrete surface and, in some cases, may even weaken it. Concrete conditioners, by reacting with the calcium present in the polished concrete surfaces help in creating a dirt and dust repellent barrier, and thus prevent the occurrence of efflorescence.
- Anti-Stain Resistance and Increased Slip Resistance
Unpolished concrete surfaces are prone to chemical and physical weathering, which may leave permanent stain marks on the surfaces. This compromises the aesthetic look of the structure, especially if the concerned structure is a residential or commercial property. Though polished concrete surfaces aren’t susceptible to these kinds of damages, they need concrete conditioner coatings to increase the friction coefficient of the surface and make it resistant to skidding.
- Improved Ambient Lighting and Reflectivity of the Surfaces
One major advantage of applying concrete conditioners over concrete surfaces is that they improve the aesthetics of the surfaces by enhancing their reflectivity. As a result of this, the effect of ambient lighting in that specific room or office is much more pronounced and pleasing on the eyes. Also, studies in the field of concrete conditioners and their effect on lighting have shown that applying concrete conditioners on the surfaces reduces the amount of lighting required; thus, helping in energy saving and cost-cutting with respect to electricity bills.
- LEED Friendly and Reduced Maintenance
As with many other industries and sectors, the construction sector, too, has seen a growing trend of engaging into economic activities that take environmental concerns into consideration. As a result of this, there is an increasing shift towards construction of ‘green buildings’ which are environmentally sustainable. Manufacturers of concrete conditioners have taken a note of this shift and, hence, are manufacturing such products which have minimal carbon footprints, and hence LEED friendly. Also, application of such conditioners on ordinary concrete surfaces reduces the overall cost of maintenance of such surfaces.
The Bottom Line
Concrete conditioners, though developed much earlier, have garnered new-found attention since the last few years, due to a general shift from the way construction activities used to take place. The emergence of environment-friendly construction designing and planning has furthered the cause of these conditioners. Growth in remodeling and refurbishing of residential and commercial spaces in the post-pandemic period has also fueled this increase in demand for concrete conditioners.
