Water glass-Everseal-What is it?

[Tina123]

We have a basement to furnish as a playroom. Concrete slab on the ground, house built in 1936.

A craftsman recommended sealing the floor with Everseal=Waterglass, which makes the concrete dry and allows flooring to be laid on it.

We also have radon (from the ground); He suggested that then Epoxy should be applied over Everseal=Stops the radon.

We have never heard of the above solution, everyone talks about ventilated floors in basements.
(which this craftsman discouraged, "vermin, dust, etc. can accumulate")

I wonder:
1. Does the above solution seem sensible?
2. Does anyone know if Everseal or Epoxy is dangerous, e.g., emits inappropriate fumes?
3. To stop ground radon; Is Epoxy best, or self-leveling compound, or something else?

 

[Forbo]

Waterglass can be googled, it's available, for example, in Herdins "Fuktstopp", a handy solution for impregnating concrete. Once the waterglass has reacted with the concrete, it is completely harmless... and it isn't particularly dangerous to begin with... (Unless you drink it, of course... )
Epoxy shouldn't be a problem either once it has cured.

As to whether the solution itself works/is good, I can't say... there are surely others on the forum who can. But neither waterglass nor epoxy is dangerous, in answer to question 2.

 

[Tyresö]

Have never heard of "vattenglas på betong" even though I work - eat - sleep - shit concrete around the clock (almost).
Apparently, one can never be fully knowledgeable in the concrete industry...

 

[Forbo]

http://www.herdins.se/ytbehandling/fuktstopp__275

 

[Tyresö]

[link]

Don't know what to think about the product. Always a little suspicious of surface treatment agents for concrete that can be used without a professional gas mask and equipment as if working at a nuclear power plant.

Herdins is not a known brand in concrete additives, makes me a bit more suspicious...
If it had Sika or Grace on the can, then I would fully believe in it, but in this case, I don't know what to think.

 

[Tina123]

OK, thanks for the information about waterglass.

I would gladly welcome more opinions on the solution we received, namely to seal/moisture barrier the basement floor with waterglass. However, it's not the entire basement, just certain rooms that are to be renovated.

Any opinions regarding radon, does waterglass stop ground radon?

 

[Forbo]

I don't know what to think about the product. I'm always a bit suspicious about concrete surface treatments that you can use without professional gas masks and equipment as if you're working at a nuclear power plant.

Herdins is not a well-known brand in concrete additives, makes me a bit more suspicious...
If it said Sika or Grace on the container, then I would fully trust it, but in this case, I don't know what to believe.

I'm not an expert, but isn't water glass quite a known method for treating concrete surfaces? "Sodium silicate" maybe sounds more familiar? Sika sells it under the name "Dust Binder."

I used water glass on concrete pillars this summer, and when you then spray water on the concrete, it doesn't absorb but beads more or less.

Anyway, it's not "dangerous", whether it then works or not for the thread starter's purpose is another question, no idea

 

[Wagner]

Now, I'm not an expert, but water glass is a pretty well-known way to treat concrete surfaces, right? "Sodium silicate" may sound more familiar? Sika sells it under the name "Dammbindare."

I used water glass on concrete piles myself last summer, and when you then spray water on the concrete, it doesn't absorb it, but it beads more like.

Anyway, there's nothing "dangerous" about it, whether it works or not for the thread creator's purpose is another question, no idea

I think it seems strange to have missed such a thing if you've worked with concrete, even I, who have zero knowledge of such things, have come across water glass... In my case, on floors in barns and milk rooms, it can become slippery as heck after a few years!

 

[Blindnit]

Even I, as a new homeowner for just over a year, have two 25-liter canisters of Natronvattenglas in the basement
It's intended to be used for homemade silicate paint in the future, though the future seems to be delayed....

 

[Tyresö]

I find it strange to have missed such a thing if you've worked with concrete, even I, with no knowledge of such things, have encountered water glass... In my case, on floors in barns and dairy rooms, it can get slippery as heck after a few years!

I only deal with fresh concrete, mostly with pumping the concrete. When I perform casting work myself, it's always new production and never renovation casting to avoid all the hassle (demolition work) that renovation casting entails - and therefore I haven't delved into the jungle of all the products (primer, adhesion, etc.) available in the industry. However, I am very knowledgeable about all the additives and how they should be dosed and used in fresh concrete.

But I agree that it is strange; I do hear a lot of tips and tricks about concrete from customers to whom I pump concrete.

 

[Tina123]

OK.
If I now seal the basement floor with water glass, do you think I dare to lay insulation like Styrofoam boards or EPS mortar? (Then flooring on top.)

Is there a risk of mold on top of the water glass if insulation is applied?

 

[haavard]

What I know about waterglass is that it can be used to strengthen clay plaster against driving rain. The advantage is that it allows moisture from the house to pass through. It does not go well with what this thread is about...

 

[Forbo]

From what I understand, vattenglas is not diffusion-proof, but waterproof. It might be best to call Everseal and hear what they think the product can be used for...

 

[Tyresö]

A spontaneous consideration regarding water glass...How long does a concrete treatment with water glass last?...1 year...50 years?

Since I am completely "concrete damaged" - as my wife says - I will delve into everything related to water glass-treated concrete! These are the kinds of things that can keep me awake at night... I have an enormous amount of contacts within concreteStockholm, and if those contacts in Sweden's largest concrete landscape don't have the knowledge I'm after, I see water glass-treated concrete as a gimmick.

But I will definitely give it an honest chance...I am always curious about new knowledge in the concrete world...

 

[Blindnit]

It's not that new

http://www.raa.se/cms/materialguiden/material/silikatfarg/egenskaper.html
http://www.betong.se/?p=2926