Errors when working with concrete toppings

Topping is an excellent solution to improve the strength characteristics of a concrete floor. In addition to choosing a high-quality material, it is very important to apply it correctly, because there are a lot of nuances when working with dry hardeners, non-compliance with which can lead to cracking of the surface. Let's look at the mistakes that novice craftsmen can make when working with concrete toppings.

Mistake #1: a long break between pouring concrete and hardening it

Dry topping is applied in the first few hours after pouring concrete, because it must absorb the milk from the surface and bond with the concrete. Otherwise, the material will not be able to absorb enough moisture, which will lead to cracking of the concrete in the future.

Mistake #2: additional humidification of concrete

It is not necessary to water the concrete with water before applying the topping additionally, as this can lead to an imbalance and disruption of the technology of working with dry hardeners. 

 

Mistake #3: applying topping under unsuitable weather conditions

No matter how urgent the task is to pour and strengthen concrete, always remember: it is always more difficult, longer and more expensive to redo and correct mistakes. Therefore, check the weather forecast for several days ahead, calculate the time of pouring concrete in advance and do not work with topping in windy or rainy weather. The optimal temperature for applying the topping is considered to be from 5 °C to 30 °C.

Mistake #4: distribution of dry topping with an uneven layer

Topping should be scattered on the concrete surface with the calculation of 2-4 kg / m2. In large areas, it is recommended to use a special machine for distributing topping in order to obtain an even layer around the perimeter.
 

 

Mistake #5: uneven grout of the material

Inability to work with dry toppings can lead to the most dangerous mistake – uneven grout of the material. Long mashing in one place will lead to the formation of a recess, which is simply unrealistic to fix, and omissions will lead to poor bonding of the hardener with concrete. Thus, the surface will be uneven and after some time it will simply crack.

Mistake #6: Saving on material

Dry topping is considered one of the most affordable hardeners for concrete, but it's still not worth saving on it. Check certificates, choose high-quality products and only trusted manufacturers, for example, such as Tekno. 

Tekno's dry toppings – Teknoser 100 and Teknoser 300 – increase the strength of the surface by 1.5-2 times (up to 75 MPa), make it wear-resistant, resistant to mechanical damage, frost-resistant, waterproof and smooth.

We hope our article was useful for you, and you can read the instructions for applying toppings in the article "Step-by-step instructions for strengthening the concrete floor with topping", if you want to learn about the methods of applying topping, then go to the page "What are the methods of applying topping".