Shark grip

[Cole johnstone]

I am having concrete poured next week and stamped. When I told the concrete guy I wanted shark grip In the sealer, he said they don’t mix it in. They spray the sealer then just throw shark grip on top.

Wouldn’t it be more effective and last longer if he mixed shark grip in the sealer? Can you spray sealer with shark grip mixed in?

Thanks

 

[mknauss]

Let's give your post a bump and see if anyone has ever used that product.

 

[Kaylee34]

When I was still in the construction industry we used it quite a bit on sealed concrete. You can mix it with the sealer and roll or broadcast on wet sealer. We'd usually go back with another seal coat if broadcasting but it's not necessary. A small hand spreader like you'd use for fertilizer works great. Coverage is much more even than tossing by hand. You can't spray it if it's mixed with the sealer. Instant clogging and no one will ruin their tips trying it.

Keep in mind, it will help with slip resistance but it's NOT a non-skid product.

 

[Jaffles]

Wouldn’t it be more effective and last longer if he mixed shark grip in the sealer? Can you spray sealer with shark grip mixed in?

We would apply first coat of clear thinned by 20% but with no additive to the concrete by roller, so to work the product into all the crevices and penetrate the concrete better.

Then add the additive to a new drum of clear and let it expand or activate for the nominated amount of time. We would also mix what's left of the first coat in with it which shouldn't be much anyway if you have done your sums. Then apply the second coat via a roller making sure the stock drum is stirred semi-regularly to stop setting of any additive.

You generally can't spray the additive in the clear unless you a specialised type of airless spare gun, however spraying on the clear if a much faster way of application. By throwing the additive over the clear before it dries is probably industry standard, and can be patchy if the thrower is careless. So applied via hand spreader as Kaylee mentions is perhaps a better manual way.

In my book however, because the additive is sitting on top of the clear, not embedded into it, it tends to wear off faster. Spraying and throwing is better for the contractor and will achieve a result, but mixed and rolled works better for what you are paying and hoping for. Not sure what they are charging you but maybe look at doing it yourself, its not hard.

I'm not a fan of someday sealers. Do the yards and let it cure for a week, keep of it if possible, pressure wash, and seal. That's is as hard as it gets.

Also consider every coat with the additive gets grippier, hence why we did only in the second coat. But this depends on your desired grip level and how smooth the substrate is. If a third coat was required for more grip than overall you're sealing end game only improves due to better sealer density.

You will or should also redcoat your clear every 1 to 3 years pending on what product you use if exposed to the weather. Just once coat and perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 the mix of non slip additive to keep it as good as day one.