How to dust a concrete screed

Concrete has a number of advantages over many building materials, which make it one of the best compounds for the construction of various types of structures. It withstands a high load, does not burn and does not emit toxic gases when exposed to high temperatures. Inexpensive, easy to fill and environmentally friendly, this material still has some disadvantages, including the formation of dust and fine crumbs, which can occur even on a fresh screed. Today we will talk in more detail about why there is dust from concrete and how to deal with it. 

Why does concrete start to crumbleThere are several reasons why concrete begins to dust and crumble.

The most common of them are: 

• Corrosion: If the reinforcement that is inside the concrete is not protected from moisture, it expands, which causes the concrete to collapse.
• Chemical effects: aggressive salts, acids or alkalis, oils and other aggressive substances destroy the monolith and provoke the appearance of dust. 
• Wear: Over time, concrete ages and may lose its strength.
• Poor quality of materials, incorrect composition of the mixture or violation of construction technology. 

In order to avoid crumbling of concrete, it is necessary to design the structure correctly, choose high-quality materials, regularly carry out technical inspections and maintenance, as well as protect concrete from aggressive influences. To do this, a number of modern tools are used, which we will talk about later. 

How to protect concrete There are several materials that can be added to concrete to increase its strength and resistance to fracture.

Some of the materials include:

• Additives in concrete: there are special additives that are mixed into concrete to prevent its dusting. For example, polymer additives that improve the bond between the stone fraction and the cement binder.
• Coatings based on polymers and quartz filler, such as Teknoser 100 topping. After pouring the screed, it is covered with topping, which prevents the formation of dust on the surface.

• Sealing materials: when laying concrete, special sealing materials can be used between the layers, which will help reduce the number of air voids in the concrete structure, which in turn will reduce the likelihood of dust formation.