How it works
Silicate penetrates the pore structure and reacts with calcium hydroxide left over from cement hydration, forming additional binder inside the concrete rather than on top of it. The surface becomes measurably harder and less porous. Because the change is internal, there is no coating to delaminate, no re-coat cycle and no adhesion to fail.
What it fixes
Dusting, primarily. A slab that releases fine grey powder under traffic has a weak surface layer, and densifying binds it. It also improves abrasion resistance and makes a floor easier to clean. In a warehouse where the only complaint is dust on inventory, it is the correct and cheapest answer.
What it does not do
It does not add colour, does not provide chemical resistance, does not cover stains or damage, does not waterproof, and does not deliver slip texture. If any of those matter, a coating is the right specification and a densifier is not a substitute.
It is also part of polishing
Every genuine polished concrete floor includes a densifier step between the metal-bond grinding and the resin polishing passes. A "polished" floor that skipped it will look similar for a year and then dull, because the surface was never hardened before being refined.
Want this answered for your slab?
Free site visit with a moisture reading, then a written fixed price. Across the BC Interior.