[Greenbuilding] Passive solar home--concrete overlay re thermal mass

[RT]

On Mon, 13 May 2013 01:07:56 -0400, KTOT (g) <ktottotc at gmail.com> wrote:

>  2 in. concrete slab
> the slab and stain/sealer are completely defective and most likely have  
> to be replaced,

> putting a concrete overlay product atop the existing slab. This overlay  
> product consists of two parts--1) Portland cement, aggregate, and a  
> stain, and 2) a modified acrylic latex resin. My believe is this product  
> is not good thermal mass (atop the concrete)

My belief is that your belief is incorrect.

The modified acrylic latex resin is an admixture which during the mixing  
process simply replaces some of the water used in the mix. The amount of  
the thermal mass materials (sand and stone aggregate) remains the same  
whether the admixture is used or not.

The function of the admix is to improve the bond between the new layer and  
the old ... as well as improving some of the properties of the new layer.

You don't mention what it is about the 2 inch concrete slab that is  
"completely defective" that necessitates its replacement.

My guess is that it was poorly finished (ie screeding,floating,trowelling  
done at the wrong times resulting in poor-quailty concrete ... perhaps too  
much water in the mix as well), cured improperly and too thin (if not just  
a thin mass overlay atop a structural floor).

However, these "problems" are fairly common in many if not most new  
developer-built small residential projects where the concrete slab is  
usually just a sub-floor with something slapped over top for the optical  
finish.

-- 
=== * ===
Rob Tom					AOD257
Kanata, Ontario, Canada

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