Re: SB: silicate sealers was non-oil earthen floor finish

[Athena and Bill Steen <absteen@dakotacom.net>]

> From: mark a demaio <mdemaio@juno.com>
>
> the concensus i got was that Waterglass, and more particular Potassium
> silicate was the most recommended product to apply to a rammed earth type
> floor as a sealant for say a kitchen. I have not been able to find it in
> the US on the web (Kiem in europe), so don't know if it's only available
> from chemical supply companies or in artist quantities for restorations.
> the other indications i got were that it was about 10x the price of
> sodium silicate. is it worth this price differential for the potassium
> silicate, particularly for a fairly large floor (approx 1000 s.f)? are
> any of the formulated products any better than pure lab grades, or do
> they just contain additives (usually plastic).
> 
Mark,
I don't think it will work as a vehicle to resist water penetration.  It
will definitely make the earth mix harder and abrasive resistant if included
in the mixture provided it contains a significant percentage of silica based
sand.  It is included in a penetrating sealant manufactured by AFM in San
Diego, but it contains some percentage of acrylics.  Short of oil and
acrylics I can't think of anything that would really repel water
effectively.  I guess you could try wax, but you really need some sort of
solvent or oil to get it thinned well enough to make it work.  And then you
loose the hardening benefit you get from the linseed oil.  Why not just use
a non-toxic linseed oil  If you want to be 100% correct, but an organic oil
that has been cold pressed, sun thicken it to make it dry faster and you
should have a decent product.  And I would suspect that it would be cheaper
than water glass when you are done.  If you want the postassium silicate you
can get it from Cedar Rose Gulbreath who runs Building for Health in
Carbondale.  She basically has it drop shipped from AFM, who uses it in
their sealant, but don't sell it separately.

Bill


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