Neodur floor hardener: HE 2, HE 3 and colour chart

A power-trowelled concrete floor gains its character not only through the power-trowelling. The wear layer also partly determines how the surface looks and how it withstands daily use. Neodur is a premixed dry-shake floor hardener used in that finish. Here we explain what HE 2 and HE 3 mean and how to choose a colour.

What is a Neodur wear layer?

Neodur is broadcast as a dry mix onto fresh concrete and worked into the surface during power trowelling. This creates an integrated wear layer. It is therefore a choice to discuss before casting. An existing, hardened floor cannot be broadcast in the same way again.

In our original product information, we described HE 2 as a mixture with hard mineral aggregates, cement and additives. The product is delivered pre-mixed. This helps to keep the composition consistent, but an even distribution and correct application on site remain equally important.

HE 2 or HE 3: what is the difference?

The choice starts with the intended use of the floor. A living space has different requirements than a workshop with intensive rolling traffic. Therefore, consider the full product specification and the expected load.

In this wear test, a lower volume loss means a higher resistance to the tested wear. That figure alone does not indicate how the entire floor behaves under all conditions. Nor does it replace the design of the concrete slab. The designation C70 on the mortar should therefore not be confused with the prescribed strength class of the structural concrete.

Recognise Neodur HE 3 and watch a site video

The packaging helps to identify the product name and execution. Always check the full designation and the accompanying technical datasheet when ordering. A packaging photo alone is not sufficient to prescribe consumption, colour or performance.

Site video: Kim koi in Boortmeerbeek

Watch the video “Kim koi’s Boortmeerbeek” on the Glansbeton channel. The video footage gives an additional impression of a concrete floor on site; the product specification for your floor will be discussed separately.

▶ Watch the site video of Glansbeton

Neodur colour chart: from light grey to anthracite

The colour chart includes, among others, white grey, light grey, aluminium grey, signal grey, basalt grey, quartz grey, anthracite and black. Additionally, there are ivory, yellow, orange, red, brown, green and blue. This provides a wider choice than a standard grey floor.

Use the chart to determine an initial direction. A screen or printout is not an exact sample of the final concrete floor. Discuss the desired shade with a test panel or material sample and have the availability of the chosen finish confirmed.

Download the Neodur colour chart (PDF)

Why the same colour can still appear different

For a coloured wear layer, the entire execution process counts. Our colour chart identifies the base concrete, the water-cement ratio, the weather conditions, the power-trowelling and the concrete curing as influences on the result. This combination deserves particular attention, especially with light shades.

Moreover, a concrete floor has a different character than a uniformly painted surface. Discuss in advance which colour nuances you find attractive and how the floor interacts with the walls, the joinery and the light incidence. For this, also see our explanation about residential concrete.

Broadcasting, power-trowelling and concrete curing belong together

The wear layer must be evenly distributed and incorporated into the fresh concrete at the right moment. Subsequently, the floor receives its finishing. The product choice alone does not yet make a well-finished floor: execution and timing are decisive.

Even after polishing, the work is not finished. The manufacturer prescribes protection against too rapid drying. Moreover, coordinate the concrete curing with any subsequent treatments. Read more about curing for concrete.

Frequently asked questions about Neodur

Is Neodur the same as a liquid concrete hardener?

This article concerns a dry broadcast product for fresh concrete. That is a different application than a liquid treatment of an existing floor. Therefore, always specify in an enquiry whether the floor still needs to be poured or is already present.

Can I give an existing floor a different colour with this?

The dry-shake method described here is intended for fresh concrete. For an existing floor, we first assess the condition and the existing finish. Polishing afterwards is a separate process with different possibilities and limitations.

How much product is needed?

Record the consumption based on the chosen execution, colour and technical datasheet. A general quantity does not guarantee a fixed layer thickness. Also have any minimum quantities for a special colour confirmed before ordering.

Do you also want to compare other mineral broadcast materials? Read our explanation about a corundum broadcast layer and Mastertop 450, with applications and technical datasheets.