Concentrate vs. Ready-to-Use: Which Finishing Aid Is Right for Your Job?

Same product. Two forms. Which one do you need?

If you’ve looked at our Encore Finishing Aid line, you’ve probably noticed two options: Concentrate and Ready-to-Use (RTU). They do the same thing — make your concrete finish smoother, faster, and with less effort. But they’re packaged differently for different types of crews.

Here’s the straightforward breakdown so you can pick the right one.

Encore Finishing Aid Concentrate

The concentrate is exactly what it sounds like — the full-strength product, designed to be diluted on-site with water before application.

Best for:

• Crews that go through high volume
• Contractors who want the lowest cost per gallon
• Shops with mixing capability on the truck or in the yard

Pros:

• Lower cost per finished gallon — you’re not paying for water weight in shipping
• Smaller storage footprint — one container of concentrate yields multiple gallons of finished product
• Flexible dilution — adjust the mix to match conditions on the job

Things to keep in mind:

• You need clean water and a consistent mixing process
• More room for error if the mix ratio is off

Encore Finishing Aid Ready-to-Use (RTU)

The RTU is pre-mixed and ready to spray — no dilution, no measuring, no guesswork.

Best for:

• Crews that want grab-and-go convenience
• Smaller jobs or one-off pours
• Contractors new to finishing aids who want to try without the mixing step

Pros:

• Zero prep time — open the container and go
• Consistent results every time — factory-mixed to the exact spec
• No mixing errors — eliminates dilution mistakes on-site

Things to keep in mind:

• Higher cost per gallon compared to concentrate
• Heavier to transport (you’re shipping water weight)

Side-by-Side Comparison

So Which One Should You Buy?

Go with Concentrate if: you pour regularly, you’ve got mixing capability, and you want the best price per job. Most professional flatwork crews fall into this category.

Go with RTU if: you want zero hassle, you’re doing a smaller job, or you’re trying finishing aids for the first time and want to keep it simple.

Either way, you’re getting the same core benefit: a smoother finish with less effort, fewer trowel passes, and a more forgiving working window.

The Bottom Line

There’s no wrong answer here — just the one that fits how you work. Browse our Finishing Aid products and pick the one that matches your crew.

Both Concentrate and RTU are featured in our July Giveaway. Follow us on Facebook and engage with our posts all month for a chance to win.