Fosroc Nitobond EP – Two-Component Epoxy Bonding Agent for New-to-Old Concrete | Nairobi, Kenya

Price: KES 14,500 (Inclusive of VAT)

Brand: Fosroc (UK/International) | Authorized Startcore Ventures Distribution

Category: Construction Chemicals / Structural Bonding Agents & Epoxy Primers

Pack Size: 4 Litre Kit | Availability: In Stock

Product Overview

If you're comparing structural epoxy bonding agents for a concrete repair or new-to-old concrete bonding application in Kenya — and there's a strong chance you arrived here after searching for Sikadur 32 LP, the market's most widely referenced bonding agent name — Fosroc Nitobond EP is a genuine, technically comparable alternative worth putting on your procurement shortlist. Both products serve the same core function in a structural repair specification: a two-component, solvent-free epoxy bonding agent used to create a high-strength adhesive bridge between existing hardened concrete and freshly placed mortar, concrete, or screed.

Nitobond EP is manufactured under the Fosroc brand, a globally established name in construction chemicals with a long track record in structural repair, waterproofing, and grouting systems used on infrastructure projects worldwide. It's supplied as a pre-weighed, two-component kit — a white base component and a black hardener component — mixed on site using a slow-speed drill and paddle until a fully uniform grey color confirms adequate mixing has been achieved. This visual mixing confirmation is a small but genuinely useful detail for site supervisors verifying correct application, since an inconsistently mixed epoxy bonding agent is one of the most common causes of bond failure in structural repair work.

At KES 14,500 per 4 litre kit, inclusive of VAT, Startcore Ventures Limited supplies genuine Fosroc Nitobond EP as an authorized dealer. Whether you've specifically been asked to source Nitobond EP by name, or you're comparing it against Sikadur 32 LP or another bonding agent already named in a project specification, we can help confirm technical equivalence and supply genuine stock either way.

Nitobond EP vs. Sikadur 32 LP — What Buyers Are Actually Comparing

Sikadur 32 LP has become something of a generic reference name in the Kenyan construction market for two-component epoxy bonding agents, much the way "Land Rover" or "Biro" became shorthand for entire product categories. If you've been told to source a "Sikadur 32 LP type" bonding agent, or your specification names it directly, here's how Nitobond EP compares on the fundamentals that actually matter for this application:

• Function: Both products serve the identical structural role — a two-component epoxy resin system used to bond fresh cementitious material to existing, hardened concrete substrates, and both are suitable for use as a barrier coat in repair systems.
• Chemistry: Both are solvent-free, two-component epoxy resin systems, meaning both are safe for use in enclosed or occupied locations without the odor and ventilation concerns of solvent-based bonding agents.
• Application method: Both are designed for brush or spray application, using standard structural repair application techniques.
• Bond strength: Nitobond EP is documented to exceed the tensile strength of the host concrete itself — meaning in a properly executed application, the concrete substrate will fail before the epoxy bond does. This is the benchmark specification engineers look for regardless of brand name.
• Standards compliance: Nitobond EP complies with AS 4020-2018 (a recognized standard for products in contact with drinking water) and has AWQC test certification, giving specifying engineers a documented compliance reference point.

If your project documentation specifically names Sikadur 32 LP as the only acceptable product with no "or equivalent" clause, that requirement should be followed as written. But where a specification allows an equivalent product, or where you're simply sourcing a reliable epoxy bonding agent for general repair work, Nitobond EP is a genuine, technically substantiated alternative — not a downgrade — and one we can supply with full technical documentation to support your submittal or approval process.

Why Authenticity Matters for a Structural Bonding Agent

As with any structural epoxy product, the consequences of a counterfeit or incorrectly formulated bonding agent are structural, not cosmetic. A bonding agent sits at the single most critical interface in a concrete repair — the joint between old and new material — and if that bond fails, the entire repair fails with it, often without warning until load is applied.

• Verified 2:1-style pre-weighed component ratio — genuine Nitobond EP arrives as pre-weighed base and hardener tins specifically measured for correct on-site mixing; repackaged or decanted "generic epoxy bonding agent" products sold without matched, verified component ratios risk incomplete cure or under-strength bonds
• Documented compressive, tensile, flexural, and shear strength values — genuine Nitobond EP is tested and published (see specifications below); unverified alternatives typically provide no test data at all
• Confirmed pot life and overlay time — genuine product performs predictably within its stated 35–45 minute pot life and 90-minute maximum overlay window; inconsistent counterfeit formulations can set unpredictably fast or fail to cure at all
• Visual mix-verification color system — the white base and black hardener mixing to a uniform grey is a genuine quality-control feature; imitation products rarely replicate this level of formulation precision

Buying through Startcore Ventures Limited, an authorized Fosroc dealer, ensures the bonding agent going into your structural repair performs exactly as documented — critical when the entire purpose of the product is to be the one component nobody sees again once the repair is finished, but that everything else depends on.

Key Applications

Fosroc Nitobond EP is specifically engineered for structural bonding and repair-barrier applications:

1. New-to-old concrete bonding — creating a high-strength adhesive bridge before placing fresh concrete or mortar over an existing hardened substrate
2. Bonded and granolithic floor toppings — priming existing floor slabs before applying a new topping layer, common in industrial and warehouse flooring work
3. Roads, bridges, and pavements — structural bonding applications in infrastructure repair and resurfacing work
4. Loading bays and factory floors — bonding repair overlays in heavy-duty industrial flooring applications
5. Structural concrete repair systems — used as a substrate/repair barrier coat, particularly where the repaired substrate is likely to remain permanently wet, damp, or become immersed after cure
6. Chloride-contaminated concrete repair — forming a barrier coat between chloride-contaminated concrete and repair mortar systems (such as Fosroc's Renderoc range), reducing the risk of chloride migration into new repair material
7. Formwork-supported vertical and horizontal repairs — its long open/overlay time makes it particularly suited to repairs requiring formwork or additional steel reinforcement fixing before the topping is placed

Key Features and Advantages

• High strength adhesion — bond strength exceeds the tensile strength of the host concrete itself, meaning the concrete substrate becomes the weak point before the epoxy bond does
• High mechanical strength — compressive, tensile, flexural, and shear strength values are all independently documented (see technical table below)
• Applicable on dry or damp (saturated surface dry) substrates — practical flexibility for Kenyan job sites where achieving a fully dry substrate isn't always possible, particularly during rainy seasons
• Solvent-free formulation — low VOC content (19g/litre) makes it suitable for use in enclosed or occupied locations without ventilation concerns
• Long open/overlay time — a 90-minute maximum overlay window at 20°C gives contractors realistic working time to fix reinforcement and formwork before placing the topping material
• Visual mix confirmation — distinct white base and black hardener components combine to a uniform grey, giving site supervisors a simple visual check that mixing has been done correctly
• Standards compliant — complies with AS 4020-2018 with AWQC test certification available

Technical Specifications

Property Detail

Product Type | Two-component, solvent-free epoxy bonding agent
Composition | Epoxy resins with pigments and fine fillers; white base + black hardener
Compressive Strength | 50 MPa
Tensile Strength | 20 MPa
Flexural Strength | 35 MPa
Shear Strength | 25 MPa
Adhesive Bond to Concrete | Exceeds the tensile strength of the host concrete
VOC Content | 19g per litre
Pot Life | 35–45 minutes at 20°C
Maximum Overlay Time | 90 minutes at 20°C
Initial Hardness | 24 hours at 20°C
Full Cure | 7 days at 20°C
Minimum Application Temperature | +5°C (should not be applied at or below 5°C and falling)
Coverage | 4–5 m² per litre (theoretical; practical coverage reduced by substrate variation and wastage)
Standards Compliance | AS 4020-2018; AWQC Report 323179
Storage Life | 24 months from date of manufacture, in a dry store, original unopened packs

Temperature note: At temperatures below 20°C, cure rate slows; above 20°C, it speeds up. In cold conditions (below 15°C), components can be warmed to a maximum of 25°C before mixing to aid workability — but this reduces pot life to approximately 20 minutes, so smaller batches and faster application become necessary. In hot conditions above 30°C, store material in shade or an air-conditioned environment for 12 hours before use — a genuinely relevant consideration for Mombasa's coastal climate.

How to Apply Fosroc Nitobond EP Correctly

Correct application technique is essential to achieving the documented structural performance:

1. Prepare the substrate thoroughly. Clean the surface and remove all dust, unsound material, plaster, oil, paint, grease, corrosion deposits, or algae. Roughen the surface and remove laitance, exposing aggregate through light scabbling or grit-blasting.
2. Remove oil and grease deposits using steam cleaning, detergent scrubbing, or a proprietary degreaser. For critical structural work, assess decontamination effectiveness and substrate soundness with a pull-off test.
3. Prepare reinforcement and formwork in advance. Any steel reinforcement and formwork should be cut, shaped, and ready for assembly before mixing begins, since Nitobond EP must be applied promptly once mixed.
4. Stir components separately first. Stir the base and hardener components individually to disperse any settlement before combining them.
5. Combine and mix thoroughly. Pour the entire hardener component into the base component and mix using a slow-speed heavy-duty drill and mixing paddle for 2 minutes until a fully uniform grey color is achieved — this color change is your visual confirmation of correct mixing.
6. Scrape and re-mix. Scrape the sides of the container and continue mixing for a further 2 minutes to ensure no unmixed material remains at the edges.
7. Apply immediately. Brush or spray Nitobond EP onto the prepared surface as soon as mixing is complete. For spray application, a heavy-duty airless spray machine fitted with a 19–20 thou tip is required.
8. Place the new material while tacky. Apply the fresh concrete, mortar, or screed while the Nitobond EP is still tacky and within the 90-minute overlay window at 20°C. If it becomes tack-free before the new material is placed, a second coat is required, applied the same day — otherwise the first coat must be mechanically removed before proceeding.
9. Fix reinforcement/formwork immediately after coating. As soon as Nitobond EP is applied, erect and securely fix any required steel reinforcement or formwork.
10. For chloride-barrier applications, apply Nitobond EP to prepared concrete and allow it to cure for 8–24 hours. Fill any unfilled voids with an appropriate mortar filler, then apply a second coat of Nitobond EP and leave for 30 minutes before placing the repair material onto the tacky surface.
11. Clean tools immediately after use with an appropriate solvent cleaner. Once hardened, Nitobond EP can only be removed mechanically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fosroc Nitobond EP the same as Sikadur 32 LP? They are different manufacturers' products, but both are two-component, solvent-free epoxy bonding agents designed for the same core structural function — bonding fresh concrete or mortar to existing hardened concrete. If your specification requires Sikadur 32 LP specifically with no equivalent clause, that requirement must be followed. Where an equivalent product is acceptable, Nitobond EP is a genuine, technically documented alternative, and we can provide the technical data sheet to support a like-for-like comparison.

How long do I have to place new concrete after applying Nitobond EP? The maximum overlay time is 90 minutes at 20°C, provided the Nitobond EP is still tacky. If it dries tack-free before you place the new material, a second coat is needed the same day.

Can Nitobond EP be applied on a damp substrate? Yes. It can be applied to dry or saturated-surface-dry (SSD) damp substrates, which offers practical flexibility on Kenyan sites where achieving a fully dry substrate isn't always realistic, particularly during rainy seasons.

What strength can I expect from a repair bonded with Nitobond EP? The adhesive bond strength documented exceeds the tensile strength of the host concrete itself — meaning in a correctly executed repair, the original concrete becomes the weaker point before the epoxy bond fails.

Is Nitobond EP safe to use indoors or in enclosed spaces? Yes. It's a solvent-free formulation with low VOC content (19g/litre), making it suitable for enclosed or occupied locations without the ventilation concerns associated with solvent-based bonding agents.

How do I know the two components have been mixed correctly? Genuine Nitobond EP is formulated with a white base and black hardener that combine to a uniform grey color once properly mixed. If streaking or uneven color remains, mixing is incomplete and should continue.

How much Nitobond EP do I need for my project? Theoretical coverage is 4–5 m² per litre, though practical coverage will be somewhat lower depending on substrate texture and wastage. Provide our team with your surface area for a working estimate, and note that a rougher, more absorbent substrate will typically require more product than the theoretical figure suggests.

Can Nitobond EP be used in cold weather? It should not be applied at or below 5°C, or when temperature is falling toward 5°C. Below 15°C, components can be warmed to a maximum of 25°C before mixing to aid workability, but this reduces pot life to approximately 20 minutes, requiring faster application in smaller batches.

What is the price of Fosroc Nitobond EP in Nairobi? Startcore Ventures Limited sells the genuine Fosroc Nitobond EP 4 litre kit at KES 14,500, inclusive of VAT, with bulk and contractor pricing available for larger structural repair projects.

Where can I buy genuine Fosroc Nitobond EP in Kenya? Startcore Ventures Limited, based at Bhavesh Centre, Ngara Road, Nairobi, is an authorized Fosroc dealer stocking Nitobond EP and the wider Fosroc structural repair and bonding range, with countrywide delivery available.

Complete Repair System Bundles

Nitobond EP is rarely used in isolation — it's typically one component within a full structural repair sequence. Startcore Ventures offers the following bundled combinations to simplify procurement for a complete repair job:

Concrete Repair Starter Bundle Nitobond EP (bonding coat) + a structural repair mortar such as Mapei Mapegrout T60 or a comparable Fosroc Renderoc-range product, for rebuilding spalled or damaged concrete sections after the bonding coat has cured.

Chloride-Barrier Repair Bundle Nitobond EP applied as a two-coat chloride barrier system + a void-filling mortar for blow-holes + your chosen structural repair mortar topping — ideal for repairing concrete affected by reinforcement corrosion, a common issue in coastal Kenyan structures exposed to chloride ingress.

Industrial Flooring Topping Bundle Nitobond EP as a bonding primer + a granolithic or bonded floor topping product, for warehouse, factory, and loading bay flooring repair and resurfacing work.

Full Structural Reinforcement Bundle Nitobond EP (bonding coat) + Mapei Adesilex PG2 (for fibre-reinforcement plate bonding) + Mapei Mapefer 1K (anti-corrosion rebar coating) — a complete system for structural strengthening and reinforcement projects requiring multiple bonding and protective stages.

Ask our technical team to confirm the correct bundle and quantities for your specific project scope — bundling these purchases together also typically qualifies for contractor pricing across the full order.

A Note for Specifying Engineers and Procurement Teams

If your project specification names Sikadur 32 LP, another named bonding agent, or simply calls for "an approved two-component epoxy bonding agent to concrete," our team can supply the full Fosroc Nitobond EP technical data sheet and safety data sheet to support your submittal documentation and confirm technical equivalence where your specification allows an approved alternative. We can also confirm current stock and lead times against your project schedule, particularly important for larger repair or infrastructure projects where material availability needs to align with a construction timeline.

Why Buy From Startcore Ventures Limited

Startcore Ventures Limited is an authorized dealer for Fosroc's structural repair and bonding range, alongside other trusted global brands including Mapei, Sika, Akfix, Somafix, and Fischer. We serve structural engineers, contractors, fabricators, and maintenance teams across Nairobi and the wider Kenyan market.

For a product whose entire purpose is to become the invisible, load-bearing interface between old and new concrete, buying genuine, documented, authentic Fosroc stock — not an unverified substitute — isn't a preference, it's a structural requirement. Every kit of Nitobond EP sold by Startcore Ventures is sourced through legitimate Fosroc supply channels, giving engineers, contractors, and project owners full confidence in the bonding agent behind their repair work.

Order genuine Fosroc Nitobond EP today at KES 14,500 inc. VAT — visit us at Bhavesh Centre, Ngara Road, Nairobi, or contact us for bulk, contractor, and project-specific pricing.

• Phone/WhatsApp: +254 705 544 817
• Email: info@startcore.co.ke
• Website: startcore.co.ke