Perma-Zyme has been solving the biggest challenges in soil stabilization for over 50 years. But you may have heard of another product called Perma-Zyme 11x. And like most people, you may have wondered what the 11x means. Is it 11 times stronger? Is it our eleventh formula? How is it different from regular Perma-Zyme, anyway?
The short answer is that we once sold Perma-Zyme 11x as a diluted form of Perma-Zyme. That’s simple enough. But then people started using “11x” as a nickname for the original Perma-Zyme formula, too—and that’s where the confusion crept in. So, we’re here to set the record straight! Let’s walk through the similarities and differences between Perma-Zyme and Perma-Zyme 11x and how our customers helped us choose between the two.
Perma-Zyme is an enzyme-based formula that bonds soil particles together to form a hard, concrete-like surface. It’s ideal for unpaved road and pad construction, as well as paved road subbase in rural areas. Perma-Zyme lasts for over 10 years on unpaved county roads and over 20 years on paved roads.
Perma-Zyme 11x was a diluted version of Perma-Zyme.
Our founder, John Battistoni, originally invented it in the 1970s, back when Substrata was called International Enzymes. At that time, the company sold Perma-Zyme in a diluted form containing 11 parts water to one part Perma-Zyme. That’s where the name Perma-Zyme 11x came from.
So, why sell a diluted product? Simple: Perma-Zyme requires water to work its way throughout the soil, so International Enzymes included water with the product.
As material and shipping costs rose throughout the 1970s and 1980s, International Enzymes began re-evaluating Perma-Zyme 11x. The company soon discovered they didn’t need to add water to Perma-Zyme. Removing the water lowered the shipping costs and enhanced the product’s shelf life.
But, they didn’t want to do away with Perma-Zyme 11x entirely. International Enzymes began selling both the concentrated soil stabilizer as Perma-Zyme and the diluted form as Perma-Zyme 11x.
However, as time went on, customers made it clear that they wanted Perma-Zyme—not Perma-Zyme 11x—so they could save on shipping. They preferred to add the water themselves once the Perma-Zyme arrived. So, International Enzymes took Perma-Zyme 11x off the market, and we’ve sold only the concentrated Perma-Zyme formula ever since.
Of course, product loyalty runs strong. Even after all these years, some people still call the concentrated Perma-Zyme formula “Perma-Zyme 11x.”
When we first made the switch from Perma-Zyme 11x to Perma-Zyme, some people questioned whether this “new” product would be as good. But the Perma-Zyme formula is the same product, so it’s just as effective as Perma-Zyme 11x!
Perma-Zyme is also easier to use due to the smaller packaging size. The formula is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. For a one-mile long two-lane road, you will only need fifteen gallons of Perma-Zyme.
Some other benefits are:
Substrata proudly manufactures Perma-Zyme in the United States at our headquarters in Henderson, Nevada. Our rigorous quality control process ensures that every batch of Perma-Zyme is up to par, helping you stabilize your soil, stabilize your budget, and stabilize your future.