Correct Way To Etch Concrete Floor

Finishing a concrete floor in a basement warehouse or factory is a way to seal it to prevent substances from penetrating below the surface which can potentially cause damage.

Correct way to etch concrete floor.

Most concrete contractors are no longer recommending acid etching because of its effect on health and the environment. Etching is a crucial step in preparing concrete for painting. Etching the floor to etch the floor of your garage apply a commercial concrete etcher being careful to follow the manufacturer s instructions. What is etching concrete.

Muriatic acid acts like liquid sandpaper by roughening the surface of the concrete. Instead of etching sandblasting or grinding is a great way to remove any contaminants on the surface of the concrete slab and to open its pores as well. Many acid etching projects are carried out to prepare a concrete floor for the application of a synthetic epoxy or sealant. Concrete paint can be purchased in either latex or oil based epoxy enamel.

The best way to etch a concrete garage floor. Doing the prep work before you repaint a concrete floor avoids a peeling paint job later. Some homeowners shy away from acid etching of their concrete floors for fear of the harmful effects of using and handling muriatic acid the main component of acid etch flooring. Concrete may look solid to the naked eye but it is a very porous substance.

Before starting to etch. Let the floor dry overnight. It also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly. If the etcher fizzes up as it s applied you know that it s working.

The concrete will now have a grainy texture which offers a better surface for the paint to grip. Don t skip this step if you want a long lasting painted concrete floor. You roughen such a floor by etching it with muriatic acid. It gives the surface tooth to adhere to so your paint is more likely to stick for a long time.

How to repaint concrete floors. Whether you use your garage for storage a workshop or just to park your car applying an epoxy coating to the floor can transform the appearance of. For many years it was a standard method of concrete preparation used by nearly all industrial commercial and institutional floor coating installers depending on the floor size and. A smooth concrete floor must be roughened before paint will stick to it.

Most concrete paints require etching and if they don t do it anyway. There are safer alternatives to acid etching today. Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water.