The acid needs to be able to touch every part of the concrete's surface to react properly with it. Dampen the concrete: Use your hose to lightly spray down the concrete in your garage so that the concrete is wet but not puddling water. If you have a large floor, you may want to acid etch in sections. Do not let the concrete dry out before or during application of the acid solution. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Acid etch procedure MUST be followed exactly as specified below for proper installation. Once it's etched it remains good for a long time provided you don't clog the pores up somehow eg by spraying it with water seal or painting it or perhaps just by getting it dirty. Since these products are capable of etching galvanized metal, do not use agalvanized container to mix or hold while applying. DRYLOKs Etch &Cleaner is apowdered mixture that also cleans up with water and only requires one application to properly etch asurface. Be sure that you have washed away all traces of the oil, grease and degreaser. (Follow manufacturer's instructions), Rinse with warm water (ideally) or with a pressure washer, Mix Apply a neutralizing solution over the concrete. Last Updated: October 21, 2021 The etcher should begin to bubble and react as soon as you apply it. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. However, etching (or washing) concrete with acid opens the pores of the concrete and prepares the surface to accept its next treatment. Clean the concrete with adegreaser to remove oil or grease. This can leave some of the etching solution used up before it reaches the rest of the surface. Allow the etching solution to remain on the concrete until the foaming stops. ", http://allgaragefloors.com/acid-etch-garage-floor/, http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20174654,00.html, http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5149721/list/acid-etched-concrete. Check the surface of the concrete at this time. It should feel similar to medium grit sand paper with a uniform texture. If not, you will need to repeat the process again. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Apply the acid etching solution over the concrete and agitate using a push broom until foaming action stops. Call Our Experts Etching is acrucial step that must be done to prepare concrete for painting. If you don't immediately see bubbles, your mixture probably isn't strong enough. Prepare the area you plan to etch by removing any furniture or other obstructions. To remove as much oil and grease as possible, scrub your concrete with acommercial degreaser. Remember to particularly heed the advice on handling acids. If theres no foaming action, that means there is asealer on the concrete preventing the etcher from penetrating. Well done, thank you! How Much Does Basement Waterproofing Cost? Etching is adeep cleaning process that maximizes the bond between paint or protective sealants and the surface of the concrete. Note the grainy pits in the surface of this kitchen floor. Read more to learn how to stain or paint the concrete after its been etched. The floor needs to stay wet the entire time you are acid etching. Acid is generally mixed at a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part acid for sufficient strength to etch properly. The etching solution is effective at cleaning, but it will be more effective and provide you with amore evenly etched surface if the surface is as clean as possible tostart. and I could not add, "The all of article is of value to me as I might have made some errors especially on the safety side of things. For a general, all-purpose acid neutralizer, try mixing 1 cup of baking soda in 1 gallon (3.8L) of water, then mixing until it dissolves. When the acid etch solution stops foaming you can begin rinsing. Flush away the acid etching solution with warm water (preferably). Lets look at the more detailed steps of how to etch aconcrete garage floor or how to etch abasement concrete floor using these products. If the floor was dry beforehand but the beads do not get absorbed quickly, the floor needs etching. { $refs.headerSearchInput.focus() }); Check your local regulations before doing this you don't want to break the law or hurt the environment. Once it stops bubbling, rinse the floor thoroughly and push the water out with a squeegee. The smooth surface of un-etched concrete wont bind as strongly with sealants, and as aresult, youll see your new sealant peeling and lifting away as it fails to adhere to the surface. After using an etcher on the outside, how long is it effective before using a paint coating? Do I wait days or weeks before I start the etching process when I have just laid the self leveling compound today in my garage? Sand blasting, captive ball blast or scarifying the concrete floor surface is always preferable to acid etching when ever possible. Apply it to a small area of wet concrete. Apply the etching product to the walls in the same way as described below. Acid combined with stain will etch and color the concrete at the same time. If the acid mixture does not "foam" evenly over the entire surface of concrete on which it is applied or simply "beads up" on the surface, then this is a sign that a foreign "bond breaker" is on the surface of the concrete. Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Sprinkle your neutralizing solution over the part of the floor that was acid etched and let it sit for a minimum of 10 minutes. When time is up, rinse the neutralized solution with your hose into a drain or out the garage (if local water codes allow it). Another method is to use a wet vac and then dispose of the solution according to your local codes. Thank you! Using a pressure washer at this point works well also. Do not use a pressure washer to rinse off the initial neutralizing solution however. It can drive any acid solution that had not been neutralized yet deeper into the concrete and cause problems later. You want the acid to be reacting evenly and uniformly across the surface. If youre spraying, use asqueegee to move the solution around to ensure each part of the surface is equally coated. Both products are highly effective in etching galvanized metal, masonry, stone, tile and brick. Hose down the entire area to remove the degreaser. Inspect the surface as the acid works. 1 cup household baking soda per gallon of water, allow it to stand for at least 15 min.. Epoxy is a polymer-based adhesive or paint that has a plastic feel to it. To use the powder Etch &Cleaner, dissolve the entire 12-ounce container in 1gallon of warm water in aplastic containernever use ametal container as high volumes of product can corrode the container. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. Today, safer, eco-friendlier and more consistent etching methods are used to prepare aconcrete floor for painting. Epoxy floors are common in professional garages. Allow newly poured concrete to cure for a minimum of 28 days before etching. If the acid etch mixture is not properly mixed at a 10% solution, the solution will be to weak to properly remove concrete latencies or it may be too strong and etch the surface deeper than necessary, and soak into the concrete surface and contaminate it with a destructive, lingering, acidity after floor materials are applied. DRYLOK Etch applies with astiff brush. In this case, the sealer must be removed using asuitable sealant removal or by grinding the sealer off the surface of the concrete before pursuing acid etching. Yes. For an even safer concrete etching product use the Eco-Etch 1001: a safe, powerful, 100% biodegradable concrete cleaner with no acid, solvents or VOC's specifically formulated to clean, brighten and etch concrete without any harmful effects. If there are spots where the acid isn't reacting, this can be a sign that an unnoticed grease stain or sealant was present on the concrete. Even though these products are much safer than muriatic acid,you should still avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing. The above-mentioned DRYLOK products do not require aneutralizing solution, but if youre using another product, be sure to follow the package directions. Just because its diluted does not mean its safe! Final rinse: Once the initial neutralizing solution is cleaned up, it is important to thoroughly flush and rinse the remaining solution out of the concrete multiple times. It can leave a white powdery residue on your floor once dried (called calcium carbonate) if you do not do this. This is a fine dust that will not allow your coating to adhere properly. Use a high pressure nozzle while thoroughly scrubbing the concrete with your scrub brush. You can introduce a mild solution of Simple Green at this point if you like. Just make sure it is thoroughly rinsed. This article received 15 testimonials and 97% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Mixing and Applying Neutralizing Solution: Before neutralizing, it is best to choose which neutralizing solution would be best for your application. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Acid-Etch-Concrete-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Acid-Etch-Concrete-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/Acid-Etch-Concrete-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid3719357-v4-728px-Acid-Etch-Concrete-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. If not, wait for the acid to react with the floor, and dont remove it until the reaction is completed, usually when it stops bubbling. Read all label instructions before application and wear the proper safety gear when applying. % of people told us that this article helped them. Triple rinse the surface with astrong stream of water and use aclean bristle brush to scrub while rinsing to ensure all the etching material is washed away. Acid creates tiny holes in the surface of the concrete, allowing it to bond with topical treatments such as paint, epoxy or stain. Concrete has arugged reputation, but it can be susceptible to water damage without proper protection. However, if you strip the surface of the concrete of the sealer, you would be able to etch the concrete. Our industry experts are ready to help you at every step along the way. However, its no longer recommended because acid etching concrete with strong acid creates inconsistent results. You can do this by first mixing a small solution in your watering can starting at a 5:1 ratio. You can hurt yourself through carelessness and kids should be kept away while this is being done. It, "I'm acid washing a concrete slab with bad "Slab Edge Dampness". Both products clean the surface and leave it feeling slightly rough like sandpaper, which is the way youll know the surface is properly prepared. If your etching solution is neutralized, you may be able to pour it down adrain. Take care while pouring your powdered solution into the water by using rubber gloves and eye protection. This is particularly important if youre going to etch aconcrete garage floor. When a floor slab is poured, contractors etc often float or trowel the surface smooth by working up a smooth weak film over the concrete surface, this weak film is called latencies. Wear an acid-proof apron to protect clothing. Neutralize: Mix 4 cups of baking soda to 1 gallon of water in your large 5 gallon bucket and pour it into the now empty watering container.Or use 4 ounces of household ammonia to 1 gallon of water. Consider using apush broom to gather the water into one area and removing it with ashop vacuum. Let the solution sit from 2 15 minutes while it continues to fizz and bubble. Do not let the floor dry out during this process. Add more solution if necessary. Utilize eye protection goggles with side shields, gloves and protective footwear. Chemical safety glasses or goggles with face shield. In other words, how soon does the veneer have to be attached after the wall has been etched.months? pH test your rinse water: After your final rinse, dab a pH test strip onto the still wet floor to check the pH. Anything between 6.0 and 9.0 will work for most coatings with 7.0 (neutral) being ideal. If its below 6.0 then the water is indicating that acid residue is still in the pores of the concrete. Rinse some more and repeat the test until you get the results you want. Acid etched concrete floors will provide an approved surface in which to produce a penetrating and permanent bond for the Sani-Tred products. Typically muratic acid is used to chemically treat concrete so that it can form the proper bond with topical surfaces. Can I acid etch concrete that has been sealed with a concrete sealer? Inhaling muriatic acid fumes can burn the lungs and the lining of the nose. Any little piece of debris that is in the acids way can lead to an inconsistent finish. Instead, apply it in one section at atime using either asprayer or astiff brush orbroom. Do I need to etch new concrete before I seal it? Using apower washer can be one of the best ways to ensure that your concrete is as clean as possible. Other suitable acids for etching include phosphoric acid and sulfamic acid. Even with a careful application of an acid or stain chemical, a natural amount of imperfection will result. The result is a wonderfully unique surface. The purpose for acid etching is to remove latencies from the surface of concrete floors. Been pouring, etching and staining concrete for 45 yrs. The floor needs to stay damp the entire time you are etchingdont let the solution dry on the floor. Weeks? To do so, one may remove the Neutralizing Solution with a shop vac, squeegee, rented water handling equipment, or pressure washer and rinse the concrete with water. Were here to ensure your success. When rinsing off the etching solution, make sure it doesnt splash on other objects or nearby greenery that you dont want damaged. This concrete floor was acid etched and then painted with a low-sheen paint, creating a matte look, and a topcoat was not used. They both remove efflorescence, which appears as asalt deposit on the surface of concrete, as well as excess mortar. PPE such as safety glasses, gloves, and respirators are recommended as needed. To use the powder Etch &Clean to etch concrete before painting, use 12ounces to a12gallon of warm water. You'll also want to give the area a good sweeping to remove accumulated dust, dirt, or grime. Before you begin, make sure you have enough acid etching product to complete the job. One of the main reasons for needing to know how to etch aconcrete floor for painting is because of laitance. DRYLOK Concrete and Masonry Etch &Cleaner applies with an acid-resistant sprayer or asynthetic brush. Oils may only be temporarily "floated" above the surface, only to be re-deposited elsewhere when the floor dries. The longer the acid is left on the surface, the more porous the concrete becomes. If youll be etching up to any adjacent walls or other surfaces, prepare these in the same way. Can I mix stain with the acid to create a design, rather than staining after I etch? Consider carefully adding more acid. Thicker than paint, it has the benefits of being stronger as well as oil and heat resistant, and it fills in surface imperfections easier. Then, use asprayer with water so that the entire surface of the concrete to be etched is damp but no puddles are present. For vertical surfaces such as walls, apply the mixed or ready-to-use liquid concrete etching solution with an acid-resistant sprayer or asynthetic brush. Keep the acid etch solution on until it stops foaming. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Never acid etch concrete walls, unless the concrete was troweled by hand. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Color can also be added by sprinkling pigment on the wet surface after the concrete is poured. Etching solutions can permanently damage most items made of plastic and metal, so move them completely out of the way before youstart. If the floor has large areas that are contaminated with oil, grease or other bond-breakers, they should be removed or decontaminated from the concrete surface. By using our site, you agree to our. Apply the acid solution: Use the 2 gallon plastic watering container to sprinkle the acid solution on the concrete. This will spread the solution evenly without much splashing. Do not just pour it on the concrete. This will create an inconsistent spread of the acid solution and will not provide for a uniform result. The 2 gallon container works well because you can mix 1.5 gallons of water to .5 gallons of acid for a 3:1 ratio. You can use any size you like however, as long as you mix the ratio of acid to water correctly. 1 gallon of acid solution will cover approximately 50 70 square feet of garage floor. For horizontal surfaces, Etch &Cleaner can even be applied using aplastic garden watering can with asprinkling head or an acid-resistant sprayer.