Acid etching the garage floor is sometimes the only viable alternative for many diy home owners when prepping concrete correctly to accept a coating.
Acid etching concrete garage floor.
It isn t hard to do but certain safety precautions and steps need to be taken to insure a successful and safe outcome.
Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water.
Acid etching a garage floor is a great solution for those who are installing the floor themselves and do not have access to industrial grinders.
It is not hard to do but there are safety measures to consider in its handling and application since hydrochloric acid has potentially harmful effects on the installer s health and on the environment.
However for larger commercial jobs older concrete or worn floors we always recommend grinding before epoxy installation.
Use degreaser for oil or.
Clear the concrete of any obstructions.
Before you start your etching you ll want to make sure you have.
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 system to be installed.
To begin remove any any all furniture vehicles and other obstructions from.
Grab muriatic acid or another suitable etching acid.
Preparing to etch 1.
For typical concrete scrubbing with a deck brush will suffice.
Acid etching of any kind is not effective on all floors.
For extremely smooth concrete we suggest buffing with a 60 grit sanding pad while etching as shown in the manufacturer s directions.