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.
Difference between muriatic acide and etching acid for concrete floor.
Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water.
Many acid etching projects are carried out to prepare a concrete floor for the application of a synthetic epoxy or sealant.
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 also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly.
However for larger commercial jobs older concrete or worn floors we always recommend grinding before epoxy installation.
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.
Muriatic acid acts like liquid sandpaper by roughening the surface of the concrete.
A smooth concrete floor must be roughened before paint will stick to it.
Used improperly these chemicals can result in severe injury.
After diluting the acid is spread across the entire floor with a sprayer and allowed to sit for 2 15 minutes.
The good thing is that there are safer alternatives that are just as effective available in the market today.
Muriatic acid is the most common etching acid for this purpose.
You roughen such a floor by etching it with muriatic acid.
These sorts of products give the concrete a professional looking sheen and also resist water grease oil and other common spills making the floor easy to maintain.
How does acid etching concrete work.
Acid etching requires the use of strong chemicals.
One of the less labor intensive methods of roughening concrete is through the application of acidic material to your floor.
The following is a guide to procedures required to properly prepare concrete for the application of thin film coating systems by acid etching.
Protection of metal while acid etching concrete floor september 24 2014 this entry appended to this thread by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread.
Use muriatic acid or another acid etching material such as klean strip green muriatic acid a safer muriatic acid or hydro etch 1000 which is a modified phosphoric acid which is not as harmful as traditional muriatic acids.