What will etch concrete

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. 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. You can use any size you like however, as long as you mix the ratio of acid to water correctly. Scrub the acid solution: Once the solution is applied, lightly scrub it into the concrete with a push broom or long handled scrub brush. This helps to create a uniform etch of the concrete. 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. It is not surprising that any physical contact with certain acids can cause chemical burns or other injuries. Lesser known, however, is that even inhaling the fumes from concentrated muriatic acid is extremely dangerous, because it can turn the moisture in the windpipe and lungs into a virtual acid solution.

Even with safety equipment, the risks remain significant. Clean rinse water is introduced to the floor after the etching reaction is completed. This neutralizes the acid solution to a certain degree, provided the rinsing is done correctly.

Regulations for warehousing and shipping high concentration acids involves multiple safety measures and extensive paperwork, thus increasing cost on etching products.

Once the substrate is saturated, the contractor must then decide to either wait any number of days for the slab to completely dry or choose a moisture tolerant primer that may add cost to the project.

Prepping via mechanical means, rather than acid etching, can be much faster and far more economical. For acids that require a neutralizing solution, mix the neutralizer and distribute it throughout the floor according to the instructions on the packaging.

Usually, you'll need to spray the neutralizer and scrub with a squeegee or use the floor machine to ensure the entire surface has been neutralized. For a general, all-purpose acid neutralizer, try mixing 1 cup of baking soda in 1 gallon 3. Rinse the floor thoroughly. At this point, your concrete should have a clean, freshly-etched appearance. You're now ready to clean up. Use a broom or squeegee to gather the rinse water into one area, then suck it up with a shop vacuum.

Read packaging instructions for how to properly dispose of your acid — you may have to add more baking soda to further neutralize it before pouring it down the drain. Alternatively, if you're working in a garage, you may be able to simply rinse your neutralized solution directly out of the garage and into a drain. Check your local regulations before doing this — you don't want to break the law or hurt the environment.

Part 3. Apply sealant or epoxy. Many acid etching projects are carried out to prepare a concrete floor for the application of a synthetic epoxy or sealant. 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.

In addition, using an anti-skid additive in your sealant can give your garage or driveway surface the traction your vehicle needs to securely grip it in rain or snow. Use a pigment or stain. Adding a stain or pigment to the concrete after etching is a great way to make it more visually attractive.

For some interior spaces, stained concrete can give a clean, elegant, modern look to the room. Even some outdoor spaces, like patios, can use stained concrete to great effect. Paint the concrete. Concrete can also be painted fairly easily with brushes, rollers, or sprayers. Though it's a little less common to paint a concrete floor than it is to paint a concrete wall or ceiling, some decorators can create breathtaking interior spaces with the help of painted concrete floors.

For painted concrete floors, generally, low-sheen, matte paints are used — otherwise, the floor can appear oddly shiny or "wet". Add metal flakes for a sparkly surface. Many sidewalks, driveways, and other exterior concrete surfaces can be given an appealing sparkling quality by adding metal chips flakes before sealing or during the etching process.

Even some interior spaces especially public or commercial ones can benefit from this type of treatment — for instance, sparkling concrete floors are sometimes used in shopping malls and airport corridors to give a lively look. Part 4. Wear protective clothing. All acids but especially the strong ones used for concrete etching should be handled with care. If splashed onto the body, caustic acid can cause painful chemical burns.

Worse still, acid can cause permanent blindness and disfigurement if splashed into the face and eyes. Because of this, it's important to always wear protective gear when working with acid, even if you're very experienced. Below are the sorts of protective clothing you should wear to protect yourself: Chemical safety glasses or goggles with face shield Gloves Long sleeves Close-toed shoes. Don't breathe the fumes of the acid.

Strong acids like muriatic acid can give off harmful vapors. If breathed, these fumes can cause chemical burns in the mouth and throat. Though rare, it's technically possible to seriously hurt or even kill yourself by breathing acid vapors. For these reasons, you'll want to ensure that your work area is well-ventilated at all times.

For instance, you'll probably want to open any adjacent windows and use a fan to keep air continually circulating into and out of your work area.

If the acid's fumes are strong, use a breathing mask with acid vapor cartridges to prevent injury. Always pour acid into water, not the reverse. This is a hugely important basic rule of acid safety. Whenever you pour and mix acid and water, you always pour the acid into the water. You never pour the water into the acid. If you pour either liquid too quickly, you can cause the liquid in the container to splash back into you. If this liquid is mostly water, you'll probably be fine.

However, if it's mostly acid, you can be in serious trouble. Always observe this simple rule when working with acid. For A Perfect Finish. Why acid etching concrete is important. Nu-EcoSafe Degreaser. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Your email address will not be published.