How to etch concrete with muriatic acid

A Guide to the Acid Etching of Concrete by W. The object of etching the concrete with muriatic acid and water is to have the liquid come into contact with the substrate. If the substrate is sealed with a paint, the liquid cannot reach the intended target. Dampen the surface to be etched with clean water.

The concrete should be uniformly wet. Avoid puddles or dry spots. These will affect the etching process.

To prevent dry spots, divide a large surface into smaller areas and etch them one at a time. Important: Always pour acid into water, never pour water into acid since the acid can splash back into your face and lead to injury. During the mixing stage wear long sleeves, gloves, eye protection and a face mask to protect against fumes.

Scrub the acid into the concrete with a stiff brush or a floor scrubbing machine. We, our construction company, are currently building a High School in the Sacramento area. Specifications called for a smooth steel trowel finish of concrete in the gym lockers.

For a deeper etch Pour the substance where you want to etch the concrete and spread it out with a nylon broom. Wash it thoroughly with the hose after. Muriatic acid is basically hydrochloric acid , which is hydrogen gas dissolved in water. This is the same type of acid found in your stomach.

Acid etching concrete is vital to the success of coating your water feature. It will clean the calcium off of the surface that is pushed there during the hydration period. 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. The good thing is that there are safer alternatives that are just as effective available in the market today. You can remove efflorescence and etch a masonry surface in one shot: Apply a 1:dilution of muriatic acid to water, let sit for a few minutes until you see the efflorescence lifting, then brush.

Eagle Etch and Clean is specially formulated to clean concrete and remove efflorescence from its surface. It is recommended for use on dense and smooth finished concrete in preparation for sealing or acid staining. The acid works well on concrete and on many masonry projects because it neutralizes alkalinity. The surface becomes “etched” and clean, which allows for the proper adhesion of a new coating. Despite its effectiveness, muriatic acid should be used on concrete stains only if you’ve tried gentler alternatives to no avail.

How Strong To Mix The Muriatic Acid. Never mix the acid too strong. However on dry concrete usually only about a quarter to third of the solution needs to be acid to achieve.

Too strong of a mixture will cause a very uneven etch. Home improvement stores sell several acids for concrete etching: citric, sulfamic, phosphoric or muriatic. Acid washing also removes stubborn stains. The depth of the concrete etching achieved with this product is the same as hydrochloric or muriatic acid with less odor and a more uniform etch than liquid concrete etching materials.

QuickEtch is safer to use than hydrochloric or muriatic acid. Use when you need a deep etch and are not able to use a grinder. How to Remove a Concrete Sealer: The easiest way to remove a concrete sealer is to begin by acid etching the surface of the concrete with muriatic acid. The acid etching process will remove the old concrete sealer completely from the concrete slab.

In its place will stand a fresh slab of concrete ready for a new application of concrete sealer. It not only cleans the surface, it etches the concrete so the paint can adhere better. Scrub the floor clean with a degreasing product and a stiff-bristled brush. However, the paint will not stick to the concrete unless the surface is perfectly clean and degreased. Detailed Acid Etching Instructions.

The purpose for acid etching is to remove “latencies” from the surface of concrete floors. When a floor slab is poure 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”. In the building trades, muriatic acid has become the accepted trade name for hydrochloric acid. Commercial-grade muriatic acid is a mixture of acid and water that is commonly 31. Percent by mass is the most precise way of specifying acid strength.

You can make a solution by adding gram of 20° Baumé acid for every grams of water. But most field solutions are mixed by volume. How to acid etch a concrete garage floor how to acid etch concrete concrete acid etching acid etching concrete.

Tek Gel is gelled hydrochloric ( muriatic ) acid used to clean and induce surface profile on concrete surfaces. Of all the cleaning and profiling methods, Tek Gel profiling is one of the safest, environmentally friendly and least expensive methods. 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. Taking a concrete basement floor from drab to dapper isn’t as easy as simply rolling on a coat of paint.

Like any painting job, if the surface isn’t prepared properly, the paint is likely to peel. However, with a minimal amount of preparation work, which includes using muriatic acid to etch the. Muriatic (hydrochloric) acid is typically used for concrete etching.

Eco-friendly products are available as well, which are biodegradable and easier to dispose of in most communities.