Etching A Concrete Floor With Muratic Acid

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.

Etching a concrete floor with muratic acid. Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water. The most commonly used are muriatic hydrochloric and phosphoric acids. Always add the acid to the water never the other way around or you can cause a heat reaction which can make the solution burp up out of the container. You roughen such a floor by etching it with muriatic acid.

Acids concentrations can very. Muriatic hydrochloric acid is. 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. A smooth concrete floor must be roughened before paint will stick to it.

Acid washing also known as acid etching prepares a concrete surface to accept a sealer. You can also use acid in weaker concentrations to remove white mineral deposits efflorescence and heavy grime. Muriatic acid acts like liquid sandpaper by roughening the surface of the concrete. If you need a stronger solution mix 1 part acid to 10 parts water.

It is inexpensive and a dangerous chemical that can damage almost anything it comes in contact with. 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. Check with the wastewater management agency in your community to see if there are restrictions on disposal of acid solutions in the drainage system in your locale.

Acids that can be used to etch the concrete are muriatic sulfamic phosphoric or citric. Use only plastic or acid resistant containers for mixing and applying acid. Muriactic acid is one of the most dangerous chemicals you can buy for home use and it can damage nearly everything it touches. Acid washing is dangerous for people plants and metal objects especially indoors where fumes can concentrate.

The good thing is that there are safer alternatives that are just as effective available in the market today. It also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly. The easiest dilution to remember is 1 cup of acid to 1 gallon of water.