What About Acid Etching for Surface Preparation?

Related Links:

Why Concrete Surfaces Are Prepared

Start at the End if You Want a Good Floor Coating or Decorative Overlay Job

Know the Job Specifications

Examine the Surface

Clean the Concrete

Roughen of "Profile" the Surface

Repair Surface Defects

Standards You Should Know About (ACI 503R, ASTM 4263, ASTM 4260)

What is Anchor Profile and Profile Height?

When Job Specifications and Manufacturers Specifications Differ

What Surface Condition Specifications Should Cover

Sometimes Surface Preparation and Coating Installer are Different Companies

Non-Breathable Coating Caveat

What About Acid Etching for Surface Preparation?

Architects, Engineers, Property Owners, and Other Important People: Job Planning

Were you interested in concrete etching or engraving information?

For Concrete polymer-modified overlays:

Contractors and manufacturers are split between roughening the concrete by mechanical profiling or acid etching. Large or difficult surfaces will usually be mechanically profiled.

Acid etching can provide adequate surface preparation for horizontal installations of coatings, and toppings in areas that are well ventilated and require a sparkand/ or dust free environment. But they will not remove petroleum-based products or animal vegetable oils from the concrete. Acid etching is meant to create a surface profile not clean the concrete. To clean or degrease concrete use specialtly cleaning products. Newlook Internationalhas products available to clean and profile concrete.

After acid etching is done- the surface must be neutralized. Bonding problems can occur if acidic residue remains on the concrete.

ASTM D 4262-83 is the test method for pH for chemically cleaned or etched concrete surfaces.

You can review and buy the ASTM documents. Click here.

For Floor Coatings in Industrial or Commercial Applications:

Mechanical profiling is the method of choice. Thomas Kline of Structural Preservation

William Perenchio of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. notes that acid etching should only be done when no alternative means of preparation is possible.

Again, the safest measure is to follow the floor coating manufacturers installation instructions.

Return to Surface Preparation

Site Sponsors