Concrete Floor Acid Wash

Laitance is a weak milky accumulation of fine particles of cement dust lime and sand fines on the surface of fresh concrete usually caused by an excess of water bleeding to the surface.

Concrete floor acid wash.

Acid etching with vinegar is easy and less labor intensive than using a machine to pretreat the concrete floor before sealing or painting. From its name perhaps you think acid wash as a method of cleaning for concrete floor. This removed all of the acid residues while also neutralizing the acid. After cleaning the floor one last time i let it dry for another 24 hours.

However acid wash is not as ordinary as just a way to clean any concrete floor especially a part of home interior. However etching or washing concrete with acid opens the pores of the concrete and prepares the surface to accept its next treatment. After i mopped the entire floor with the neutralizer i went over it a few more times with clean water. Muriatic acid can work wonders on filthy concrete and it can also be very useful in cleaning excess smears of dried mortar and grout or when attempting to alleviate tough rust stains.

If you want to clean your garage of oil spills or lay down a coat of stain acid washing your floor is the best first step to a great finished project. The best adhesion requires a clean floor free of laitance and contaminants. Brush the acid over the concrete with a push broom or a long masonry brush. Hose down the entire area you want to wash then use a plastic watering can to sprinkle your diluted acid onto the concrete.

A wash of an acid based product such as vinegar can open the pores of the concrete floor. Once it was nice and dry i applied sealer to the concrete. Mold rust and other stains can mar the clean beauty of your concrete lessening the visual impact and even the curb appeal of your property. Concrete that hasn t been treated in any way after being poured can be too hard and smooth to accept paint or protective sealants.

If you want to acid wash concrete wear acid resistant gloves rubber boots and vapor proof goggles to protect yourself from acid burns. What is etching concrete. While some stains can be rinsed away with a pressure washer tougher stains such as rust require an acid based cleaner like muriatic acid.