Acid Etching Concrete Indoors

Use a sprayer or watering can to evenly distribute that acid and let it sit for 2 15 minutes or until it stops bubbling.

Acid etching concrete indoors.

Once the stain reacts it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and won t fade chip off or peel away. Muriatic hydrochloric acid and similar acids are effective but present health and environmental risks including dangerous splashes toxic fumes and corrosive run off. Then mix 3 or 4 parts water with 1 part muriatic or hydrochloric acid in a plastic bucket. What is etching concrete.

When you acid etch concrete wear long sleeves gloves eye protection and a face mask to protect yourself from stray 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. You roughen such a floor by etching it with muriatic acid. A smooth concrete floor must be roughened before paint will stick to it.

Concrete acid etching is commonly done on indoor and outdoor slabs or floors in basements garages factories warehouses driveways sidewalks pool decks and patios. The palette for acid etch staining is generally limited to earthy tones such as tans browns terra cottas and soft blue greens. Proper handling is imperative because the acid is in liquid form. It is not hard to do but there are safety measures to consider in its handling and application since hydrochloric acid has potentially harmful effects on the installer s health and on the environment.

Acid etching is done to prep a concrete floor before applying the coating. It also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly. The acid in the stain lightly etches the surface allowing the metallic salts to penetrate more easily.