- Clean the concrete. Power wash concrete and make sure it is free from dirt, dust and debris.
- Remove oil stains using a powerful degreaser such as Seal-Krete Oil Stain Remover. ...
- Apply etching solution. For garage floors and other smooth-troweled concrete, mix ½ gallon of Seal-Krete Clean-N-Etch to ½ gallon of water in a garden watering can. ...
- Rinse surface thoroughly with a strong stream of water, scrubbing while rinsing to ensure removal of all material. Surface should feel rough (like 150 grit sandpaper).
- Let surface dry then check it by applying a few drops of water. It should penetrate quickly, if not, re-etch the concrete.
- Allow surface to dry thoroughly before applying paint or stain.
How do you use etching solution on concrete?
Paint will not stick to oily concrete, so be sure that any grease and oil stains are cleaned as thoroughly as possible. Step 3: Apply etching solution. For garage floors and other smooth-troweled concrete, mix ½ gallon of Seal-Krete Clean-N-Etch to ½ gallon of water in a garden watering can.
How do you repair a broken corner of concrete?
Repair Concrete Corners 1 Clean the Concrete. Remove any loose or damaged concrete from the area to be repaired. Clean the area with a wire brush and broom. 2 Create a Concrete Repair Form 3 Prepare and Apply the Concrete Patch 4 Smooth the Patch 5 Finish the Patch. Using a sledgehammer, break up the damaged area of the concrete into pieces. ...
How to fix scratched concrete floor?
Wipe the scratched concrete with the damp cloth to remove dirt, wax, grease, oil and debris. Frequently rinse the rag with fresh water to avoid redistributing abrasive particles to the concrete surface. Dampen another clean cotton rag with warm water.
How do you use Seal Krete clean N etch on concrete?
For garage floors and other smooth-troweled concrete, mix ½ gallon of Seal-Krete Clean-N-Etch to ½ gallon of water in a garden watering can. Working in 10’ x 10’ sections, dampen surface with water and apply Clean-N-Etch.
How do you fix concrete etching?
Repairing an etched area often involves honing or polishing out the white spot, grouting to fill exposed pinholes, and resealing to restore the finish. As you can imagine, this is a lengthy process that takes skill, practice, and the proper tools to do well and is not something a homeowner should tackle.
How do you remove acid etching from concrete?
1:4430:02How to Remove Acid Stains from Concrete | Ep. 128 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause the majority of concrete is not sealed with a masonry sealer a clear masonry sealer which weMoreBecause the majority of concrete is not sealed with a masonry sealer a clear masonry sealer which we would recommend. On any porch driveway sidewalk anything it just makes the concrete. Look better
How do you fix acid on concrete?
0:565:07Fixing an ACID STAINED CONCRETE FLOOR with a ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then do our typical troweled concrete overlay. So the plan now is to grind the concrete with ourMoreAnd then do our typical troweled concrete overlay. So the plan now is to grind the concrete with our small grinder to remove as much sealer as we can and fortunately it removed almost all of it.
What should concrete look like after etching?
After etching, the surface of the concrete should have a uniform texture like that of sandpaper. Repeat the etching process on any smooth spots.
How do you Unstain concrete?
One of the most budget-friendly ways to spot-treat stains is with liquid laundry detergent and water. Target the area by pouring the soap directly onto the stain; use a stiff nylon brush to scrub the area (avoid wire-bristle brushes as metal can scratch concrete), rinse with water and allow to dry.
Can I paint over acid stained concrete?
Unfortunately, stains that penetrate deep into the concrete are almost impossible to remove. When this happens, you can paint the floor to cover them up and beautify the look of the room. When painting, floor preparation is critical for successful adhesion of the paint.
How do you clean an etched concrete floor?
If your indoor concrete flooring is stamped, use a mop and mix water and a mild cleaner in a bucket. Avoid using highly acidic or alkaline substances on these floors. Instead, select from a mild floor cleaner, liquid dish detergent, a stone cleaner or Castile soap.
Can muriatic acid damage concrete?
Mix your muriatic acid. High concentrations of muriatic acid can etch concrete, glass, remove paint, dull chrome, and cause other issues. Below is a summary of how much to add to a gallon of water: Heavy cleaning: 3 ounces of muriatic acid to one gallon of water.
Why is my stained concrete turning white?
Why is my concrete turning white? Efflorescence is a white salty residue caused when too much moisture is moving through the concrete. As the concrete dries and its moisture rises upwards through the slab, it brings salts within the concrete to the surface as well.
Can I sand concrete instead of etching?
In our experience, the simple answer is no. While acid etching is better than doing nothing to profile the concrete, it simple does not work as well as a floor grind. There are a wide range of concrete types, varying in composition, hardness levels, and texture–meaning there isn't a one size fits all solution.
Does etching concrete make it rough?
0:165:46Acid Etching Concrete - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is not to make the surface rough as some think. But that is a byproduct of the process acidMoreThis is not to make the surface rough as some think. But that is a byproduct of the process acid etching cleans the calcium sulfate off the surface of the concrete.
How do you tell if concrete has been etched?
In addition to the water test, feel the surface of the concrete — a properly etched concrete surface should look and feel like 120-grit medium sandpaper. If it is properly etched, your surface is now ready for you to apply your sealant or coating.
What can etch polished concrete?
In a grocery store, any acidic item spilled on the polished concrete could etch the polished finish. These include vinegar, pickle juice, wine, colas, etc. Here again, stain protection is now available for this potential hazard as the acids are mild.
What does acid etching concrete do?
This acid has damaged the cement paste, not the sand or aggregates. Microscopically, acid etched concrete would rese mble a sponge as the acid travels through the capillaries of the concrete and dissolves the cement paste.
Why is polished concrete so popular?
Due to its popularity and increased square footage installed throughout the world, acid damage to polished concrete has become more prevalent. A few building uses that have turned from carpet, vinyl tile (VCT) or other hard surface flooring to polished concrete include: grocery stores, schools, liquor stores, big box lumber companies, clothing stores, hardware stores, car dealerships, industries requiring dust free and easily cleaned floors, food warehouses, medical warehouses, and distribution centers, and even general warehouses.
Why is concrete susceptible to moisture absorption?
As the concrete dries and moisture leaves the slab, capillaries of air are left in the concrete making it susceptible to moisture absorption.
What do concrete finishers use?
When a concrete floor is poured, the concrete finishers use trowels to make it smooth. In a large warehouse, the trowels they use are typically a heavy ride on type with a combustion engine and steel smoothing blades.
Why do you have to restore a concrete floor?
The acid has eaten through the hard-cap of the concrete and the floor must be restored to prevent further erosion and dusting. Below is a more detailed explanation of the characteristics of a concrete slab along with some key points to consider when repairing acid damage on a concrete floor:
Why is concrete warehouse floor treated?
For decades concrete warehouse floors have been chemically treated to prevent dusting. This is a one-time treatment that reacts with the free lime in the concrete to harden it and prevent dusting.
How do I repair a crack in a concrete slab?
One way to repair these small cracks is to use a colored cement paste, or color patch. Some color hardener manufacturers offer these patches in their standard color palette for use in filling and repairing these types of cracks and small popouts. Some contractors will sift the sand out of the color hardener they are using on the project and use this to make a color patching material. I recommend wetting color patch materials with a 50:50 blend of concrete bonding polymer and water. Use a wooden tongue depressor or gloved finger to smear the color patch into the cracks. Soften the edges with a damp rag or sponge to blend the patch and color into the slab. Let these repairs cure for 24 hours.
How to get rid of squeeze on concrete?
To get rid of squeeze, the easiest method is to roll it out with a touch-up wheel or chisel while the concrete is still green. If you wait and come back after the concrete is hard, you can remove the squeeze with a good set of straight-edge metal chisels. The problem with waiting until the next day is that the areas exposed after breaking off the hardened material are now usually a different color and will need to be touched up with a tint, stain or colored sealer.
Why is there a crack in my stamped concrete?
The crack in this stamped overlay is caused by a crack in the underlying concrete that reflected through to the overlay. The sticky gray material is the epoxy that was used to repair the original crack.
What is efflorescence in concrete?
Efflorescence is a natural phenomenon that occurs in any material that contains cement (lime) and comes in contact with water.
Why does concrete crack?
This surface hardening, known as "crusting," can be caused by exposure to sun and wind, overfinishing, the concrete mix design, and even the concrete color (darker colors more readily absorb heat from the sun).
How to tint concrete?
The most common tinting method is to add a colored release powder to the liquid release and then shake the mixture well to disperse the color. (A ratio that has worked well for me is 2 to 4 ounces of dry color for every 64 ounces of liquid release.) Although many applicators have had success with this method, it takes practice to know just the right amount of tinted release to apply to prevent the stamping tools from sticking to the concrete. Apply too much release, and you get a puckered, spongy mess. Apply too little, and you get pulling and tearing of the surface. Some applicators have better success stamping the surface first using a clear liquid release and then applying a tinted liquid release immediately afterwards to highlight the texture of the surface. This method tends to work better with more porous surfaces, like stampable overlays.
What does water highlight on concrete?
Water highlights the shrinkage cracks on this colored concrete surface.
How do I clean a concrete slab?
STEP 1. Remove all the loose, crumbling, cracked, and broken pieces of concrete first. You can do this by lightly grinding like we do or by using a good pressure washer, 3500 psi or more. If you grind like we do, lightly pressure wash the concrete afterwards to remove all the dust & debris leftover by grinding. STEP 2.
How to apply second coat of paint?
As soon as the first coating is dry, you can apply the 2nd, finish coat. Lightly mist the surface with water and mix and apply the second coating just like the first one.
What is a resurfacer used for?
They're mostly used to resurface concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, porches, and pool decks. If you're choosing, I'd go with what's most local to you. They all have a quick turnaround time.
Can you resurface concrete without having to demo?
Resurfacing your badly damaged concrete is a good way to renew your concrete without having to demo and replace it with new concrete.
Do concrete driveways have joints?
Most concrete driveways have sawed or hand tooled joints. Use these as your "sections" and do one at a time.
Is Portland cement the same as sand?
Well, they're all made basically the same. They all have a special blend of Portland cement, sand, polymer modifiers and other additives that are designed to be very flowable, shrinkage compensating, high bonding strength, and go down very thin.
can you resurface a concrete driveway this way?
Yes, you can resurface a concrete driveway, porch, patio, and pool deck this same way.
Concrete Crack Repair
The technique for patching cracks will depend on the size of the crack.
Remove Paint From Concrete
Concrete is porous and absorbs paint well. Here are some recommendations for removing spilled paint.
How to fix scratches on acrylic paint?
Apply single-component acrylic sealer to the scratch using a fine tipped artist's brush. Follow the sealer manufacturer's instructions on the product's label. Completely fill the scratch with the acrylic sealer.
Is concrete fire resistant?
Concrete is recognized for its design versatility, fire resistance and long lasting durability. Although concrete surfaces are extremely sturdy, they are not impervious to scratches from sharp objects, abrasive cleaning supplies and constant foot traffic.
Can you use a buffing block instead of sandpaper?
You can substitute a manicure buffing block for the fine grit sandpaper.
How to get concrete back to solid color?
The best approach is to use a power washer or grinder to remove the soft top layer until you get down to solid concrete. After removing the top layer, you can keep the concrete gray or use a microtpping overlay or stain to add back some color if desired. Related: Problems with Integrally Colored Concrete.
How to remove efflorescence from concrete?
In regard to this particular case, the best way to proceed is to clean away the efflorescence and seal the concrete. Cleaning can be accomplished with a very dilute acid (40 parts water to 1 part muriatic acid) or even better, a non-acidic efflorescence remover. (Check out Prosoco for more information on these types of cleaners.)
What is the purpose of sealer on concrete?
The sealer will help fill the pores of the concrete to slow or stop the flow of water from below the sidewalk to the surface. This will help to prevent the white efflorescence and even out the color. First, a good cleaning will be needed to prepare the concrete to take the sealer.
Why does painter's tape pull up?
The second issue is "tape pull," caused by the plasticizers in the glue on the painter's tape penetrating into the sealer and creating a very strong chemical weld (see Tape Marks on Concrete Floors ). This can occur very quickly, and even with weak painter's tape can form a very strong bond. Time, heat and pressure make this worse, as well as the type of tape that is used. The bond of the dye to the concrete and the sealer to the dye and concrete also play a part. Usually we find that when blue painter's tape pulls up the dye and sealer, as in your case, there were underlying issues with the original dye penetration and adhesion. This also could be related to the MVT issue discussed above. It is best to never put tape on sealed concrete.
What makes black concrete grayish white?
Deposits of efflorescence make black concrete look grayish-white.
How to remove white salt from concrete?
No matter the cleaning chemicals used, apply the solution directly to the affected area and scrub lightly to loosen the white salt residue. Rinse the area with clean water. Let the surface dry thoroughly, then seal. I recommend using an impregnating waterproofing sealer to stop the movement of salts to the surface. It can be any type of silane, siloxane or silicanate, available at most concrete material or stone distribution centers. If you want to darken the concrete color or give it a glossy appearance, apply a low-solids acrylic sealer as a final coat. The most important step with this project is to seal the concrete once the surface is clean and dry. If no sealer is used, the efflorescence will reoccur and in six months the wall will look white again.
How can I stop water from evaporating from a sidewalk?
My recommendation is to use a lithium-based penetrating concrete sealer, along with some landscape modifications. The sealer will help fill the pores of the concrete to slow or stop the flow of water from below the sidewalk to the surface. This will help to prevent the white efflorescence and even out the color. First, a good cleaning will be needed to prepare the concrete to take the sealer. Refer to the recommendations provided by the sealer manufacturer. I would also cut back the hillside and position the retaining wall blocks on the soil, rather than on the concrete (see drawing). Re-grade the ground so that the blocks sit lower than the concrete, and that area becomes the low point. Then install a French drain in the new low spot to help move water away.
Step 1
Clean the surface of the concrete of all debris with the broom and dustpan. This includes cleaning out all crumbled concrete that has occurred from the damage.
Step 2
Put on all protective materials: gloves, goggles and mouth and nose mask. Use floor stripper and a buffing machine to strip all paint, adhesive and chalk lines and any other marks on the non-damaged parts of the floor. Continue until all previous finish is removed.
Step 3
Dilute the source of the acid stain with water. This will convert the low pH of the acidic substance into a higher pH. This makes the substance less corrosive and prevents damage in the future.
Step 4
Repair all holes in the concrete that have been caused by the damage after the water has dried. Using concrete epoxy, you can ensure that new concrete will bond to the old concrete that was already in place. Apply the epoxy to the hole or crack and then add the new concrete.
Step 5
Use the floor buffer after the concrete has set to level the floor once again.
Step 1
Fill the sprayer with water. Determine how much stain is necessary by using the water in the sprayer to cover the floor. Mark down how much water was needed as that will be the amount of stain you use.
Step 2
Fill the sprayer with the concrete stain and cover the floor using a circular pattern. Use the brush to make sure the stain goes into the floor well. Remove the excess stain with a mop and let the stain dry. Apply a second coat if necessary. Clean out the sprayer and let the second coat dry.
