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.
Using muriatic acid on concrete floors.
Use ample amounts of water to dilute the acid as it washes away.
Muriatic acid creates and acidic vapor that can suffocate you quickly.
The solution begins to bubble and it lifts and removes the stain.
It also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly.
Always wear a carbon activated mask.
Heavy duty cleaning 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.
Leave it in place for 20 minutes.
You should see a chemical reaction as soon as you apply the muriatic acid.
The good thing is that there are safer alternatives that are just as effective available in the market today.
Make sure you wear your respirator and gloves and lean as far away from the bucket as you can to minimize any danger of being splashed.
Use a garden hose and sprayer to rinse away the acid once the stain is gone.
Using acid is dangerous.
These solutions are for etching the concrete.
Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water.
Muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid.
Mix 3 to 4 parts water with 1 part acid or follow label instructions for a 10 concentration 15 for hard smooth concrete.
Use a sprayer or watering can to distribute the acid.
Add small amounts of lime and muriatic acid until the leftover acid is all gone and the solution is no longer fizzing.
This ensures a more even application.
If you re just removing mineral deposits efflorescence use a much weaker mix 10 1 or 16 1 for muriatic acid.
It should be handled with extreme care.
Rather than pour all of the acid onto one spot of the floor which can leave some of the acid spent by the time it reaches the far corners of the concrete use a plastic sprayer or watering can.
You roughen such a floor by etching it with muriatic acid.