I just spent 2.5 hours etching my floor with the etch included in epoxy-coat. My floor is new, so keep that in mind, but I didn't notice any real difference. The instructions say to sweep as you rinse to remove particles, well, there were no particles. The floor is damn clean, after washing, light degreasing, and etching, but, since it is new, it really doesn't appear all that different. Should I expect a big difference?
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Difference after etch?
- Thread starter Azgdds
- Start date
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
In general, you want to see water be absorbed easily with no beading. However, Christine is the authority on her products, contact her directly.
The acid should have given the floor a texture of about 100-120 grit sandpaper. You may have a bit denser concrete that didn't etch easily. You can do another etch. You can get some muriatic acid and do another acid wash with that (mix 4:1), depending on your time constraints, I can send you some muriatic acid. Give me a call.
darn, i wish i would have known, that was a lot of work, just to do it again. My floor feels like 220 grit at best. I took time off to apply the epoxy tomorrow, so I will go to the store, get it myself and spend the night redoing it so it will be dry tomorrow-ish.
Falcon67
Well-known member
What she said - it should not have any shine, feel like 100~150 grit and no water beading. Do not rush the drying - you want that floor good and dry and water will stay in there for days. Get some fans to blow air over it. Especially look at any cracks or joints and around the wall plates. Test the floor with the plastic test before committing to the coating. Waiting is hard, but the result is well worth the hassle. I had to etch mine twice to get it where I wanted.
Last edited:
What she said - it should not have any shine, feel like 100~150 grit and no water beading. Do not rush the drying - you want that floor good and dry and water will stay in there for days. Get some fans to blow air over it. Especially look at any cracks or joints and around the wall plates. Test the floor with the plastic test before committing to the coating. Waiting is hard, but the result is well worth the hassle. I had to etch mine twice to get it where I wanted.
yeah, if i do it Friday, it wont be until later, but it may wind up being Saturday or Sunday, the days i was hoping to be wiring for my lift that arrives next week...
Falcon67
Well-known member
yeah, if i do it Friday, it wont be until later, but it may wind up being Saturday or Sunday, the days i was hoping to be wiring for my lift that arrives next week...
I know the feeling - been trying for 3 weeks to get other stuff done so I could mount an air conditioner in the shop wall. Something always takes longer or gets in the way.
csp
Well-known member
I found that a pressure wash really made a difference in mine to remove the layer of cream that the acid did its work on.
Areas where the acid was poured onto the floor were rougher than others.
Areas where the acid was poured onto the floor were rougher than others.
The idea is to remove the concrete from the top of the grain of sand and keep that grain sticking underneath. The floor must be perfectly dry before prime coast is applied. May take several days even weeks depending on your weather and especially humidity.
The feel of grittiness depends on the quality /fineness of the sand used and is thus not controllable at this stage of preparation .
The feel of grittiness depends on the quality /fineness of the sand used and is thus not controllable at this stage of preparation .
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Motohead:
Hamilton Bermuda?
Hamilton Bermuda?