Epoxy-Coat Ethching

[ae82gtm]

Hello All,

Curious about concrete etching supplied by Epoxy-Coat (and etching in general).
While degreasing my garage yesterday, I noticed that my 9 month old floor is very quick to absorb water.

If I follow the etching instructions, I am to spray this stuff on the concrete and let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash away.
I've read that it should be kept wet, and not allowed to dry.
If that is the case, then I'm going to go through this stuff like nobody's business, as the floor absorbs so quickly.

Any tips or tricks? Or do I need to go to a hardware store and buy more of this stuff?

Thank you!

 

[benwah]

There are many videos on Youtube showing how to etch your floor, I suggest you watch a few of them.

Pre-wet concrete
Apply acid solution from a rotary pump sprayer or garden waterer. (I like to push it around a bit with a push broom).
Keep concrete wet with water hose or bucket of water for recommended amount of time.
Rinse with water from hose.
Rinse with power washer. Be sure to rinse corners and hard to reach places well.
Perform pH test on floor.

EDIT: ALWAYS wear proper protective gear! Rubber boots, rubber gloves, long shirt, pants, safety glasses, and dust mask. It may sound stupid but I promise you do not want some of that acid solution to splash in your eyes or mouth OR get on your skin.

 

[Shea]

I noticed that my 9 month old floor is very quick to absorb water.

This is a great sign that the surface of your concrete is somewhat porous already. As Benwah stated, pre-wetting the concrete will really help in keeping your solution wet on the surface.

 

[ae82gtm]

Thanks, Benwah and Shea.

You two have been very helpful, and I'm very appreciative that you guys keep answering my questions quickly.
Shea's website has been a tremendous help thus far.

Tonight, I put down some Valspar oil stain remover (Pour-N-Restore equivalent), and I am REALLY hoping this stuff works.
Tomorrow morning I will remove it and wash it off. After I return from work, the acid etching begins using Epoxy-Coat's included powder.
So basically I've eaten up my "buffer time" trying to get oil stains out.

Fingers crossed...

 

[ae82gtm]

*Update*
UGH!!! I scraped off the Valspar oil stain remover this morning. Some patches still felt damp (even after 12 hours), but some where dry, but soft.
I'm quite frustrated right now, the big oil stain I am trying to remove is still there.
I scrapped off the first apply of this stain remover, and rinsed off the area as the instructions say to do. Left it for 30 minutes with a fan on it for it to dry, then reapplied more and scrubbed it in with a brush this time.
At work now, will check on it when I get home.

But I'm supposed to start etching tonight, patching tomorrow morning, and then primer apply tomorrow evening.

UGH! I'm beyond frustrated. Seems like whatever I throw at this oil stain has not phased it at all!

Please help if you have a suggestion!

Thanks.