Etching/prep for Rocksolid, question

[Rich H.]

All right....well, the rocksolid tan testing kits showed up and I got to work on it today.

I used the included etching fluid and followed the directions. Put it on, scrubbed and spread it around with a stiff bristle broom, waited several minutes, then started rinsing it out the door. I rinsed and swept the excess water out the door three times. After rinsing it to death, I now have a dehumidifier + the ceiling fan running to dry it out.

Questions....

I did get a slight slurry of gray/brown at the end, which I took as a good sign.

However I've seen a few comments that "the surface should feel like 60 grit sandpaper" in order to tell it's been profiled properly.

Mine does not have quite that rough of a surface everywhere. The trowel work on my slab is sloppy and uneven. Some areas feel more like 120 grit, others like 60 grit.

Did my application of densifier make the floor more difficult to etch?

Will I be ok to apply the coating (pending water dry-out, and assuming it passes the plastic sheet moisture test)? Or should I let it dry out completely and etch it again?

Thanks

 

[Edger]

When it is dry does it pass the absorbancy test? Will water readily spread and soak in, that is the question?

Just a comment on the stiff bristle broom. Those instructions are always written by someone who has never done the work more than once because a stiff bristle has a lot of trouble moving fluids or working over the floor evenly.

A fine bristle house broom (nylon/synthetic bristle) is ideal because the thickness and mass of bristles will move the liquid easily and also contact the floor more evenly getting into all the little grooves and holes. Stiff bristles jump over grooves and holes.

 

[Rich H.]

Thanks very much for the response Edger,

Water does spread and soaks in easily.
Water does not bead on the surface anywhere.

Green light?
(pending moisture testing of course)

Maybe I should post a picture of the broom?
I'm not 100% positive how it would stack up. It's not
a super stiff scrub brush with a handle, it's just an ordinary
push broom a person would use for sweeping up....but it seems
a little stiffer than most.

Knowing prep is key....I don't want to screw this up.

I let the dehumidifier run all night last night, and it
sucked about a gallon of water out. Will let it run
all day today, and maybe one more day before taping
the sheet of plastic down for moisture test.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[csp]

Stiff brisle brooms do dislodge surface material that the etch has loosened, however. I don't believe the purpose is to move fluids or distribute it.