floor etching

[glider]

I ordered my Rustoleum Professional EPOXYShield for a 26 x 26 for a daily parking garage. I will be grinding with a 24" grinder this Saturday. Floor is nine years old, floor has paint in spots. Is it necessary to etch if you are grinding? I did buy four gal. of dark gray. Plan on using the flakes, also did buy 2 gal. of clear with grit. Have two weeks off and my wife does not, wanted to do this only if I could do this right. I have read the whole internet on this subject, LOL. I think this site is the .... Any sugestions would be great, thank guys.

 

[Fredartic]

I'm not an expert but I think it's better to etch too cause you will be sure that the concrete has the right porosity to received the treatment... On the brochure I have seen from Sherwin Williams, it says that you need a sand paper 120 after etching to compare your concrete with, and if the result of the etching is not the same like the sandpaper, you have to repeat the etching... so I think it's the most important step for the best result. Good luck! I'll do my garage floor on my hollydays too, the second weeks of july...with the help of my wife...

 

[bmwpower]

I'm not an expert but I think it's better to etch too cause you will be sure that the concrete has the right porosity to received the treatment... On the brochure I have seen from Sherwin Williams, it says that you need a sand paper 120 after etching to compare your concrete with, and if the result of the etching is not the same like the sandpaper, you have to repeat the etching... so I think it's the most important step for the best result. Good luck! I'll do my garage floor on my hollydays too, the second weeks of july...with the help of my wife...

+1............

 

[Kelly]

grind, etch, wash with simple green/water
let dry for a few days, and coat

 

[Hammerdown]

The acid wash is used to reduce the alkalinity of the concrete and is a necessary procedure. When the acid comes in contact with the concrete, they will balance each other out and be neutral, a 7 or 8 on the ph scale. When concrete is neutral epoxy or paint have the best adhesion. You should count on loosing some coverage from the epoxy when you grind the floor, it can significantly increase the porosity and surface area of the floor causing the use of more materials.

 

[z28toz06]

7 is neutral, 8 is ten times more alkaline than 7.

 

[Hammerdown]

I stand corrected. I should have said 7, not 7 or 8.