CFSI
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It is always recommended to diamond grind concrete prior to installing any coatings.
Even if it is a new concrete slab, the scratch created by diamonds create a mechanical profile for epoxy or polyaspartic to bond to.
Mechanical preparation is always the recommended method.
I have always recommended a +/-40 grit diamond scratch before applying any coatings.
It is also imperative to wait a minimum of 28 days for the moisture to escape from freshly poured concrete.
Acid edging may work, but the negatives outweigh the positives.
First, acid will penetrate into cracks and joints within the concrete, and cannot be neutralized properly. Acids trapped under a coating may be reactivated with moisture under the slab, and can cause bonding issues in the future.
Second and one of the most important facts is that acids cannot penetrate through oils, it is a water based acid solution (water does not penetrate oil) . If you acid wash/etch your floor, the areas that need it the most are areas that may have been oil stained / saturated, etc. Acid will not do anything to these areas.
You may get lucky with acid etching, but in my career that was rare.
If you are in an area and speculate you may have vapor transmission issues, you may want to do a calcium chloride test to measure the vapor transmission in the floor.
Most good quality epoxies are rated for +/- 3 pounds per thousand square feet of vapor transmission.
Good quality vapor barriers can be applied prior to epoxy / polyaspartic coatings to protect up to 20 pounds per thousand square feet of vapor transmission.
If anybody has any questions on proper concrete preparation, please let me know.
I have been in the industry for over 28 years as a professional installer and have over 50 YouTube videos showing our work. I spend my days guiding people through epoxy / polyaspartic floor installations.
Even if it is a new concrete slab, the scratch created by diamonds create a mechanical profile for epoxy or polyaspartic to bond to.
Mechanical preparation is always the recommended method.
I have always recommended a +/-40 grit diamond scratch before applying any coatings.
It is also imperative to wait a minimum of 28 days for the moisture to escape from freshly poured concrete.
Acid edging may work, but the negatives outweigh the positives.
First, acid will penetrate into cracks and joints within the concrete, and cannot be neutralized properly. Acids trapped under a coating may be reactivated with moisture under the slab, and can cause bonding issues in the future.
Second and one of the most important facts is that acids cannot penetrate through oils, it is a water based acid solution (water does not penetrate oil) . If you acid wash/etch your floor, the areas that need it the most are areas that may have been oil stained / saturated, etc. Acid will not do anything to these areas.
You may get lucky with acid etching, but in my career that was rare.
If you are in an area and speculate you may have vapor transmission issues, you may want to do a calcium chloride test to measure the vapor transmission in the floor.
Most good quality epoxies are rated for +/- 3 pounds per thousand square feet of vapor transmission.
Good quality vapor barriers can be applied prior to epoxy / polyaspartic coatings to protect up to 20 pounds per thousand square feet of vapor transmission.
If anybody has any questions on proper concrete preparation, please let me know.
I have been in the industry for over 28 years as a professional installer and have over 50 YouTube videos showing our work. I spend my days guiding people through epoxy / polyaspartic floor installations.
