Prepping right now - Question!

[nathank]

I'm prepping as we speak. I just finished the muratic acid stage and now my floor has some kind of white film all over it. What is the easiest way to get this off? I have only been mildly successful. The only thing I can find is the pressure washer but its taking forever!

 

[Ruddy]

I think that happens when you let it dry on the concrete without triple rinsing and using baking soda to netralize

 

[nathank]

What do you mean by triple rinse?

I used baking soda.

 

[Ruddy]

in my instructions; sprinkle baking soda on all treated areas. triple rinse the areas with a garden hose. Scrub while rinsing to ensure removal of all loosened material. Scrub in both directions.
So triple is just do the baking soda rinse/scrub, hose that all the way out of the garage, hose and scrub again, then repeat one more time.
Not sure if you have to re-wet and etch now that your has dried. Do a search on this forum with the word, "chalk"

 

[gabeancounter]

Nathan,
It does look like you let the acid dry. Looks like you used a really strong acid mixture as well? Mix 8 to 1 -2 gallons water to 1/4 gallon acid. Need to get a lot of solution on the floor and scrub it with a brush. Don't let it dry. I would mix several 2-4 gallon batches and get it all on the floor. Rinse it out. Squeegee it out. Then rinse it out agin. Squegee out. Rinse one more time and you should be good. Good luck.

 

[TheBanker]

Does the film come off on your hand if you wipe it?

 

[nathank]

beancounter, You're right, the mix was strong. Probably a little too much. Nothing ever dried though. It wasn't down long.

The white stuff comes off if you wipe it. I comes off with press wash, but it's very time consuming. Also, I don't have a curb on the side and I am concerned about pooling water up in this building against the walls.

I did discover a good scrubbing with the scrub brush seems to get rid of it. In the places I have scrubbed or washed it up, the floor looks prepped up and ready to go. The acid certainly did its work.

 

[nathank]

FYI - The mix was 4:1

 

[rugerlady]

Call me at the office if you need more help

 

[nathank]

I was able to get most all the white off with a combo press wash and scrubbing technique. Thanks for replies!

 

[TheBanker]

Alllllrighty then....so lets get to painting! Hows it going?

 

[nathank]

Will be laying it down Saturday afternoon. Forecast says sunny and 77. I hope that holds true.

 

[CrashTestDummy]

Well, the hard part is through. Good luck with the coating part. You'll be pleased, I'm sure.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

[nathank]

One additional note for anyone reading this thread in the future..

Most everyone on the forum agreed that the white film was attributed to something drying on the floor. However, last night I prepped the bathroom (part of the same floor) and kept it so wet it was puddled. I still had the white film.

Could this have more to do with the concrete chemistry than anything else?
Disclaimer : I am a computer programmer and know nothing about concrete!

This slab had a white film to it after it was poured. I kept the slab wet as it cured and it looked like I was washing salt off it.

 

[gabeancounter]

Maybe efforescence.

http://www.factsfacts.com/MyHomeRepair/efflorescence.htm

My brick pillars and retaining wall have this. About every six months I have to break out the pressure washer and the acid.