How to Acid Etch Concrete

Acid Etching Concrete

1. Clean concrete and make sure concrete is free of dirt, dust, grease, oils, wax, release agents, or any other contaminants

2. Properly mix acid solutions

3. Wet the concrete with fresh water Apply acid solution uniformly over the surface of the concrete. The use of a plastic watering can enable you to make sure fresh acid is applied evenly over the surface to be etched.  (Do Not take a bucket of acid and dump it over the floor and spread it around with a broom. It will roll over the area and will neutralize as it spreads out giving an uneven etch to the surface of the concrete.) Applied properly to a clean surface the acid will begin to bubble indicating that the acid is reacting with the concrete. (If the acid fails to bubble on all or parts of the floor it means that the surface wasn’t cleaned thoroughly enough and must be cleaned and etched again.)

4. Allow time for the acid to react (between 2-10 minutes) Do not allow any areas of the etched concrete to dry out during this time.

5. When the bubbling of the acid on the concrete surface slows noticeably, flush the concrete thoroughly with plenty of water while scrubbing the surface with stiff bristle brooms to remove the powdery residue from the pours of the concrete. This process may need to be repeated more than once to properly rinse the concrete. Collect and dispose of the liquids according to local and national regulations. After the floor is dry any powdery residue that remains on the concrete must be removed before applying any sealers or top coatings.

6. Make sure the total surface is completely dry before using any sealer or top coating.