Floor Preparation for Concrete Coatings

Surface preparation is key to any surface to be coated.  Depending on the coating application, there may be several options to surface preparation.  Refer to manufacture’s recommendation.

Here are some options in preparing concrete for coatings:

Pressure Wash           Use a pressure washer capable of 3000psi of greater.  You are trying to remove surface dirt and contaminates to give the concrete a clean look prior to sealing.  Caution with the different tips and pressure.  You do not want to cut onto the concrete or streak it by focusing your pressure too close.  Practice before going for it.  Allow time to dry prior to coating/sealing (usually 24 hours at 75°F.  Remember protective gear (safety glasses and gloves) when power washing.

Acid Etch                    Effective and most economical method.  Using industrial grade muriatic acid, mix 3 parts water to one part muriatic acid.  Pour mixture onto surface area to be etched.  Using a push broom, scrub the area and keep wet for 10-15 minutes.  Neutralize the surface using a 10:1 mixture of water and ammonia or baking soda.  Apply to surface the same way by pouring the mixture over etched area and with a push broom gently scrub the concrete.  Do not let the acid of the neutralizing solution dry on the surface. If there is a drain in the floor, the spent acid (dirty water) can be rinsed down the drain.  If no drain exists, the water needs to be removed with a wetvac until only clean clear water is present.  Washing the spent acid solution out of say a garage on to dry concrete will stain the concrete.  To avoid staining, soak concrete with water prior to rinsing. 

The etched finished on the surface should resemble 100 grit sandpaper.  For most coatings, 24 hours of drying time is needed at 75°F before coatings can be applied.  Use safety protective gear when using this method (safety glasses, gloves, and splash apron) and use in well ventilated area or use the recommended respirator for acid

Diamond Grind           Very cost effective and faster job turn with less trips to the job.

The use of heavy diamond grinding equipment can grind old or new concrete, remove old epoxies or other coatings and prepare it for new coatings, stains or overlayments. The starting process for grinding concrete is depending on the concrete surface and final application of the concrete floor if it is a preparation for coatings or overlayments.

Rentals are available but if you are doing this for real, should be looking to invest in a good machine.  There are different grits available to achieve different surface profiles.

Shot Blasting              Shot blasting is a cost effective and environmentally friendly method for preparing concrete surfaces. This labor and time saving process strips, cleans and profiles simultaneously.  Shot blasting leaves the surface immediately ready for the application of coatings or overlays, eliminating drying time because water has not been introduced.  Shot blasting produces the highest bonding character of any surface preparation method.  Metal abrasive thrown by the rapidly rotating blast wheel is accelerated towards the surface being prepared. The media strikes the surface and rebounds, along with removed contaminants, into a recovery chamber or separator. Very little abrasive is lost and the usable media is returned to the storage hopper for recirculation by the blast wheel.  Different surface profiles can be achieved by varying shot size, shot flow rate and machine travel speed.  Remember to always wear eye and ear protection when shot blasting.

Sand Blasting              Long-sleeved clothing, boots, leather gloves, ear protection and a blast hood with air feed are necessary when sandblasting. 

Sandblasting can quickly remove most surface materials using compressed air and abrasive medias.  This is for exteriors and works best on irregular surfaces such as stamped concrete.  Masking off sections, abrasive clean-up and dust need to be considered before selecting sandblasting as an option.

Welcome to the Alta Paints Blog

We are a distributor of industrial coatings, spray equipment and blast equipment. Our store is geared toward the contractor. We specialize in floor and deck coatings, providing both protective and decorative finishes.

We carry a complete line of epoxy, urethane, stains, sealants, repair products, and sundries. We also carry tank linings, chemical resistant containment coatings, and industrial coatings. Our Equipment Division carries spray and blast equipment, repair parts, and abrasives for blasting. We also sell and install spray booths, repair many brands of equipment, and rent spray and blast equipment.

We have been proudly serving our customers since 1980 John Leyland, our owner, has worked in the paint, coatings, and equipment industry since 1960. He is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced people in the industry. Tod Leyland has over 20 years of experience in the coatings industry. He has extensive knowledge of spray and blast equipment, and runs our abrasive/equipment department. Jennifer Leyland is our coatings expert and has been with our company for over 10 years. John and Jennifer run our coatings department.

We have experienced record growth in the last 5 years and have added several new people to our team. Marc Metcalf is our outside salesperson in charge of equipment and spray booths. He brings over 20 years of experience, including many years with ITW Binks/DeVilbiss. Bryan Howell is now a part of our coatings sales department he has over 15 years of experience in application of industrial and specialty coatings. We are proud of our growth and are committed to continuing this trend. We thank our customers, vendors, and employees for helping us to evolve and strengthen our business.