Construction & Contractors Blog
Whether you're finishing a backyard patio or you want to resurface your basement's concrete floor, it's important to understand that the concrete surfaces need to be properly prepared before you can apply any kind of paint or resin floor coating. Unfortunately, many people are unfamiliar with the concrete surface preparation options, and they take the first suggestion from their contractors. It's in your best interest to understand what your options are so that you can choose the one that's right for you. Here are a couple of your choices.
Acid Treatment
During the acid treatment process, an acid solution that has been diluted with some water is sprayed thoroughly over the concrete surface. The solution is left on the concrete for up to an hour to allow it to clean the concrete surface and start opening up pores in the concrete for a floor coating to absorb and adhere.
After the acid treatment time has passed, the acid in the solution needs to be neutralized with a base product, such as diluted ammonia, to stop it from deteriorating the concrete. This is where proper care comes in. If the acid isn't thoroughly neutralized, as can happen when it seeps deep into concrete pores, the floor will continue to deteriorate over time, causing damage not only to the concrete but to the coating as well.
Once the base is applied to neutralize the acid, the whole floor is thoroughly rinsed and flushed clean of any acid or base residue. After the floor has been cleaned, the concrete is left to dry completely before the final surface treatment is applied.
Surface Grinding
Another option that has become more popular in recent years is surface grinding. Done with diamond blades, the surface of the concrete floor is ground away to expose fresh cured concrete beneath. This is ideal for concrete that has oil or other discoloration stains or concrete that is discolored or damaged from age.
Surface grinding is usually more expensive because it is a more labor-intensive process and it takes longer to complete, but it eliminates any surface issues that may interfere with a new product application. It is also an ideal option because you have greater control over how much concrete is removed in the process, which gives you greater flexibility to get the finish that you're looking for.
Talk with your concrete contractor today about your options to decide which surface preparation treatment is going to be best for your application or to learn more about concrete prep.
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11 September 2020
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
