Using Muriatic Acid On Concrete Floors

It should be handled with extreme care.

Using muriatic acid on concrete floors.

Mix 3 to 4 parts water with 1 part acid or follow label instructions for a 10 concentration 15 for hard smooth concrete. For many years it was a standard method of concrete preparation used by nearly all industrial commercial and institutional floor coating installers depending on the floor size and system to be installed. Always wear a carbon activated mask. Muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid.

It also reduces the surface alkalinity of the concrete that can cause some paints to adhere poorly. Use a sprayer or watering can to distribute the acid. The solution begins to bubble and it lifts and removes the stain. If you re just removing mineral deposits efflorescence use a much weaker mix 10 1 or 16 1 for muriatic acid.

Heavy duty cleaning muriatic acid can work wonders on filthy concrete and it can also be very useful in cleaning excess smears of dried mortar and grout or when attempting to alleviate tough rust. Use a garden hose and sprayer to rinse away the acid once the stain is gone. Make sure you wear your respirator and gloves and lean as far away from the bucket as you can to minimize any danger of being splashed. Muriatic acid creates and acidic vapor that can suffocate you quickly.

Slowly add the muriatic acid. The good thing is that there are safer alternatives that are just as effective available in the market today. Leave it in place for 20 minutes. Use ample amounts of water to dilute the acid as it washes away.

Muriatic acid acts like liquid sandpaper by roughening the surface of the concrete. Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water. Using acid is dangerous. You roughen such a floor by etching it with muriatic acid.

Add small amounts of lime and muriatic acid until the leftover acid is all gone and the solution is no longer fizzing. Some homeowners shy away from acid etching of their concrete floors for fear of the harmful effects of using and handling muriatic acid the main component of acid etch flooring. This ensures a more even application.