How to wash etching powder off concrete floor?

[chrispyb]

Hi, first time question. 

I have cleaned, washed and now etched my concrete garage floor, getting ready to epoxy next weekend.

I am having trouble washing the etching powder off the floor, I am thinking of using warm water to wash / brush it off?

Thoughts?

Thanks

Chris

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @chrispyb. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about etching powder.

Can you please let us know what epoxy kit you've purchased? Products like the Dymark epoxy kit typically get you to mix the powder into warm water to have it dissolve first, so there shouldn't be any etching powder on your floor. A hose on jet nozzle spray can be used to blast it out of the area. However, I have concerns that if the etching agent wasn't dissolved before application you might not have successfully etched your concrete.

Once we have further details, and if it's one of our products, I'll be able to contact the manufacturer for the best approach.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[chrispyb]

Hi Mitchell, 

Hope you are well, thank you for your reply.

I will be using the Dy Mark 8 litre kit. With the etching powder, I did use warm water to dissolve the etching powder and stirred until the particles were dissolved, but now I have a doubt about the success of the etching process. Would it advisable to use use the Rust-oleum-concrete-and-garage-clean-and-etch_p0347545 

to etch the floor again and then proceed from their?

[JacobZ]

Hi @chrispyb,

Have you had any success using a jet-style hose attachment like @MitchellMc mentioned above?

A combination of hosing down the surface and brushing with a stiff-bristled broom should remove any residual etching solution. Give this a try and see how you go.

Do you have some photos of the concrete that you could upload? This would help us determine what is going on.

It is likely not necessary to etch the concrete again, but we would need to see it to give you a firm answer.

Jacob

[chrispyb]

Hi Jacob,

Thank you for your message, I will upload some photos later today. I have a pressure washer and a stiff bristled broom. I have given it a good pressure wash and probably need to do a stiff broom wash again.

Chris

[MitchellMc]

Hi @chrispyb,

What makes you doubt that the etching process worked? If you applied it as recommended, it likely worked. This is a chemical process, and you probably won't be able to tell by eye that anything has occurred. If it was super-smooth concrete to begin with, it might feel slightly rougher to the touch, but that's about it.

Mitchell