Key Aspects of Proper Surface Preparation

GrindLine
Oct 7
2 min read

So what kind of prep is needed for a successful floor?

We get asked this all the time. The short answer is that every application is different, but each and every substrate that is encountered needs to have some sort of roughness to it. If the substrate is smooth, that will certainly cause flooring issues. The rougher the better - so what can be used to determine this roughness, and how do prepare the surface to get a floor that lasts?

Let's dive in.

Preparing Concrete Surfaces for Floor Coatings

Proper preparation of concrete surfaces is crucial for achieving a durable and long-lasting floor coating. Follow these essential steps to ensure optimal adhesion and performance of your floor coatings.

Clean the Surface

Begin by thoroughly cleaning the concrete surface. Remove all dirt, dust, grease, and oil stains. Use a pressure washer or a stiff broom along with a suitable cleaning solution to ensure the surface is free from contaminants.

Repair Cracks and Imperfections

Inspect the concrete for any cracks, holes, or imperfections. Use a concrete patching compound to fill in these areas, ensuring a smooth and even surface. Allow the repairs to cure completely before proceeding.

Mechanically Profile the Surface

This process creates a profile that improves adhesion. The concrete surface needs to be "profiled" to create a rough, porous texture for the epoxy to "key" into. This is often achieved by diamond grinding, shot blasting, or acid etching. Grinding is often recommended over acid etching, especially for heavily stained or older floors. Thicker filmed coatings may have a spec for deeper surface profile being required where a shot blaster may be needed for a CSP (concrete surface profile) of 3 or more is recommended for better coating adhesion.

Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) Scale for reference.

Most garage floor coatings need at least a CSP-1 surface profile, which is typically obtained by etching the concrete. However, thicker industrial coatings may need a minimum CSP-2 profile, which can only be achieved by grinding the concrete.

Is grinding superior to etching? Grinding consistently produces a rougher and more favorable surface profile. Nonetheless, numerous garage floor coatings and DIY epoxy kits can perform adequately with proper etching alone.

Clean and Remove Dust

After mechanical preparation, thoroughly sweeping and vacuuming the floor with a HEPA-filtered vacuum is essential. Any remaining fine dust will prevent proper adhesion. If you have ability to run a shot blaster over a properly diamond ground floor - that would give you the ultimate prepped surface prior to a floor coating. The shot blasting helps suction residual dust deep into the pores of the ground surface.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can ensure that your concrete surface is properly prepared for floor coatings. Taking the time to prepare adequately will lead to a more durable and aesthetically pleasing finish.