The term “surface preparation” is widely employed in the decorative concrete business. It may even be said that it is the most commonly used phrase.
When it comes to overlays and stains, we often hear or read about grinding, scarifying, acid etching, and so on. These procedures “open” and “clean” the substrate so that the decorative concrete sealers in Florida may penetrate and adhere appropriately.
The most critical component of any topping or stain application is the surface preparation step.
Prepping Stamped Surfaces
When it comes to stamped concrete or overlays, the standard surface preparation is power-washing. While power washing cleans the concrete, it is frequently insufficient, according to the professionals at places such as Business Name.
A quality soap-and-water scrub makes a tremendous impact, whether powder release or liquid release is employed. This is especially true when using powder release, as powder release does not dissolve in water and requires the surfactants in soap to loosen the residue and lift it off the substrate.
Don’t overlook the scrubbing step; while soap alone is effective, scrubbing loosens extra chemical residue and is thus preferable.
Prepping Stained Surfaces
Sealing discolored surfaces is another big job using decorative concrete sealers in Florida that may suffer from insufficient or inappropriate surface preparation. Staining goes against everything that sealer preparation is supposed to be about: a clean, contamination-free surface.
Applying stains or dyes to concrete decreases the sealer’s ability to penetrate and cling to the surface. When preparing the surface, you need to think about surface tightness, stain overapplication, and pH levels.
