I want to clean a concrete floor (prior to sealing it), and have been advised to use muriatic acid. I am opposed to using this if at all possible. Apart from my environmental concerns about using muriatic acid or TSP, I would also worry that these products might compromise the plastic in-floor heating tubes laid in the concrete floor… Concrete is a porous substance and what if the acid penetrated through to the tubing and caused damage?
Any suggestion on how else I might clean the concrete and prepare it for sealant? (The concrete floor is going to be sealed but not painted or covered.)
Thanks!
Replies
I would contact someone like Wirsbo (uponor) and ask them that question. Pex is not bullet proof. They say that simple things like duct tape can harm the tubing, so I would be very careful about what I put on that floor.
P.S. I thought you were in jail
Edited 10/25/2008 11:38 pm ET by BoJangles
You don't need to worry about muriatic acid damaging the tubing.
I can't think of a plastic tubing that would be harmed by the muriatic acid, even if you used it as piping for the muriatic acid. Most in floor plastic heat tube is PEX, or cross linked polyethelene. The bottles the muriatic acid comes in is polyethylene, because it is inert to the muriatic acid. So, I wouldn't be worried about the muriatic acid damaging the tubing.
Additionally the muriatic acid will be completely consumed in the reaction with the concrete paste, (which is a base), long before it penetrates to the depth of the tubing. That is why the muriatic acid is used as a prefinish treatment for concrete. It leaves you with a clean new concrete surface, that is slightly etched.
I agree with Jigs.
But there are "safer" acids can be used instead of muriatic. And some that claim to be non acid etching products.
Google on - concrete etching safer acid - will find a number of alternatives.
The home horror stores have ones that I think are based on acetic acid. Super strong vinegar.
And other option would be to get some TSP substitute (no phosphorous) and rent a floor scrubing machine.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.