Replies

1. 
   heck22 | Apr 16, 2002 05:59am | #1

   Don, I just had a similar problem with a driveway pour I did at my house to give my boys a place to play basketball.
   When it was finished,the surface was way too slippery,dry and wet.
   I tried grinding,it was just as slippery.

   Then,this is what I did:Taking all safety precautions and measures,I mixed a 50/50 solution of water and muratic acid in a spray bottle.I then sprayed the slab with the mixture in an area of about 5'x5' to start(larger area as I learned what i was doing),just a spray on a fresh area with each squeeze,and then I rinsed with water after about 30 seconds.
   I covered the affected area(15'x23') in about 45 min. with about 3/4 gallon of acid.

   What a difference!Now the slab is perfect for basketball.
   It would have been possible to etch the slab further,but in my case it wasn't necessary.I assume you could etch with a stain and gain color as well.

   My slab was about 2 weeks old when I did this.

   what the heck
   was I thinking?

1. 
   CloudHidden | Apr 16, 2002 07:26am | #2

   Be REAL careful with the acid. I had pros reseal my driveway a year after poured while they were out here pouring some other stuff. They sealed it before cleaning muddy bootprints off. So I asked them to do it right. They used acid to clean off the old sealer and left it on too long (much longer than the 30 seconds you recommended) and actually ate the top off in places down to the 3/4 stone. So then they had to patch and stain and yadda yadda yadda.

   Too concentrated for too long and you can do some damage.

1. 
   heck22 | Apr 16, 2002 07:38am | #3

   I agree,Cloud,and I was pretty conservative(can I use that word here?).I thought if I had to,I could go over the slab again,but it turned out just right.A person could vary the mix and the duration of the contact with the slab...just looking to take the slick off,not the topping.what the heck was I thinking?

2. 
   heck22 | Apr 16, 2002 07:59am | #4

   You said these were "pros" that sealed muddy prints onto your drive and then they ate the top off of it with acid?what the heck was I thinking?

1. 
   CloudHidden | Apr 16, 2002 08:17am | #5

   Yes. Best stamped concrete work I've ever seen. But there are two crews. One pours and finishes, and the other touches up, details, and seals. First crew has been together for as long as I've known them, which is 3 years and running--damn good for a concrete crew. Second crew is hit and miss in composition, I'm learning, which leads to inconsistent performance if the foreman turns his head for a second. Wanna guess what crew one said when they learned about the "improvements" effected by crew two?

1. 
   DRB141 | Apr 16, 2002 01:58pm | #6

   Thanks all for the feedback.  I'm on vacation next week and I'm going to try it.  I'll let you know how it worked.

2. 
   DanH | Aug 19, 2017 07:35pm | #8

   The thread is 15 years old.

3. 
   Mike_Mahan | Aug 19, 2017 10:06pm | #9

   Cool

   I'm glad somebody noticed.

2. 
   Reinholdm | Aug 19, 2017 02:57pm | #7

   Slipery brand new driveway acid solution

   What does the surface look like exactly after the 50/50 acid wash?