Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

March, 2003

Painting Concrete

Q. I poured slab to park my car on and I put acid and water on it. Now there is a layer of dust on top of the concrete. My question is could that be washed off with water or should it be swept off? Also, how many coats should be used to paint this slab?

A. The parking slab should be rinsed with water to remove excess acid residue.

Allow to dry for several days then apply 2 coats of a catalyzed epoxy. Epoxy floor coatings are available from several paint manufacturers including Sherwin Williams.

When you select a coating insure that it resists glycol antifreeze, hydraulic and transmission fluid, etc.

Please follow all of the instructions provided in the vendor literature, and please also follow all of the safety and health recommendations.