The Contractor’s Guide to Concrete Surface Preparation

Get the right concrete surface profile and avoid bonding failures with these proven prep methods.

What is Surface Preparation?

Surface preparation refers to the techniques used create the ideal profile on a concrete surface for the application of topical products such as sealers, coatings, overlays, and stains. Surface preparation is the most important step when installing these topical materials. A high percentage of material failure in these categories can be traced back to improper or insufficient surface preparation. If the surface is not treated correctly prior to application, materials may delaminate, they may not penetrate, or they may not bond with the substrate.

“You have to get down to bare concrete. If you don’t, there’s a good chance your overlay, stain, or sealer won’t bond properly.”
— John Reynolds, Brickform Technical Expert

Key Surface Preparation Terms

Concrete Surface Profile – A standard of surface preparation as set by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) in their Concrete Repair Manual. Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) is approximate measure of concrete surface’s roughness and porosity. These factors determine how readily certain topical materials will bond with the concrete surface.

Bond Breakers – Any surface contamination that would prevent topical materials from adhering to or penetrating the surface of the concrete. This includes old sealer, dried adhesive, oil or grease stains, rust stains, or mildew.

Freeze-Thaw – An occurrence in which moisture inside the concrete will freeze and thaw repeatedly, causing stress on the structure of the concrete. This can lead to surface defects, weakened concrete, and topping failures. In many climates, a concrete slab may undergo this cycle thousands of times over the course of a season. Use of de-icing salts or chemicals can make this worse as well as introduce chemical contaminants.

Spalling – Cracking or delamination of the concrete surface. Volumetric expansion of material inside the concrete causes chunks and flakes of concrete to break free and cause surface defects. This is also sometimes called a “rock pop”.

Surface Prep Tools

Hammers
Rub Stones
Sprayers
Brooms or Brushes
Personal Protective Equipment
Pressure Washer
Rotary Floor Scrubber
Grinders, Scarifiers, and/or Shot Blasters
Evaluating Surface Preparation Needs
Determine the necessary surface profile
Examine the concrete for defects
Check for sealer

Surface Preparation Standards

	Brickform Products
CSP 1 – Acid-Etch	Antique-It ARTesian Stain Blush Tone Acid Stain Cem-Coat Micro-Topping SM Professional Grade Brickform Sealers*
CSP 2 – Grinding	ARTesian Stain Cem-Coat Micro-Topping SM Professional Grade Brickform Sealers*
CSP 3 – Light Shot Blast	Micro-Topping SM Professional Grade Stampable Overlay
CSP 4 – Light Scarification	Stampable Overlay
CSP 5 – Medium Shot Blast	Stampable Overlay
CSP 6 – Medium Scarification	—
CSP 7 – Heavy Abrasive Blast	—
CSP 8 – Scabbled	—
CSP 9 – Heavy Scarification/Rotomilled	—
CSP 10 – Handheld breaker and abrasive blasting	—

For more information visit: ICRI – Concrete Repair

*Most Brickform Sealers require a CSP 1 or CSP 2. If the concrete is newly placed and free of contamination, a light cleaning and CSP 1 should be all that is needed. Older or more heavily soiled concrete requires CSP 2, especially if bond breakers are present.

Surface Preparation Videos

Surface Preparation Methods

Stripping – Sealer is a bond breaker. It will also interfere with etching. Remove sealer using a stripper such as Brickform Strip-It. Remember xylene and other solvents are not strippers as they only re-emulsify the sealer. If strippers or solvents do not work, mechanical stripping is necessary. To tell if stripping is necessary, visually inspect the concrete for signs of residual sealer. Test the surface by pouring a small amount of Brickform E-Etch or muriatic acid onto the surface. If it reacts and bubbles, the surface is likely free of sealer in that spot.

Pressure Washing – Vigorous cleaning is both a mild form of surface preparation, as well as a key part of other preparation techniques. Clean the surface of the concrete using a mild, pH-neutral detergent and water. Use a power washer or rotary floor scrubber to loosen any contaminants or debris. Rinse using clean water and allow to dry. Interior surfaces may require a wet vac.

Etching – Often the lightest form of surface preparation required for stains, sealers, and microtoppings. Use diluted hydrochloric acid (often called muriatic acid) or Brickform E-Etch to remove the surface cream of the concrete and open pores. Begin by wetting the surface of the concrete. This will allow more even distribution of the etching solution and prevent burn marks. Apply E-Etch or muriatic acid dilution using an acid-resistant sprayer. Agitate etching solution with an acid-resistant broom or brush, not allowing it to dry, until the surface stops reacting. Rinse with a neutralizing solution made with Brickform Neutra Clean.

Soda Blasting – Soda blasting is a method that blasts sodium bicarbonate against the concrete to remove dirt, grease, paint, graffiti, and even some coatings. It’s effective for cleaning and light surface preparation when you need more power than pressure washing but less profile than grinding. Always rinse thoroughly after blasting to remove soda residue, which can interfere with coating adhesion.

Grinding – A more aggressive form of surface preparation that uses a handheld or walk-behind grinder equipped with abrasives. This removes stubborn contaminants such as sealer, coatings, grease, and paint. Grinding also removes some of the concrete, leveling uneven surfaces and joints. Use the grinder and discs best suited for the job. Make sure the entire surface is evenly ground and fully cleaned of dust and debris. Use of dust controls is highly recommended and may be required.

“When grinding concrete, this is what you’re looking for: a surface down to the aggregate, with swirl marks that provide a sandpaper-like grip and feel.”
— John Reynolds, Brickform Technical Expert

Scarification – Scarifiers use multi-tipped cutting wheels or flails to remove material from the concrete surface. This is a more aggressive method than grinding, used for removing thick coatings or leveling very uneven surfaces. Scarifiers may have adjustable heads that can change depth and tool distance to achieve the desired profile. Scarification leaves a rough surface behind, so it might need to be followed up by grinding, depending on the coating or overlay used.

Shot Blasting – Shot blasting is the process of using small steel balls (also called shot) to fracture the surface of the concrete. A shot blaster propels the shot into the surface of the concrete, creating a rough, profiled surface. It collects the shot for reuse and separates out dust and debris for collection. Shot blasting is a versatile and low dust surface preparation method but it may be ineffective against some surfaces that the shot may just bounce off.

Project Spotlight

To get this driveway transformation started, the crew had to remove the existing sealer. They sandblasted the entire driveway to open up the surface and ensure proper adhesion for the new color system. This achieved a Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) at the high end of the recommended 1–3 range, ensuring a strong bond that will last for years.

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Sandblasting – Sandblasting uses compressed air to propel sand or other abrasives against the surface. It is very effective at removing contaminants, coatings, and old sealer. Sandblasting reaches edges, corners, and textured surfaces that are hard to clean with grinders or scarifiers. It is also faster than chemical-only methods when heavy removal is needed. Because the media is not recycled, this process creates more dust and requires thorough cleanup. Use proper containment and protective equipment to control dust and ensure a clean, bondable surface.