Installation Instructions

6
Q: When I used the etching solution the
concrete did not froth. What would
cause this?
A: The etching solution needs to come in
contact directly with the bare concrete
to chemically react and dissolve the thin
layer on the surface. This contact can be
inhibited by concrete sealers, tire dressing,
oil contamination, or existing coatings.
SOLUTION – Typically preparing the
surface by mechanical means such
as diamond grinding or aggressive
sanding can remove the sealers, etc.
Oil contamination, tire dressing and
other bond breakers must be thoroughly
cleaned off using a heavy duty degreaser
prior to the concrete preparation phase.
Grinding equipment can be rented at most
local hardware stores if needed. Keep in
mind that if the concrete does need to be
ground to remove sealers, etc. that the
porosity of the concrete will increase and
the coverage rate of the kit will decrease.
It may be necessary to purchase
additional kits to account for this in some
cases.
Q: When I rolled over certain areas of the
oor the product separated and created
“sh eyes”. What could have happened
here?
A: “Fish eyeing” or separation of the coating
is due to contaminants on the surface
– most likely oil spots or silicone based
products like tire dressing. While these
areas are supposed to be treated before
the preparation and application phase,
sometimes they are missed.
SOLUTION - If you catch it right away
while you are rolling, you can use a
solvent such as MEK or acetone to
thoroughly remove the product and
scrub the oor. Allow the solvent to ash
off, then roll over the area multiple times
with material on the roller. You may need
to repeat the process until the material
no longer separates. If you do not notice
these areas until the oor coating has
cured, you will need to aggressively
scuff sand the areas to remove any
residual coating, then use a heavy duty
degreaser to clean the surface. The area
can be re-etched if needed to prole the
concrete. Allow the surface to dry and
re-apply the coating in a thin and even
coat, feathering into the existing coating
without coating over it.
Q: I was unable to get the specied
coverage rate. What are the possible
reasons for this?
A: The RockSolid Top Coat
®
kit was
designed to be installed over etched
concrete. Older concrete with more
porosity will “drink up” more material
while you are trying to roll it to an opaque
consistency, therefore limiting the spread
rate. Grinding will create the same
increased porosity and require more
material to reach the desired nish.
SOLUTION – If you are going to be
coating over old concrete or plan to
grind the oor to either remove a sealer
or existing coating, it is suggested
to purchase an additional kit (or 2
depending on the size of the oor) so that
you do not run out before completion.
Stretching the material to get to the
end could result in a transparent (see-
through) section that does not match the
rest of the oor and will have decreased
performance characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questions