Bone Dry Etch-A-Crete
Price range: $90.00 through $285.00
For opening the pores of non-absorptive concrete surfaces. Apply to concrete that has been heavily burnished or polished.
Product Info
- Opens pores on surface of concrete
- Allows for better penetration of Bone Dry on non-absorptive/heavily burnished/polished concrete
Coverage
- 350–400 square feet per gallon
Important Documents
Description
A heavily burnished, polished slab is beautiful — and sealed shut. Penetrating sealers can’t treat what they can’t enter, and a mirror finish leaves nothing open. The industry’s old answers were muriatic acid or grinding machines. Etch-A-Crete is the third way: a spray-on etching solution that opens the pores of heavily burnished (mirror-like) and polished concrete with a garden sprayer — and it won’t burn the concrete.
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Surface profile, magnified: sealed shut vs. pores open
A heavily burnished or polished slab is effectively sealed shut — sealer can’t get in. One coat of Etch-A-Crete, applied to darken the slab completely, left to work 5–10 minutes, then cleaned off with a wet mop or auto scrubber, leaves the surface etched with pores open so sealer penetrates fully. Same slab, ten minutes apart — and it won’t burn the concrete.
Opens the slab without hurting it
Etch-A-Crete is a low-VOC, mild phosphoric-acid etching solution (2 %) — no muriatic acid, non-corrosive, and it won’t burn concrete. It reacts with the concrete to open the pores of the slab — and it also pulls the slab’s history out with it: efflorescence, rust and mineral stains, weathering discoloration, and organic growth all get lifted out of the pores. What’s left is clean, open concrete that Bone Dry Pro, Original, or Plus can saturate — and a surface that bonds paint, epoxy, adhesives, and floor coverings measurably better.
What it does for the surface
| Function | What it means on the slab |
|---|---|
| OPENS | Opens the pores of heavily burnished (mirror-like) and polished surfaces |
| PURGES | Lifts efflorescence, rust and mineral stains, and organic growth to the surface |
| BONDS | Boosts sealer penetration plus paint, adhesive, and epoxy bond strength |
| SPARES | Won’t burn concrete — a user-friendly formula with no ecological problems |
Three ways to open a slab
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What each prep method makes you bring to the slab
Muriatic acid etching means strong acid, PPE, neutralizing, and pH verification. Mechanical grinding means dust containment, power, and trained operators. Etch-A-Crete means a garden sprayer — anyone on the crew.
| Etch-A-Crete | Muriatic acid | Grinding / shot-blast | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Garden sprayer | Acid, full PPE, neutralizer, pH kit | Machines, vacs, power, containment |
| Hazards | Mild — won’t burn concrete | Fumes, burns, acid handling | Airborne dust, noise |
| Cleanup | Wet mop or auto scrubber after the 5–10 minute dwell | Multiple rinses, neutralize, verify pH | Dust collection and disposal |
| Who runs it | Anyone on the crew | Experienced hands only | Trained operators |
Acid and mechanical columns reflect typical published guidance for conventional acid etching and mechanical surface preparation. Verify against project-specific requirements.
What it unlocks
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What it opens the surface for
Etch-A-Crete opens burnished concrete for Bone Dry Pro, Bone Dry Original, Bone Dry Plus, flooring adhesives, and paints and epoxies. Broom-finished or porous slab? Skip the etch and seal directly.
| Your surface | Prep needed |
|---|---|
| Heavily burnished (mirror-like) or polished | Etch-A-Crete first, then seal |
| Broom-finished or open, porous concrete | None — apply the sealer directly |
| Fresh pour (Bone Dry Pro at placement) | None — spray as soon as it’s walkable |
Application
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Application: three phases
- Spray — one coat; darken the slab completely.
- Dwell — let it work 5–10 minutes.
- Clean — wet mop and bucket or auto scrubber to agitate the slab and remove the concrete dust; then seal.
One slab, three phases, a garden sprayer — that’s the whole prep.
Good to know: broom-sweep the slab, open doors and windows for air flow (don’t point a fan directly at the slab), and mask finished surfaces up to 2 feet above the floor — Etch-A-Crete left sitting on finished surfaces may cause discoloration. Apply one coat with a pump or battery sprayer and a wide fan tip (squeegee or heavy-nap roller at the edges) and darken the concrete completely; let it sit 5–10 minutes; then clean the slab with a wet mop and bucket of water or an auto scrubber to agitate the surface and remove the concrete dust, and apply your Bone Dry sealer. Coverage is 350–400 square feet per gallon. Not for concrete with previous surface coatings such as paint, epoxy, or adhesive. Etch-A-Crete also stands on its own: opening a burnished surface helps prevent condensation buildup, a common problem on shaded exterior slabs like carports.
Technical data
| Type | Spray-on concrete etching solution |
| Chemistry | Low-VOC, mild phosphoric-acid (2 %) etching solution |
| Effect on concrete | Opens pores — will not burn concrete |
| VOC | Low VOC |
| Application | Garden sprayer — one coat, darken the slab completely |
| Dwell | 5–10 minutes |
| Coverage | 350–400 sq ft per gallon |
| Cleanup | Wet mop and bucket of water or auto scrubber after the 5–10 minute dwell — removes the concrete dust the etch creates |
| Sizes | 1 gallon and 5 gallon |
| Limitations | Not for concrete with previous surface coatings (paint, epoxy, adhesive, permanent coatings); do not let it sit on finished surfaces — discoloration may occur |
| Preps for | Bone Dry Pro, Original, Plus — plus paints, epoxies, adhesives, flooring |
Burnished slab in the way of your sealing job? Tell us the square footage and finish, and we’ll size the etch and the sealer together. Call 262-694-9748 or email info@bonedryproducts.com.
FAQ
Can I use Etch-A-Crete on its own?
Yes, Etch-A-Crete can be used on its own. Concrete etching opens the surface of the concrete to prevent condensation from settling and building up. This often occurs in exterior shaded carports.
Do I need to etch broom-finished concrete?
No. Broom-finished concrete can be treated directly with one of our concrete sealers.
How do I open up heavily burnished or polished concrete to apply a sealer?
Use Etch-A-Crete. Concrete etching opens the concrete’s surface and allows proper sealant application.
How do I apply Etch-A-Crete?
Apply one coat with a pump or battery sprayer and darken the concrete completely. Let it sit 5 to 10 minutes, then clean the slab with a wet mop and bucket of water or an auto scrubber to agitate the surface and remove the concrete dust. Then apply your Bone Dry sealer.
Is Etch-A-Crete an acid etch?
It uses a mild phosphoric acid at 2 % — not muriatic acid. Etch-A-Crete is a low-VOC, mild phosphoric-acid etching solution (2 %) — no muriatic acid, non-corrosive, and it won't burn concrete. It opens the pores of heavily burnished or polished slabs with no grinding. Apply with a garden sprayer, then clean the slab with a wet mop and bucket or an auto scrubber.
Which slabs need Etch-A-Crete before sealing?
Heavily burnished (mirror-like) and polished surfaces, which are effectively sealed shut so a penetrating sealer cannot get in. Broom-finished concrete does not need etching.
Does etching change how the concrete looks?
No. Etch-A-Crete opens the pores of the surface; it does not leave a film or alter the finish, and the sealer that follows dries clear.
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Size | 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon |
