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
Important Documents
Description
A hard-troweled, burnished 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 burnished, polished, and hard-troweled 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 burnished, hard-troweled 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, and allowed to dry to the touch, 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 water-soluble blend of mild inorganic acids, emulsifiers, enzymes, and wetting agents. It reacts with the concrete surface to open its pores — 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 | Increases the porosity of burnished, polished, and hard-troweled 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 | None — let it dry to the touch | 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 |
|---|---|
| Hard-troweled, burnished, 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.
- Dry — let the slab dry to the touch; pores open, ready to seal.
One slab, three phases, a garden sprayer — that’s the whole prep.
Good to know: apply one coat with a typical garden sprayer and darken the concrete completely; let it sit 5–10 minutes; then let the slab dry to the touch before applying your Bone Dry sealer. 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 | Water-soluble mild inorganic acids, emulsifiers, enzymes, wetting agents |
| Effect on concrete | Opens pores — will not burn concrete |
| VOC | VOC-free |
| Application | Garden sprayer — one coat, darken the slab completely |
| Dwell | 5–10 minutes |
| Cleanup | None — let it dry to the touch, then seal |
| Sizes | 1 gallon and 5 gallon |
| 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 [email protected].
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 can I open up hard-troweled 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?
One coat from a garden sprayer, enough to darken the slab. Let it work for 5 to 10 minutes. Once the slab is dry to the touch apply your Bone Dry sealer as normal.
Is Etch-A-Crete an acid etch?
No. It is a spray-on etch that opens the pores of burnished, polished, or hard-troweled concrete without acid and without grinding: a garden sprayer, a broom, and a mop.
Which slabs need Etch-A-Crete before sealing?
Hard-troweled, burnished, and polished surfaces, which are effectively sealed shut so a penetrating sealer cannot get in. Broom-finished concrete do 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.
Specifications
Read about the specifications here.
Additional information
| Weight | N/A |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Size | 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon |
