When you’re planning out your next surface preparation project, you need to know what concrete surface profile you’re trying to achieve before you choose the machine and strategy to do the job. To help you know what CSP you need for your next project and how to get it, we’re doing a break down if the levels.
What Is the Concrete Surface Profile?
First, you need to know what a concrete surface profile is before knowing which one is right for your project. The CSP is a standard rating of concrete texture determined by measuring the average distance from the highest point of the concrete – the “peaks” – to the lowest point of the surface – the “valleys” – when viewed as a cross section.
The scale rates concrete from one, which is the smoothest, to nine, which is highly textured. Knowing what CSP you need is important, particularly if you want to lay a coating over the concrete and need to ensure proper bonding and adhesion.
Getting the Right Surface Profile
Now, let’s look at how to get the right surface profile for your concrete.
CSP: 0-1
The smoothest profile of any concrete can be achieved by acid-etching or using a floor grinder with a finer grit tooling. We don’t recommend acid-etching in most cases because this won’t work unless the concrete is already open and free of paint, sealants, or grease stains.
This surface profile should only be used prior to applying an acrylic sealant, low-viscosity primers, or a urethane top coat.
CSP: 2
For a slightly rougher surface such as residential garage floors or basements a floor grinder is still used, only the diamond tooling has a coarser grit. This profile is best for sealers and thin film coatins less than 5 mils (0.10 mm).
CSP: 3-4
Using a shot blaster with a very small steel shot, this surface profile is good when you want to remove contaminated surfaces, like those with oil stains or paint, or you want to lay a thin film or a high-build coating no thicker than 10-15 mils.
CSP: 5-6
When you need to remove the top layer of concrete or plan on laying a self-leveling topping or a thin polymer overlay up to 1/8″ thick, you’re looking at a CSP of a five or six. This can be achieved either with a shot blaster and small-medium sized shot or a scarifier to chip away the top layer.
CSP 7-9
For heavy texture needed to create a non-slip surface or get an optimal grip for very thick overlays and coatings, you can use a shot blaster with large steel shot. There are few, if any cases in which you would need to achieve a deeper surface profile than a seven, but if you do need to remove the top layer of concrete and get a highly textured surface, you would still use a shot blaster with a larger shot size.
How Will I Know the Best Surface Profile?
In most cases, when it comes to preparing a surface for a coating, the manufacturer will have a recommendation. It’s important to follow their directions for how to prepare the surface to get the best result and ensure you get the durability from your coating.
Get the Surface Preparation Equipment You Need
No matter what your goals are for your next surface preparation project, we have the gear you need to make it happen. From heavy equipment, including floor grinders and shot blasters to tooling and steel shot, we have what you need to get the job done right. To learn more about our machines, get a quote, or speak with a product expert, reach out to us today at (815) 472-9715 or by filling out our contact form to get started!