Concrete surface profile, or CSP, is a scale that grades how rough a prepared concrete surface is. It runs from CSP 1, nearly flat, to CSP 10, very rough. Coatings list the profile they need to bond. Thicker coatings generally need a rougher profile, so the right CSP depends on what’s going on your floor.
What Concrete Surface Profile Means
Think of CSP like sandpaper grades, just in reverse. Low numbers are smooth, and high numbers are rough. The scale has 10 levels, from CSP 1 (nearly flat) to CSP 10 (very rough), set by the International Concrete Repair Institute.
Contractors check the floor against a set of sample chips, one for each level. They hold a chip next to the prepared concrete, look, and run a hand over both until they find the closest match. It’s a quick, hands-on check, a bit like matching a paint chip to a wall.
Why Concrete Surface Profile Matters for Your Coating
A coating sticks to concrete by gripping its texture. Too smooth, and there’s nothing to hold on to, so the coating can peel. Too rough, and a thin coating won’t cover the peaks, leaving bumps and thin spots.
That’s why every coating spells out the profile it needs. In general, thin products want a lighter texture, and thicker systems like urethane cement or overlays need a rougher one. Ask your installer which profile their coating calls for, since it varies from product to product.
Matching the profile to the product is one of the simplest ways to avoid delamination, the coating lifting off the slab. Learn how the main coating types compare in our guide to concrete floor coatings.
How Contractors Create a Concrete Surface Profile
Different prep methods leave different textures. Grinding and acid etching sit at CSP 1 to 2, light to medium shot blasting reaches CSP 3 to 5, and heavier blasting or chipping goes rougher still.
For most home garages and basements, diamond grinding is the go-to because it’s clean, controlled, and leaves the slab dry. Shot blasting is common on big commercial floors. Acid etching can only make a light profile and can’t remove oil or old sealers, so most coating makers no longer recommend it.
Concrete Surface Profile FAQ
What is CSP in concrete?
CSP stands for concrete surface profile. It’s a 1 to 10 scale for how rough concrete is after prep, with 1 nearly flat and 10 very rough. Coating makers use it to tell installers how much texture their product needs.
What does a concrete surface profile (CSP) of 3 refer to?
CSP 3 is a light, sandpaper-like texture, a step rougher than a typical ground floor. It’s usually made with light shot blasting. Many thicker resin coatings call for CSP 3 or rougher.
What is CSP 4?
CSP 4 is a medium texture you can easily see and feel, a bit coarser than CSP 3. It’s typically made with shot blasting and suits thicker coatings and some overlays. Your coating’s instructions will say whether it needs this much texture.