Stained Concrete: Improve Your Floor
Acid straining can make ordinary concrete floor appear like expensive natural stone floor. Not only is it much cheaper but it is also wonderful for people who are allergic to carpeting materials. One more use is in homes with radiant floor heating. Radiant heating is most efficient when insulating floor coverings like tile or carpet are minimized.
The process of staining a concrete floor is not especially complex, but it can be tricky to get the results you want. Most people would probably do better with hiring a professional contractor. It can be a risky project for the do-it-yourselfer.
Concrete stain isn’t a paint or finish coat, but rather involves a chemical reaction with the cement. Typically a water-based solution of hydrochloric acid and inorganic salts, the stain reacts with the minerals and lime in the concrete aggregate, and staining reaction results. It will work on new or old concrete, and is fairly durable if you maintain it with sealer or wax, since it won’t chip or flake. It can also be applied to both interior and exterior floors. Walkways, entrances, bathrooms, driveways, living rooms and patios are all possible.
Once everything is finished, concrete which is stained somewhat resembles marble, but a little less uniform and more dabbled. More than likely the concrete will be earthy brown tones, with an opinion of red and green. You will also have the choice to make your own custom stain by mixing colors, or applying at dissimilar rates. Once you stain a concrete floor, however, you should not expect the stain to come out evenly toned so make sure to plan your room decor and color scheme properly. Being you will get a number of different reactions from different areas of the concrete, professionals will even have hard times predicting what the exact result will be.
Surface preparation for acid staining concrete floors is dependent on the condition of your slab. Newly poured concrete only needs is be allowed time for curing: three weeks after pouring and then some rinsing and scrubbing. Older concrete floors are a different story. Thorough cleaning is required because any dirt, grease, paint, sealers or even curing agent will prevent the stain from penetrating and reacting as it should. Do a little test area to be sure it’s ready.
Newer poured concrete will require less stain than older floors, but typically, a gallon of water added to one gallon of stain will cover about 400 square feet. Apply the stain with a non-metallic brush or broom, working in the morning or evening hours when it is cooler, rather than in the heat of the day. Be careful to protect yourself from spillage, drips and fumes from the acid stain, and follow all of the manufacturer’s precautions. After application, you will need to cleanup by sweeping away any leftover stain and residue with a broom. When the floor is thoroughly dry, it is best to apply a sealer agent and then wax it.
If you are shopping for natural stone flooring, a new look for your basement or patio, or just looking for new remodeling ideas, stained concrete floors have a lot to offer.
Concrete Floor Stain is not a paint or a finish coat, it is actually a chemical reaction with the cement. A great use for stained concrete floors is in homes with Radiant Floor Heating.
- Dan Carter
