How to Stain
Your Concrete Floor
By Frederick
M. Hueston, www.stoneforensics.com
Acid staining can make a common concrete floor
into look like expensive natural stone flooring. Not only is it a fraction of
the price, but for people allergic to carpeting materials its a godsend.
Another great application is in houses with radiant floor heating. Radiant
heating is at its most efficient when insulating floor coverings like tile or
carpet are minimized.
The process of staining a concrete floor,
while not overly complex, can be tough to get the results you want from. Most
folks are probably better off hiring a professional contractor. Its a risky
project for the do-it-yourselfer.
If youre not familiar with it, concrete stain
isnt a paint or finish coat. It involves a chemical reaction on cement
materials. Typically a water-based solution of hydrochloric acid and inorganic
salts, the stain reacts with minerals and lime in the concrete aggregate, and
the result of the reaction is coloring. It works on new or old concrete, and is
fairly durable if you maintain it with sealer or wax, since it wont stain or
chip. It can also be applied to both interiors and exterior floors. Walkways,
bathrooms, entrances, driveways, living rooms and patios are all fair game.
When its finished, stained concrete looks a
little like marble, but more dappled and less uniform. The concrete will mostly
be earthy brown tones, with hints of red and green. Its possible to make your
own tint stain by mixing colors, or applying at dissimilar rates. When you
stain a concrete floor, though, dont expect the stain to be uniform or have an
even tone. Plan your room decor and color scheme accordingly, because you’ll
get dissimilar reactions from different areas of the concrete, and even a
seasoned pro will be hard pressed to predict what the final result will be.
Surface prep for acid staining concrete
depends on what condition your slab is in. Newly poured concrete only needs is
be allowed time for curing- three weeks after pouring- then some rinsing and
scrubbing. Older concrete is a different story. Thorough cleaning is required
because any dirt, grease, paint, sealer or even curing agent will keep the
stain from penetrating and reacting as it should. Do a little test area to make
sure its ready.
Newer poured concrete will require less stain
than older floors, but in general, a gallon of water added to one gallon of
stain will cover around 400 square feet. Apply the stain with a non-metallic
brush or broom, working in the cooler morning or evening hours, rather than in
the heat of the day. Be careful to protect yourself from spillage, drips and
fumes from the acid stain, and follow the manufacturers precautions.
After application, you need to cleanup by
sweeping away any leftover stain and residue with a broom. When the floor is
thoroughly dry, it is a good idea to apply a sealer agent and then wax it.
If you are in the market for natural stone
flooring, a new look for your basement or patio, or just looking for new
remodeling ideas, stained concrete is something you should look into.
