How to Stain Concrete Floors?

Stained concrete floors offer a fantastic variety of design possibilities to residential and commercial spaces. Concrete staining requires not only skill but also an ability to understand how to prepare a concrete surface to accept the color.

Concrete stains are available in two forms – chemical (acid) stains or water based stains.

Chemical stains react with the lime in the concrete whereas water based stains lay down on the concrete surface. Each one has its own pros and cons. If an applicator of the stain wants to control the coloring process then water based stains is the way to go. If the applicator would want to rely upon the variations in the lime content dictate the color outcome then chemical stains is right way to go.

Regardless of the type of stain used, the surface preparation is critical for the outcome of the project. The first critical step is to find out how old the slab is – both older floors and fresh-poured slabs have special considerations when it comes to stains. For instance, old concrete slabs have very little lime content which may not be a good thing for chemical stains.

It is always a good idea to do samples on site. It eliminates any guess work in selecting which type of stain is suitable in the project. It is absolutely critical that the stains are tested on the same surface as the final work. If the surface has a lot of joints or patches, it is a good idea to apply thin concrete overlay so that uniform results are achieved. Grinding or sanding the surface with 80/100grit is highly recommended. It ensures that stains are being applied on a clean floor and stains are allowed to penetrate into the concrete surface. By using the combination of the big floor machines and the hand-held grinders, you can ensure that the surface is consistently open throughout the entire surface. Mechanical preparation not only ensures that the stain penetrates but also ensures that the sealers bond well to the concrete surfaces.

For detailed application process of chemical stains, please follow the link below –

Patinaetch Concrete Acid Stain

Please Contact Us for your next Stained Concrete Flooring Project.