Stained Concrete Option

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 it's 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. It's a risky project for the do-it-yourselfer.

If you're not familiar with the concrete staining, it isn't a paint or a finish coat. It's using a chemical reaction on the cement materials to obtain a desired finish. Typically a water-based solution of hydrochloric acid and inorganic salts is applied to the concrete, 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 won't stain or chip. It can also be applied to floors that are both interiors and exterior. It's ideals for walkways, bathrooms, entrances, driveways, living rooms and patios.

When finished, stained concrete looks a little bit like marble, but more dappled colors and less uniform. The concrete will mostly be earthy brown tones, with small hints of red and green. You can make your own tint stain by mixing colors, or you could apply the stain at different rates. When you stain a concrete floor, though, you shouldn't expect the stain to be even or have an uniform tone. You will need to plan your room dcor and color scheme accordingly, because you'll get different reactions from different areas of the concrete. Even an experienced professional will be hard pressed to predict what the final result will be.

Preparing the surface for acid staining concrete depends on what condition the concrete slab is in. Newly poured concrete only needs is be allowed 3 weeks curing time after pouring, then some rinsing and scrubbing. Older concrete is a different story. Thorough cleaning is required first as any dirt, grease, paint, sealer or even curing agent will keep the stain from penetrating and reacting as it is meant to. Do a little test area to make sure it's 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 manufacturer's 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.

So if you're looking for natural stone flooring, a new look for your basement or patio, or just looking for new remodeling ideas, stained concrete is a great idea.

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