Concrete Stains Create
Beautiful Decorative Concrete

Property owners...with concrete stains, creative flooring possibilities are endless

Stains are an excellent choice for creating colors often found in earth and rock.
Concrete is an inherently attractive building material. It embodies the natural appeal of stone by its mass and permanence.
With the addition of color variations, concrete as stone is even more realistic.

Concrete stains enable the innovative use of concrete for both interior and exterior construction.

Concrete floors, concrete floor heating, concrete countertops, walls, exterior hardscapes or artificial rock formations are possible and very much in demand. Both reactive and nonreactive types of stain can be applied to

• Old or new concrete
• Plain or integrally colored concrete
• Stamped concrete
• Concrete overlay
• Self leveling floor compound
• Self leveling underlayments with Micro toppings
• Concrete countertops

The most important consideration is the condition of the surface.

Concrete is the perfect canvas for stains because it's porous. But if the surface has curing membranes, sealers, adhesives, paint, drywall compounds that inhibit the stain from soaking in, the stain won't be able to completely penetrate.

A simple test for porosity is to sprinkle the concrete surface with water.
If the water beads up and can't penetrate, neither will a stain.

On new concrete, stain manufacturers recommend letting the concrete cure for at least 28 days before applying a concrete stain to allow moisture to escape from the new concrete. The use of curing compounds and sealers should be avoided.
On existing concrete, it's important to keep in mind that stains are intended to enhance rather than disguise the surface. They will not mask cracks, blemishes, discoloration, or other flaws.

For example,if you're going for an aged or rustic look, stains can accentuate minor blemishes and cracks.

An existing concrete slab with major cracks or spalling is usually not a good candidate for concrete staining because any patchwork is likely to show right through the stain.

A solution is to cover the concrete with a thin self leveling concrete compound, micro topping, or stamped concrete overlay to create a fresh new canvas to work on.

CoolStain! The latest innovation in concrete stains

CoolStain formula incorporates infrared reflective pigment technologies to minimize heat build in objects exposed to sunlight.

• Reduces temp. by 17.5 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Cooler to walk on barefoot
• Improves solar reflectivity
• lowers energy absorption which reduces heat emission
• Reduces heat island effect
• Qualifies for leed points

Acid Stain Concrete staining can be an art form. Depending on how it is applied, thousands of different looks can be achieved ranging from the understated elegance of burnished leather to the ageless beauty of natural stone. Acid Stain lets you create colors with real depth and dimension that are unique and captivating.

They will open the door to a whole new palette of creative expression for your projects by producing multi-colored intensities.

Acid Stain is a chemical concrete stain designed to add multi-colored intensities to existing or concrete overlay surfaces. Acid Stain is engineered to produce oxide colors on a cured concrete surface through a chemical reaction with the free lime at the surface.

Acid Stain produces a variegated and natural look and is a penetrating chemical stain that...

• Will Not Chip, Crack, or Peel
• Permanent flooring system
• Interior and exterior construction
• Available in 10 standard colors

A variety of effects are possible with different application techniques.

This stain is durable enough for commercial applications like

• Restaurants
• Showrooms
• And retail spaces

Acid Stain also reduces surface-glare on

• Walkways
• Driveways
• Patios
• And entrances

Interesting shades and colors can be achieved by using Acid Stain or acrylic concrete stain over concrete surfaces colored and antiqued with Color Hardener and Antique Release or by staining over Integral Color to create eye-catching combination s that cannot be duplicated with other coloring materials.
In addition, after 28 days, the concrete should be sealed with a Sealer for protection.

But, Can All Concrete Be Stained?

Both types of concrete stain can be applied to new or old and plain or integrally colored concrete.

The most important consideration is the condition of the surface.

Concrete, like wood, is the perfect canvas for concrete floor staining because it's porous.

But if the surface is covered by grime, glues, coatings, curing membranes, or sealers that inhibit the stain from soaking in, the stain won't be able to penetrate fully and do its thing.

A simple test you can conduct for porosity is to sprinkle the concrete surface with water. If the water beads up and can't penetrate, neither will a stain.

How Do Concrete Stains Work?

That depends, Generally, there are two categories of concrete stains, reactive and nonreactive.

In the first category are chemical stains--water-based acidic solutions containing metallic salts that react with the concrete's lime content. Once the chemical reaction takes place, the stain forms a permanent bond with the concrete and won't chip off or peel away.

In the nonreactive category are water-based acrylic concrete stains and non acrylic concrete floor stain that don't rely on a chemical reaction to impart color. Instead, they are formulated to penetrate the concrete surface and deposit their pigment particles in the open pores.

Nonreactive stains have grown in popularity over the past few years because they come in a much broader palette of colors than acid stains and are easier to apply.
The downside: They won't produce the same variegated, translucent color tones characteristic of acid stains. The color effects tend to be more opaque and more uniform

What's So Unique About Stained Concrete?

Concrete stain does more than simply add color. Rather than produce a solid, opaque effect like paint or colored coatings, stains permeate the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep, translucent tones.
Depending on the color and application techniques used, the results can mimic everything from polished marble to tanned leather to natural stone or even stained wood.

Even when treated with the same staining product in the same shade, no two concrete floors, walls, or countertops will look alike due to factors such as the composition and age of the concrete, surface porosity, texture, and environmental conditions.

What Special Effects Are Possible with Concrete Stains?

The explosion in the popularity of stained concrete has inspired more people to go beyond basic one-coat, one-color stain applications and explore the endless options for artistic expression.
Just visit the stained concrete pages to see stunning examples of what creative applications are possible with concrete acid stain, used alone or in conjunction with other decorative techniques, such as concrete dye, concrete color hardeners, integral colors etc.

Applying multiple colors of concrete floor stain, using either "wet-on-wet" or "wet-on-dry" methods, can produce dramatic color effects that take a basic stain job to the next level.
More elaborate multi-tonal effects are possible by layering stained surfaces with concrete dyes.

How Do I Protect and Maintain Stained Concrete?

Although concrete stains and acid stained concrete is permanent and won't flake off like paint, it penetrates only the top layer of the concrete surface and will eventually wear away as the surface is worn by traffic or weather exposure. To prolong stain life, stain manufacturers recommend keeping stained surfaces protected with multiple coats of clear sealer (outdoors) and a floor wax (indoors).

A good concrete sealer will provide other benefits as well, such as

• Adding sheen to the surface
• Enhancing color intensity
• Or adding a low cost slip resistant additive to the surface.

While protecting stained concrete with a sealer or floor finish will repel dirt and help prevent wear, it does not eliminate the need for periodic maintenance.
How much traffic the surface receives often dictates the amount of ongoing maintenance required.

Here are some general tips:

For interior concrete floors subject to only light foot traffic, maintenance is usually a simple matter of dry dust mopping and occasional wet mopping with a neutral-pH cleaner.
If stained floors begin to loose their luster or shine, re waxing will usually revive the appearance.
In a typical residential setting, a year or longer may go by before it's necessary to buff and re wax the floor.
In businesses with more traffic, it will be necessary to reapply the finish at more frequent intervals.

For exterior stained concrete, keep the surface clean by sweeping it with a broom or leaf blower or rinsing with a garden hose. To remove stubborn dirt, scrub with a mop or medium-bristle brush and a mild cleaner.

To keep exterior acid stain concrete surfaces protected, apply a new coat of sealer every year or two, or as necessary. When you begin to notice that water no longer beads up on the surface, it's time to reseal.

Stained concrete countertops will have different protection and maintenance needs than walking surfaces.

Concrete Staining Secrets to Achieving Great Results

• Be scrupulous with surface preparation to ensure removal of contaminants or defects that could ruin an otherwise beautiful staining job.
• Always apply a test sample of stain to a small, inconspicuous area of the concrete to be treated. Because so many variables can affect the final color, that's the only way to get an accurate preview of the finished product
• Follow the stain manufacturer's directions. Acid-based stains often have different requirements than acrylic stains for surface preparation, application, and cleanup.
• Don't expect color consistency or perfection. Variations are inherent in the process.
• For large or complex staining jobs, hire a pro.
• Protect your newly stained surface with a concrete sealer
• Reapply protective coatings as necessary.

What Are the Best Methods for Cleaning Concrete Before Staining?

Stain manufacturers always stress the importance of applying stain to a clean surface to ensure proper penetration. Even a light film of dust or grease can impede the stain reaction. "If you are negligent in the cleaning process, it can literally change the entire end effect.
A list of cleaning products that professionals and do-it-yourself have used successfully.

Scrubbing the concrete surface with a a non corrosive cleaner such as TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) may be used to clean contaminates from the pores of the concrete before acid staining.
For stubborn contaminants, such as carpet glue, tile mastics, heavy rust or oil stains, and curing membranes, you'll need to resort to more aggressive measures.

Concrete Floor Stripper Euco clean and strip or newlook's 1000 is a heavy duty concrete floor stripper that is highly effective at removing curing compounds, oils, grease, most concrete sealers, and other contaminants from concrete floors.

One cleaning method you should never use if you plan on applying an acid-based stain is an acid wash, such as hydrochloric or muriatic acid.
This method lightly etches the concrete and is sometimes used to open up the surface for better bonding of paints or coatings.
It's not a good solution for acid stains, however, because it will wreck havoc with the chemical reaction of the stain.
This will burn out the minerals necessary to provide a color reaction.
A better approach is to lightly sand or diamond grind the surface

Stained Concrete Maintenance

Routine Maintenance Unlike a paint or coating, acid stained concrete actually permeate and chemically react with the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep, permanent color that won't flake off or peel away. To clean, follow the same general recommendations given for plane concrete. Special Care Requirements

To keep exterior stained concrete surfaces protected, apply a new coat of sealer every year or two, or as necessary. When you begin to notice that water no longer beads up on the surface, it's time to reseal.

If you would like a free concrete staining quote,or need additional information, please use the form request below to describe your project information.