Allow acid stain to react with the concrete floor for at least 6 hours. Clean residue and pour water on the floor to approximate the final color. If darker color is desired, apply a second coat. Clean residue from floor with degreaser and neutralizer solution using an acid brush.
Staining concrete is a great way to add color to an otherwise dull surface. The concrete staining process takes about 2 days, is moderately difficult and fairly affordable. New concrete should be fully cured before staining, which takes between 21 and 28 days.
Though new concrete may not always require a second coat of acid stain, older concrete does require two coats of stain for complete coverage. For a more diffuse look, spray the stain onto the surface without brushing.
Acid-Based Stains
An acid-based stain costs between $0.20 and $0.40 per square foot on average or a total of $2 to $14.50 per square foot with labor. Acid-based stains chemically react with your concrete flooring, giving a natural appearance.
The concrete must be 28 days old or at least have cured to one uniform color prior to acid staining.
If the concrete dries during the acid washing process, it should be wet again before applying acid to the surface. areas should be missed, ensuring that the reaction is visible over the entire surface. Avoid walking on areas that have been worked already.
How deep does the acid stain react through the concrete surface? Concrete thickness can vary from ¼” to over 3′. However, depending on the finish (how it was troweled) and porosity of the concrete surface, the penetration of the acid reaction may be only 1/16″ – 3/16″.
The answer is: yes, you can acid stain old concrete. The process for acid staining old concrete is not all that different from staining new concrete with a few exceptions. Below, we will walk you through how to stain old concrete and the differences from how to stain new concrete.
So while you don't have to seal concrete, if you do, you will be enhancing and protecting the look of the concrete while extending it's lifespan considerably.
Acid stains are a reactive coloring process that penetrates into the porous concrete surface. This is probably the most permanent of all coloring options but is usually limited to eight colors.
Once that stain chemically reacts for a minimum of four to six hours—typically, you'll leave an acid stain overnight—it brings salts to the surface. All of these salts are like a powdery residue.
To help prevent this, it's a good idea to slightly dampen the surface of the concrete before applying the acid stain. This will help ensure that the stain has enough moisture to react properly with the concrete.
Dense concrete surfaces may require mechanical preparation to accept acid stain. If the stain beads up on top of the concrete, you'll need to sand the concrete to ensure the stain will soak in properly. Mask for over-spray with masking tape and water-resistant construction paper.
Cons of Outdoor Concrete Staining
Transparent: The semi-transparency of most stains will fail to hide the existing imperfections in the concrete surface. DIY is not easy: Staining concrete is the not the easiest job for the amateur weekend warrior. Using a professional contractor ensure best results.
The durability of stained concrete
This applies to both interior floors as well as outdoor surfaces, so any concrete floor will benefit from a stained concrete finish that beautifies, seals, and protects against cracking, peeling, chipping, and fading.
Acid stains or Chemical stains react with the lime in concrete and color the concrete whereas concrete dyes offer transparent colors to the concrete surface.
The current color of the concrete will affect the final color after acid staining. The important thing to remember is that you can't stain colored concrete lighter, you can only stain it darker. Keep this in mind when picking concrete stain colors. We have quite a few darker acid stain colors available to choose from.
Stain concrete when the surface temperature of the concrete is between 50° F and 90° F. The surface of the concrete should be dry. Stain manufacturers usually recommend that stain be applied no sooner than 30 days after the concrete has been poured.
They may be used on everything from concrete floors and kitchen counters to pool decks and driveways, both inside and out. So in saying that acid stain can last 5 to 20 years depending on many factors.
concrete can deteriorate. Freezing of trapped water, the effects of sea water, even certain bacteria and fungi can damage it. Particularly damaging to concrete are acids.
Like any hard, smooth surface, stained concrete can become slippery when wet, especially if it has been coated with a high-gloss sealer. For concrete floors or walkways exposed to moisture or in areas with a lot of foot traffic, there are ways you can increase the slip resistance without affecting the color.
Affordability. Applying an epoxy floor coating will cost between $3 and $10 per square foot, which is quite affordable than the $5- $12 price tag that a high-end concrete staining will cost you.
Epoxy covering is an excellent choice if you need to cover up damage; thus, many commercial work environments opt for epoxy. If you want to improve the look and texture of a concrete surface, stain it to look like natural stone, and achieve a solid, long-lasting color.
The cost to install acid stains is around $2 to $6 per square foot for basic designs or $12 to $25 per square foot for complex colors and patterns. Acid stains, also called reactive stains, contain hydrochloric acid and metallic salts that chemically react with concrete to produce earthy colors.