luxurious home with stained concrete flooring

Concrete stains have risen to popularity among its competitors because of the perks that come with it. If you’ve done enough research, you will find that it lasts the longest because basically, it’s not a coating that chips away with daily use. It’s a permanent color for your floors, driveways, patios, and other surfaces. No more peeling and cracking problems from using paint! We’ve broken down the method for you into five simple steps to get you through the process and, hopefully, help you decide if you’re up for the job.

5 Steps to staining your concrete floors:

1. Choosing your concrete stain

Concrete stains are divided into two types: water-based and acid-based stains. Here’s what makes them different:

 

 

WATER-BASED

ACID BASED

VARIETY

more color choices

Limited to earthly hues

APPLICATION

Less tricky because it doesn’t deal with chemicals, takes less time to finish

Requires neutralization and constant cleaning, will require more time to finish

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE (VOCs)

Zero to none

Toxic fumes from chemical reactions require the use of safety equipment

AREA (considering the ventilation and cleaning process)

Good for indoor and outdoor areas

Good for outdoor areas, areas with good ventilation

COLOR PAYOFF 

Color is more consistent

Colors may differ because of chemical reactions

LONGEVITY

Fades much faster

Resistant to fade

In choosing which one would work best for you, consider choosing the areas you plan to refurnish ahead of time. Check your availability for the project to make sure it fits your schedule or if you would need some help from professionals who can do it for you.

2. Preparation 

You’ve chosen the perfect color for your cement floors, but preparation is key to any ideal floor installation. Check these three before you start pouring your product everywhere.

    • Cement age

Is the cement new, or has it been there since time immemorial? New concrete has to cure for at least four weeks before subjecting it to treatment. Old concrete tends to be worn out, especially if you’ll be treating outside surfaces. Make sure to check for cracks and holes and apply a cement sealant to fill in the spaces. If there are signs of spalling, get your floors repaired before anything else.

    • Cement porosity

Acid-based stains require a porous surface for the chemicals to be absorbed. For water-based stains, this won’t be a problem since no chemical reaction is involved.

    • Past treatments

If your floor has been sealed, waxed, or another treatment has been done, you’ll have to srub the surface to remove it. Make sure it is bare before staining.

If you’re done analyzing the area’s condition, you can proceed with the usual floor preparation like cleaning and removing any obstructions.

3. Application

Add painters tape on the walls to get clean borders. Choose between non-metal spray equipment and brushes or rollers. You will get different results since spays won’t give you harsh strokes. Dampen the ground and work your way through until you’ve covered the area. You can opt to add a second coat after leaving it to dry from 6 to 24 hours, depending on the weather condition.

4. Cleaning

Acid stains will need some cleaning after the process. Wash out the residue and continue until the water is clear. You can use a white cloth to detect if there is still some residue left. For water-based stains, your floors are good to go. 

Remember to research and practice safety precautions when dealing with these products. Wear your masks, gloves, and boots and follow product guidelines if there are any.

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