Why stain concrete

For example, natural stone, marble, or weathered leather. Radiant heat is a big health risk when it comes to finishing projects. Acid staining is less likely to dry out breathing passages and skin during application and in the future. This improves indoor air quality and the health of building occupants.

Lastly, acid stain is primarily water. Unlike other finishing options with high levels of volatile organic compounds VOCs , acid stain is a health-conscious option. When thinking about concrete, most people picture sidewalks. Yet, concrete is a useful surface for a variety of applications. If you have an auto shop, the garage floor is likely concrete. Commercial buildings and offices typically have some visible concrete. Restaurant patios, retail establishments, hotels , and trade showrooms have concrete somewhere.

Helps to create a reseal market. Cons: Completely topical, with no reaction to concrete. Requires sealer maintenance for the life of the project. Some areas may want to bubble between coats when in direct sunlight. Surface needs to be very clean and dry. Do not overapply! My company is doing real-time testing on this product as I write this article, but right now I definitely believe this type of stain will be around for a while.

This is a nonhazardous penetrating-type stain available in many colors. It contains no acid, no acrylic and no VOCs. What they have in common Here is what all of the above have in common: Regardless of your stain or coloring choice, none will cover cracks or chips. Some existing stains may still be visible, although in a different final color. Prestained concrete must be unsealed, and I recommend testing the surface with a small amount of water to make sure the concrete is porous.

Be sure to pressure-wash the surface so that pores are open and stain-ready. It is usually best to let the surface dry overnight before staining. The sealer used to lock in the color or stain will not like water, so be sure to control sprinklers and potted plants. Concrete should also have been left to cure for a minimum of 30 days before staining. A final note about staining exterior work: I rarely used acid stains, solely because of their unpredictability. I also sense most states will institute special disposal requirements in the near future.

In any case, there is no doubt outdoor concrete stains is a growing market and will continue to grow for some time. Good luck and let me know how it goes. I am concerned that leaving them natural over time the look will become undesirable with dirt, stains, etc. Which product would you recommend for this application? Answer from Concrete Decor I will start by saying that slip resistance is an important element in the concrete sealing process.

The best way to ensure this is to use a penetrating sealer. We offer two types of penetrating sealer products via the Concrete Decor Store, water-based and solvent-based sealers. These products are not film-forming so you will still feel the concrete texture underfoot.

Solvent-based sealers will darken the concrete which is often referred to as a color enhancer. Water-based sealers will not change the color of the concrete. Multiple thin coats is always better than one heavy coat. You will also enjoy years of maintenance-free concrete when the sealer is properly applied.

Got more questions about your project? Drop files here or Select files Accepted file types: jpeg, jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. Which topical colorant is right for the job? This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Some stain manufacturers use adjectives such as "antiqued," "variegated," or "mottled" to describe the distinctive look. It's this variability, rather than uniformity, that gives stained concrete its broad appeal and permits an infinite array of special effects. The acid in chemical stains opens the top surface of the concrete, allowing metallic salts to reach the free lime deposits. Water from the stain solution then fuels the reaction, usually for about a month after the stain has been applied.

Other factors that affect the outcome include:. In general, cements that produce larger amounts of calcium hydroxide during hydration will show more stain color, and higher cement contents pro-duce more intense colors. Open finishes achieved by floating followed by minimal troweling take more stain and produce denser colors than do hard-troweled surfaces. However, open finishes lose color faster because the concrete wears away. Because of this, many contractors prefer staining hard-troweled surfaces because the stain color lasts longer.

Colors on troweled surfaces also look richer than those on floated surfaces.