How To Stain Concrete Floors

You will need to learn something about stains before you can learn how to stain concrete floors. Here are several types of stains and dyes that can be used:

Acid Stained Concrete - A mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and acid-soluble metallic salts, these stains penetrate the surface and react with the hydrated lime in the concrete. The acid etches the surface, letting the metallic salts penetrate. It then becomes permanent, and cannot fade, chip or peel. Acid stains are translucent, and will vary due to the color and condition of the flooring they are staining. Expect varying degrees of intensity, since each concrete slab will react a bit differently. Acid stains come in subtle earth tone, browns, terra cottas and blue-greens.

Water-based Penetrating Stains - Available in all kinds of colors, including black, white, and metallic. These stains can also be mixed to give you even more variety. Containing a blend of acrylic polymers and pigments, they penetrate the concrete giving you permanent color that ranges from translucent to opaque. No chemical reaction takes place, which makes the color more consistent. Because they are low in volatile organic compounds, they are safer to work with.

Concrete Dyes - Creating a whole new design option, they can be used in conjunction with acid stains to produce a variegated look. Use them as it's own color application, as a base coat before acid staining, or to deepen color when the stain is not intense enough. Colors can be mixed or diluted right at the job site. This is basically concrete paint, so there is the possibility of fading, chipping, and other types of wear and tear.

Epoxy Paints - Now available in a water based form making it safe for the do-it-yourselfer and perfect for indoor applications. They cost a little more than stains, but make an excellent coating for basement and garage floors.

Now that you have decided on which kind of stain to use, you need to determine whether you can do the job yourself or if you need to find a contractor. Decorative stained concrete costs two or three times as much as regular concrete. Most of that is the installation. The concrete stains are very user friendly, so if you chose to use them, why not do the job yourself? The project is not difficult if it isn't too huge an area, and you have adequately prepared the surface.

If you decide to use a contractor, don't just look in the yellow pages. Either contact the manufacturer of the stain or go to the local distributor for recommendations. It is also a good idea to go look at a completed job.

If you have decided to do the job yourself and are using the water based stain, you need the following tools:

• Plastic or other non-metal broom


• Good vacuum, preferably a wet and dry shop vac


• 5 Gallon bucket


• Hose and nozzle


• Scraper


• Painter's tape and masking paper


• Floor squeegee


• Paint tray and a 1/2" nap roller with a long handle


• Sprayer


• Acid or Water based stain


• Sealer


• Acrylic floor wax

If you have chosen to use acid stains, you will also need goggles, a face mask, gloves, long sleeves, and foot and leg coverings to protect you from the acid.

These are the necessary steps for staining your concrete floor:

1. Cover the walls, woodwork, and metal around the concrete to protect them from the stain.


2. The concrete surface must be smooth and absolutely clean, with no sand, particles, stone, leaves or even dust on the surface. Concrete stains will not paint over existing stains. Remove all grease, glue and other blemishes from the concrete before applying the stain.


3. Apply the stain using either a sprayer or an acid brush. The sprayer will give you a diffused pattern and the brush will provide a deeper more intense coat.
   Apply a second or third coat for deeper color.


4. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for removing the acidic residue after the stain has dried and cured. The concrete should be left to dry thoroughly over night. Prepare a bucket of water with baking soda in it and pour it over the concrete, covering the floor. Then mop or brush the residue from the surface. Use your wet vac to remove any remaining water, film, or residue. Do it again, using plain water this time. Once it is very dry, use a slightly damp mop to get the last of the film or residue off. Let it dry again.


5. You can now seal the stained concrete, applying the sealer with a brush, short-napped roller or sprayer. Let it dry and then apply a second coat.


6. For a good shine and additional protection, apply three coats of acrylic floor wax to the floor.

That wasn't so bad was it! When you are done, you will have stained concrete floors that you can be proud of.