Simple Tips on How to Stain Concrete Floors

Do you want to stain your concrete floor? Are you confused about where to start? Stained concrete floors are becoming popular in the flooring industry with new dyes being developed to improve your indoor space elegance. Concrete floor stain colors are available in a broad spectrum for both commercial, residential, and industrial setup. Houses with stained concrete floors display unbelievable beauty that you should never miss. In the current market, concrete floors have received a considerable market demand despite being laborious to install. The flooring is highly durable and can go for decades if proper care and maintenance are a priority.

Moreover, the flooring is fireproof, waterproof, resistance to stress, and easy to clean due to its smooth surface. In spite of being trendy in the flooring market, there is much to be noted on stained concrete floors pros and cons. Would you like to know how to stain your concrete floor? Below are the steps.

tips when staining concrete floors using Acid

You can apply concrete floor stain in the form of water-based dye (non-reactive) and acid stain (reactive staining). However, acid staining is the most common method in comparison to water-based stains. With the current technological advancements, there are hybrid stains with both acid and metal property. To flawlessly stain your concrete floors, you need to know the following tips

1. The best time to stain concrete flooring is after the walls have been completely painted and baseboards installed. The precaution prevents paint drops on the flooring that would likely be permanent.
2. You need to protect the slab from tar and stains
3. Avoid concrete with short reinforcing fiber.
4. Never use any liquid curing, oily or waxy complements as they may block the penetration of the stain. The curing may also compromise the quality of concrete floor stain colors.
5. Use a moderate normal troweling instead of a metal trowel. Also, do not use powered trowel machine to prevent spotty staining.
6. You should apply the stain after the walls and painting of the frames. The acid stain may drift to unintended parts of doors and frames, thereby turning them black.
7. Avoid conspicuous markings as the markings may be visible due to the translucent nature of the acid stain.
8. Never use sticky tapes to fasten the floor or slab covering as the strips of the glue on the floor will form a permanent, blocky, and dark marks.

The process of Making Stained Concrete Floors

1. Since the acid stain is translucent, you should thoroughly clean the concrete floor and remove any dirt and spots. Then, leave it for 24 hours to dry before application of the floor stain. If the floor is not adequately clean, it may compromise the quality of the final stained concrete floor. Fill in the cracks and scratches long before staining.
2. After the preparation of the floor, it is time to apply the stain. Mask off the wall and frames of the unintended parts. Carefully read the manufacturers instruction. The manufacturer’s recommendations are vital in keeping the quality and safety of the user. Ensure you have the essential tools, materials and equipment such as concrete strippers, concrete cleaners, etching solution, neutralizers, roller or sprayers, a brush, gloves, masks, rubber boots, scrub brush, plastic bucket, scraper, pressure washer, hose with spray nozzle, shop vacuum, tape and a plastic sheeting.
3. Mask off the unintended areas such as wall and door frames. Mix the stain appropriately using a prescribed ratio by the manufacturer. When the paint is homogeneous, load it into the sprayer and spray gently to the floor surface while making back and forth movement to ensure uniform application of the dye. The stain will take up to 25 minutes to dry but needs 24 hours for the stain to cure. Apply the second coat after 24 hours to improve the color intensity.
4. Neutralize and clean up the stain by rinsing the concrete floor with clean water until the wastewater becomes clear. Use baking soda, T.S.P, or ammonia. However, water-based stain requires no neutralization. You can use a soft brush or a soft broom to lean the residues on the floor before you add a sealant.
5. After proper drying of the rinsed floor, apply a protective sealer to protect your stain from erosion. For better result, you should apply two coats of the sealant. The best way to clean acid stained concrete floors is by use of soft brooms and mops to avoid scratches on the floor. If you are not good enough to master how to stain interior concrete floors yourself, seek the services of concrete floor staining company near you.