How To Acid Stain Concrete Patio

Test The Old Concrete

Use a small test area before staining all of the concrete. You want to pick an out of the way area, such as a closet if you are staining an old concrete basement floor. You want to acid stain just a few square inches of concrete and see what the result is. The reason that you want to test older concrete is three fold: to ensure that the concrete is properly stripped and cleaned, that the concrete stain will react properly, and that you like the color. We offer all of our stains in sample sizes for this part of the process.

I 10 Best Concrete Patio Ideas For Long Lasting Use

Understanding how to clean concrete patio without pressure washer is indeed necessary.

However, you also need to know other tricks to prevent unwanted things from happening in your area.

Below, we will discuss several ways to make your concrete patio look beautiful and clean longer.

Hence, you do not have to worry too much about cleaning your concrete patio without using pressure washer.

Types Of Concrete Stain

If youre a parent, the word stain probably doesnt make you think of something beautiful or decorative. Nonetheless, concrete staining is a great way to turn a slab of gray into luxurious concrete with color or shine. Concrete experts generally use one of two ways to stain concrete: acid and water-based stains. Each one has a specific purpose, but which one should you use?

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Applying Concrete Stain Sealers

Concrete sealers come in 2 forms solvent and water based. When youre washing residue stain off and the slab is wet, this is what the finished product will look like if you sealed it with a solvent based sealer. When the slab dries and is still damp, this is what it will look like if you were to seal it with a water based sealer.

Its important to note that the color on the bottle does not tell you what the true color of your slab will turn out to be. This is because each slab contains different amounts of mineral salts and limestone deposits. The true color of the stain wont be revealed until the stain is completely dry and all remaining residue has been removed.

My 10 Tips For Achieving Greatresults When You’reacid Staining Concrete

Acid staining concrete is a great way to add color to an existing concrete floor, concrete patio, concrete pool deck, or concrete driveway. It doesn’tmatter if the concrete is 1 month old or 10 years old, acid stained concrete can be done on just about any type of concrete, old or new.

As a concrete contractor, I’ve acid stained a lot of concrete. A lot of homeowners who finish off their basements are choosing to acid stain theconcrete floor instead of covering it with some other flooring material. They like the mottled, translucent look the acid stain gives the concreteand also the fact that acid stained concrete floors are easy to clean & maintain.

Above is a garage floor acid stained by Day’s Concrete Floors, Inc. Notice the dramatic effect the acid stain had on the concrete floor. This is exactly what the homeowner wanted. To lesson the effect we could have cut the acid stain with some water .

Acid staining concrete is best left for a trained contractor to install, but can be a do it yourself project if you read through the informationon this web-site and follow some of the tips I will share with you below. To achieve great results, there are some things I have learned over the years that only comes with experience.

Here are 10 tips for achieving great results after you’ve decided to acid stain your concrete floor.

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Thereâs a lot to cover, so if you have any questions, contact me!

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Q Whats The Most Common Issue Contractors Run Into

A. The biggest issues that I’ve found over the years are surface preparation. Because a power troweled floor that’s really tightly troweled is not going to allow an acid stain to get in and chemically react. acts as a sealer. It seals off that slab and doesn’t allow the stain to get in to react. Its the same with a water-based stain. If I have a super slick surface, I’ve got no way for that pigment to get in and bond. Say I clean a floor really well. I got a floor squeaky clean, but it’s super tight and it’s slick. I can spray on an acid stain, come back and completely wash it off. It’ll look like it was never stained. Because there was no way for those salts to get in and react the way they’re supposed to. Same way with a water based.

I’ve had jobs where the contractor did no surface preparation to open up the slab to be able to get that material to something to bond to. Surface preparation is probably the number one problem. The second biggest problem is with acid stain: neutralization and residue removal.

D What Is A Pressure Washer

In short, a pressure washer is a tool for cleaning decking or concrete instantly. Therefore, many people consider this machine a savior for the problem of stubborn stains on the house.

This machine uses pressure to remove stains and dirt. The tool has an electric motor as a booster to release high-powered water so it can clean easily.

Further, compared to brushing, the traditional method, this pressure washer is faster. You can also eradicate pests, weeds, and unwanted objects on the patio surface.

Besides cleaning the patio, many people use it on dirty outdoor chairs and other objects that require special handling.

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Acid Stained Finishes Do Not Last

Many homeowners are disappointed when, after several years, the surface color turns dull or dark brown. Acid stained concrete, when exposed to moisture like in basements or concrete slabs, gradually changes color. Blue-green color will slowly turn brown or even black.

Why concrete acid stains deteriorate:

• Migrating moisture from slabs-on-grade re- activates the metallic salts in the surface so they continue to react and darken the concrete.
• Efflorescence, lime, and alkalis carried by water dull the surface color.
• Transparent sealers needed to protect the surface trap water vapor, which activates more efflorescence from the concrete.
• People forget to regularly wax or re-seal the surface and the brittle surface easily crumbles and wears off.

The stained surface is only approximately 1/32″ deep and is susceptible to scratches, which are difficult to repair. Once the colors fade, you cannot re-stain it again with acid stain! The colored surface has to be ground or sanded off.

Q Will Admixtures Affect The Color At All

A. With acid stains, yes. With water-based stains, no – your water-based stain is going to be what it is. Now, if you have a lot of different admixtures in concrete, you can alter the color of an acid stain. Or if you have different cement contents. If I have a 7-sack mix compared to a 5-sack mix, I’m going to have a different color with an acid stain. With a water-based stain, it might be a little darker because there’s more Portland cement in there that will darken when my sealer darkens everything, but you’re still going to have that same general color.

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How To Stain Your Concrete Patio

Prior to staining a patio, the surface needs to be prepped. Because concrete stains are translucent, they wont hide color variations or unwanted stains from dirt, oil, grease, organic matter, or weather exposure.

Here are tips for removing some common types of stains:

Staining your own concrete doesnt always end in a beautiful finish. Find a concrete staining contractor near you that will deliver professional results.

Stained Concrete Originals in Los Angeles, CA.

Is It Better To Paint Or Stain Concrete Patio

Concrete stain embeds the surface to color it translucently, while opaque concrete paint covers the top of the concrete but is subject to chipping and peeling when improperly applied. Concrete stains go on quicker, dry faster and take less work than concrete paint, but they offer no significant protection.

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Fixing Scratches On Your Concrete Stain Job

If you’ve applied some sealant and floor wax to your acid stain and discovered scratches on certain areas, you’ll want to give it a touch up. Here’s what you’ll need to do to get it back to new.

There’s probably nothing worse than a concrete stain job gone wrong . If you find yourself in a situation where you urgently need to know how to fix a bad concrete stain job, no worries, we’ve got you covered. There are a few common reasons why a concrete stain job can go terribly wrong, here’s some:

Overall, making sure your concrete stain job is done right the first time around is the best way to prevent any nightmare scenarios from happening to you. Check out our official guide to concrete staining for the best resource on acid staining.

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Concrete Acid Stain For Basement Floor

Stained concrete has increasingly become a top choice for basement flooring in most homes. The fact that acid stain can take on the appearance of wood floors, tiles, and marble but still offer a more lasting solution is the main reason most homeowners choose it. Stain colors and other contents make basement floors warmer through radiation as well.

Another plus for basement floors is the ability of acid stain working alongside other products like wax to relieve moisture-related problems. Applying acid stain in basements offer better results than acrylic sealers that allow moisture to penetrate into your rooms.

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A Guide To Stained Concrete Patios

Artistic Concrete Floors LLC in Covington, LA.

Stained concrete is a cost-effective and versatile way to upgrade the look of both new and existing patios. With a stained concrete patio, you have the ability to add subtle hints of color, bolder design accents, and even custom graphics. Stains penetrate deeply into the concrete surface, producing fade-resistant, permanent color. Unlike paint, the color won’t flake off or peel away.

Take a look at some staining work in our gallery of patio pictures.

Q Any Advice On Application

A. Theres no pigment in at allits totally dependent upon that slab. If you look at any manufacturers literature, regarding acid stain, its going to tell you to do a mock-up, because we dont know how that slab is going to react to the metallic salts in the stain.

Ive done basement floors in acid stains and I always go into the utility room or bedroom where theyre going to put carpet or something like that. Ill put down samples for the peoplethat way they can see how their slab is going to react with the color that they like.

Theres surface preparation. Theres staying application. Theres residue removal process. And then theres a sealer. All four of these things are going to change and alter the way looks.

Without getting into a whole dissertation on surface preparation, you have to open up a slab to allow it to stick. Sowe open it up with the intention of getting a chemical as well as a mechanical bond on the top of the concrete. I always tell people with acid stains, you have to prepare the surface for the sealer. Whatever sealer you’re using, look in their tech data. Look and see what the surface preparation requirements are.

It’s not rocket science, but there’s a degree of being careful. If you follow the rules, acid stains can give you beautiful, long-lasting floors. If you don’t follow the rules, you can have trouble.

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If You Have Grease Or Oil On The Floor

If you have grease or oil on the floor, you will need to use a degreaser or stain prep for concrete floors. Since the concrete is old and you may not know for sure if any type of oils, grease and thin petroleum products have ever been spilled on the concrete, we suggest degreasing the concrete regardless. We suggest using our Concrete Stain Prep because it’s not only a degreaser but also a natural solvent that helps to deep clean and lift oily petroleum contaminants up and out of the concrete pores. Apply the stain prep and let it sit for 5 minutes and then scrub the area with a stiff straw brush or a rented floor buffing machine with the aggressive scrubbing/stripping pads. Give the area a final clean with T.S.P. and rinse well a couple of times with clean water.

After your floor is completely dry, you are ready to move on to the next step: staining concrete.

Cleaning Concrete With Vinegar

Instead of spending a lot of money on cleaning, you can make a homemade patio cleaner from vinegar. Mix this substance with water.

Apply the solution to the stain directly or dip a brush or broom in it. After that, use the cleaning tool to scrub the dirty surface.

Vinegar after touching a dirty surface, vinegar will work for about 10 minutes to clean. After that, you can scrub or flush it with water.

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We Would Love To Hear Any Personal Tips About Your Project That May Help Another Direct Colors Customer Do One Of Their Own

• Tip #1 Use 1/2 nap roller instead of 3/8 on driveways with brush finish.
• Tip #2 I had a couple of very little areas that the sealer turned white, just used a little xylene and a paint brush to work in a circular motion then let dry and applied sealer again.
• Tip #3 Look at videos and do your research.
• Tip #4 Take your time and dont seal until you are 100% happy.
• Tip #5 There are no rules you need to abide when acid staining. BE CREATIVE!

How To Acid Stain A Concrete Patio

For an updated and more detailed tutorial please check out my in depth Acid Staining tutorial by clicking here: How to Acid Stain Concrete. You will find all sorts of updated information along with the video seen below.

Acid staining a patio can turn your boring grey concrete patio into a masterpiece. I did this particular project up at my family’s cabin and it turned out looking awesome. I am going to explain the process in a nutshell and share with you how I completed the project.

Tools and Supplies needed in making a Acid Stain

Pressure Washer, hoseScrub Brushes and concrete cleaning solutionPump Sprayer from your local hardware storeAcid stain from a concrete supplier or you can easily order it online by clicking the following:Here is a direct link to the suppliers website which shows samples of what the colors look like.

Step 1:

Clean concrete thoroughly. First sweep, then power wash the entire surface 1-2 times. Scrub with a thick bristled brush to remove stains. Use concrete etchers or diluted muriatic acid for tough stains.

Step 2: Let dry thoroughly. Then protect surrounding areas by using plastic and tape to cover walls and other flooring from overspray.

Step 3: Once dry, ensure the concrete is clear of debris.

Step 4: Fill up a pump sprayer with water and mist the whole area. This helps the stain take more evenly and is a little more forgiving.

Step 6: Highlight with other colors if desired to give the patio a little more variation.

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Lastiseal Stain Beats Acid Staining

Concrete stains and dyes are replacing acid stains in the decorative concrete market. Read about concrete dyes vs. concrete stains and the latest concrete coloring methods.

LastiSeal® Concrete Stain & Sealer is a break-through in coloring concrete. It combines concrete staining and waterproofing in one step.

The resulting color varies widely depending on concrete porosity, color, application, and conditions. The spectacular mottled or variegated look is similar to acid staining but in case of LastiSeal, you can choose from 37 different colors!

The materials alone cost much less than acid staining and sealing. And the application is very easy suitable for do-it-yourself application by homeowners.

Deep scratches are easy to touch up, unlike with acid stains.

It is much more versatile suitable for a wide range of porous substrates and for vertical surfaces.

An Area Did Not Take The Acid Stain As Intended

There are times when you have areas of your concrete that do not accept the stain as intended. They may be leaving light spots on your concrete that may be indicating a barrier blocking the stain. We recommend you first take a look at our concrete stain guide and make sure you’ve followed all best practices. It may be that another coat of concrete stain will bring in those areas as the acid in the first coat may have eliminated whatever contaminant was in the way, or opened the pores of the concrete up enough to allow another coat to get in better and take. Then again if it’s a petroleum type contaminant you’ll need to degrease, re-clean and rinse those areas before they’ll take. So be sure and do a small test area before doing it all if possible. If all else fails, you’ll need to camouflage those areas during the sealing stage.If you have areas that are too dark then you can try the acid washing technique mentioned above to lighten those areas.

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