How To Acid Stain Concrete
What is Stain Concrete?
While an oversimplification, stained concrete is a concrete slab that’s had some sort of color added to its surface. The complexity in this topic comes from the fact that there are several different categories of concrete colorants, each with ideal installation settings and different downsides and benefits.
How To Acid Stain Concrete
- Prepare the Surface. You must always prepare concrete, old or new, before staining it.
- Apply the Base Color.
- Apply the Next Layer of Acid Stain.
- Create Your Vein Design.
- Seal the Concrete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I leave acid stain on concrete?
Allow the acid stain to penetrate the entire concrete surface and fully develop its color for from 5 to 24 hours (check manufacturer’s instructions for exact timing). The longer you leave the acid stain on, the deeper the final hue will be.
Do you wet concrete before acid staining?
To help prevent this, it’s a good idea to slightly dampen the surface of the concrete before applying the acid stain. This will help ensure that the stain has enough moisture to react properly with the concrete.
Is concrete acid stain permanent?
Yes, acid stain will be permanent, so choose your colors wisely, and think long-term, not just what’s in fashion this season. That royal blue concrete finish that looked so lovely in the home magazine may well make you want to gouge your own eyes out in a year or two.
Can you dilute acid stain with water?
The color in the bottle is not the same as it will look on concrete once the stain has dried and reacted with the concrete. All stains can be diluted up to 50% with water for lighter color variations. We recommend that you pre-moisten the concrete with a pump sprayer filled with water prior to application of stain.
Can you acid stain fresh concrete?
The instructions with most acid stains (as well as concrete sealers and coatings) say to wait at least 28 days after pouring a slab before finishing it, with some recommending as long as 60 days.
What colors can you acid stain concrete?
Earthy tones such as browns, tans, and reds, black, and blue-green hues are the most common. Acid stain colors can be applied individually for a more monotone look or they can be layered with one or more additional colors. To layer colors, cover the floor with one base color first.
What stains concrete permanently?
Acid stain is made from water, muriatic acid, and metallic salts. Acid stain chemically and permanently modifies the color of concrete by reacting with calcium in its surface.
How do you mix acid stains?
To preserve the distinction between light and dark tones, it’s generally best to start with the lighter color and then follow up with each darker color. This will help prevent the dark stains from overpowering the lighter areas when blending.
Can you leave acid stain on overnight?
Applying the second coat of stain to darken the concrete up a little more. Allow the stain to dry for a full 8 hours or overnight before neutralizing the stain. This will ensure the stain penetrates into the surface completely.