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The technique of acid staining can transform typical concrete flooring into the look of natural stone. At just a fraction of the price, it’s also great for those with allergies to carpeting. In houses that have radiant floor heating, this system works best when insulating materials like tile and carpet are kept to a minimum, making acid-stained concrete a great flooring choice.

The process of staining a concrete floor is not especially complex, but it can be tricky to get the results you want. Most people would probably do better with hiring a professional contractor. It can be a risky project for the do-it-yourselfer.

Concrete stain isn’t a paint or finish coat, but rather involves a chemical reaction with the cement. Typically a water-based solution of hydrochloric acid and inorganic salts, the stain reacts with the minerals and lime in the concrete aggregate, and staining reaction results. It will work on new or old concrete, and is fairly durable if you maintain it with sealer or wax, since it won’t chip or flake. It can also be applied to both interior and exterior floors. Walkways, entrances, bathrooms, driveways, living rooms and patios are all possible.

Once everything is finished, concrete which is stained somewhat resembles marble, but a little less uniform and more dabbled. More than likely the concrete will be earthy brown tones, with an opinion of red and green. You will also have the choice to make your own custom stain by mixing colors, or applying at dissimilar rates. Once you stain a concrete floor, however, you should not expect the stain to come out evenly toned so make sure to plan your room decor and color scheme properly. Being you will get a number of different reactions from different areas of the concrete, professionals will even have hard times predicting what the exact result will be.

Depending on the condition of your slab flooring will determine the preparation of your acid staining. Concrete which in recently poured will only need a certain amount of time for curing: Wait three weeks after you have poured and then rinse and scrub. It is a different story for older concrete floors. Older concrete needs to be thoroughly cleaned due to any dirt, grease, paint, sealers or possibly even curing agents which would stop the stain from getting into and reacting the way it is suppose to. In order to make sure it is ready you should always do a little test area.

As a rule of thumb, one gallon of water and one gallon of stain will cover approximately 400 square feet of area, but newer concrete will require less stain than older floors. It’s best to apply the stain in the morning or evening, when the temperature is not too hot, and to use a non-metallic broom or brush. Follow all warnings and cautions on the label, and protect yourself from fumes, spilling, and dripping. Clean up afterwards by sweeping away the excess residue and stain with a broom. After the floor dries, apply a sealing agent and then wax the floor.

If you are in the market for natural stone flooring, want a fresh look for your patio area or basement, or just searching for some new design ideas, stained concrete floors may be just want you are looking for.

Concrete Floor Stain is not a paint or a finish coat, it is actually a chemical reaction with the cement. A great use for stained concrete floors is in homes with Radiant Floor Heating.

- Dan Carter