Acid Stained Concrete Floors
Acid Staining Is Natural Beauty Refined
What are concrete stained floors? A true acid-based stain which reacts chemically with the concrete surface to produce deep, rich color tones and attractive marbling effects.
A reactive stain type concrete floor has a reaction that takes place between the stain and concrete, forming a permanent chemical bond. True reactive stains are available with either an acid base or salt base.
Acid-based stained concrete floors have been around the longest. This type of concrete floors are the base line measurement by which all other stains are gauged. True acid-based stains are made up of inorganic metallic salts dissolved in an acid and water solution. However, due to the chemical properties of the inorganic salts used, this really limits the color palette for acid stains. It is for this reason you normally don't find more than about eight colors, and most are a palate of earth tones. A true reactive acid-based concrete stain is translucent, penetrates into the concrete surface, and leaves no film or coating behind.
Where can you create a concrete stained floor?
- Your Kitchen
- Your Family room
- Your Patios (both interior and exterior)
- Retail and Commercial settings
- Restaurants
A second type of stained concrete floors is obtained by using a Non-reactive stain. These non-reactive stains have grown in popularity by homeowners, designers, and commercial designers in the last few years because they offer a nearly unlimited palette of colors and are easy to apply. there is a downside however, they lack the deep, rich, translucent color tones only possible with acid stains.
While both stain types are viable options for us as a staining professional, it's important to be aware that each product requires different procedures for surface preparation.
Most non-reactive stains require an acid wash which will open and prepare the surface to ensure good mechanical adhesion. On the other hand, a surface preparation for a true concrete stain will NEVER recommend an aggressive acid wash to open the surface prior to application.
Applying an aggressive acid (such as hydrochloric or muratic) destroys the cement paste at the surface that allows the acid stain to react and develop its marbled color variations. A hard-troweled concrete surface, rich in cement paste, is the food on which a true acid-based stain thrives.
When you explore using an acid in chemical stain, as we discussed above, you are really opening up the top surface of the concrete. This also opens up some variables in the finished product. By allowing metallic salts to reach the free lime deposits, the reaction could be slow or fast. So water from the stain solution fuels the reaction, usually for about a month after the stain has been applied. We call it natural beauty refined. There are also some other factors that affect the outcome of your new concrete stained floors:
- Cement properties and amount
- Admixtures used
- Type of aggregate used
- Concrete finishing methods
- Concrete age and moisture content when stain is applied
- Weather conditions when stain is applied
- Efflorescence
If this design effect is something you would like to discuss, please call us at 972-463-6604. We provide concrete stained floors in Dallas, Frisco, and Plano. polished concrete floors, and diamond grinding of concrete floors of choice both in Dallas, Frisco, Plano, and Ft. Worth for your convenience. You may also click here and complete the contact form. One of our team will contact you right back.
Keith Clay has been in business for almost 28 years serving Dallas, Frisco, Plano, Richardson and all Dallas Metroplex suburbs. We know wood floors and can answer any questions you may have. If you want the best job from a company of professionals, call us today. 972-463-6604. World Class Craftsmanship. Reasonable Prices.
