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STAINED concrete
STAINED concrete
Concrete Staining is a great way to add color and sophistication to your concrete flooring at an affordable price point.
Stained Concrete
Stained Concrete
Staining is, by far, the most popular method for enhancing both commercial and residential concrete floors. Stains can be applied to both new or existing concrete floors and work equally well with concrete overlays. Concrete stains are highly versatile. You can achieve just about any look imaginable to suit your design tastes and budget. You can add subtle hints of color, bolder design accents, and even custom graphics. Keep it simple, with one stain color to complement your decor; or be more daring and use multiple stain colors to create a custom look.
Reactive Stain
Reactive Stain
Reactive stains create a chemical reaction when they are applied to concrete. They are water-based acidic solutions and are added to the top of the cement. A reactive concrete stain contains metallic salts, and these react with the lime content in concrete. As it reacts with existing minerals in the concrete, it provides you with the look and feel of natural stone. It forms a permanent bond with the concrete and does not peel or chip.
Non-reactive Stain
Non-reactive Stain
Non-reactive stains are water-based acrylic stains that don’t need a chemical reaction in order to work. A non-reactive stain will penetrate the surface of concrete and deposit pigment particles in open pores. There are more available non-reactive stain colors than acid stain colors, and these colors are usually more opaque than those of acid stains, however non – reactive stain has more propensity for scratches and damage.
1
Floor Prepping & Process
The staining process takes about 2 days and should only be done on fully cured concrete (at least 3 to 4 weeks old). Staining is done in 4 basic steps:
- Clean and prepare the concrete.
- Apply the stain
- Clean and neutralize the stain
- Seal the surface to protect it long term
2
Product Preparation
The surface must be clean before we start. Epic Epoxy Floors will clean all excess oil and grease spills, scrape and sweep away any dirt or loose contaminants from the surface. We will ensure no sealer or coating is present by applying the proper concrete cleaning products or utilizing our diamond blade concrete grinder for more extensive preparation work. We do not use an acid wash on the concrete primarily because this will deplete the lime content in the concrete, which is exactly what is necessary to form a chemical reaction with the stain. With chemically stained floors, the consequences of substandard cleaning can be difficult to remedy. Unlike paints and coatings for concrete, which are opaque and can disguise many evils, acid stains are transparent. Any unwanted residue remaining on the floor is likely to show through the newly applied stain.
3
Product Application
Epic Epoxy Floors will be sure to protect all surrounding surfaces and fixtures by properly masking and covering them. The selected stain will be sprayed onto the designated surface area in a circular motion to ensure a full and even coverage. Several coats could be applied with a complete drying time in between, depending on the desired look we are trying to achieve.
4
Finishing Step
Finally, we will apply the highest quality concrete sealer.. A sprayer and microfiber pads is the best method for an exceptionally smooth and glossy finish. We will apply two coats of sealer with less than four hours of drying time between. After the concrete staining process is complete, wait three or four days before opening your floor to foot traffic and furniture placement.
