Concrete Acid Stain – What Is It?
By: Tom "The DIY Guy" WesleyConcrete acid stain has been around for long time, but has recently been gaining momentum as the most popular way to decorate concrete floors. Whether you want to improve the look of a basement, bathroom, driveway, or patio this type of concrete staining will give beautiful results.
What Is Concrete Acid Stain?
This type of stain is quite different than what you normally think about when you think “stain”. It is actually a combination of water, hydrochloric acid, and metallic salts. Since concrete is such a porous material, the solution works by penetrating the surface and changing the composition of the floor with a chemical reaction. Since you are actually changing the floor, and not just painting something on the surface, the color will not chip, peel, or fade. The colors you will get with an acid concrete stain are usually earth-toned, and the results should mimic marble, wood, or expensive stone. So, after you have selected your stain, application comes next…
Is Concrete Acid Stain Easy To Apply?
YES! While there are a few precautions you must make (since you are going to be working with a mild acid) this is a DIY project that most people should be able to handle. If you want a incredibly intricate design it is best to go with a professional concrete stain contractor, but you can save a ton of money by doing it yourself. In fact, you should be able to complete the project for $.5-$1 per square foot doing it yourself, and a contractor will probably charge you $4+ per square foot. This number includes all materials on other concrete stain costs.
Even though the process is not too complicated, you will want to make sure you know exactly what you are doing before you get started. Our step-by-step guide on how to stain concrete floors is a good place to start. It will give you the basic outline of everything you need to do in order to get the beautiful acid stain concrete look. You can also go to your local home improvement store and ask for some tips on your unique concrete staining project.
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Tags: acid stain concrete, acid stained concrete, acid stained concrete floors, acid staining concrete, concrete acid stain