How To Stain Concrete Floors Part 2

By: Tom "The DIY Guy" Wesley

In the first part of this series about how to stain concrete floors we showed you step-by-step how to get your concrete floor ready to accept the acid concrete stain. Now, after you have selected the right stain for your project, we finally get to the fun part; how to apply acid stain to concrete floors.

One thing you should remember before you get started is that you are going to be working with a low strength acid. It is not very dangerous, but you need to protect your arms, legs, and especially your eyes. You should also wear a face mask so you do not inhale the fumes. When picking out clothes to wear for the job do not go with anything you are very fond of, because there will likely be some damage done to those items.

Applying the stain to your concrete floor is actually the easiest aspect of this type of project. You should dilute your acid concrete stain with water, using a 1:1 ratio. I like to use a bucket for the mixing and then fill the sprayer from the bucket. Ideally, the application process should be a two person job. One person will spray on the concrete stain, while the other follows behind with a broom to scrub in the solution.

When applying the concrete acid stain it will make life much easier (and get better results) if you apply it using a systematic approach. Start at the back of your area. The person controlling the sprayer will spray on the solution while the person controlling the broom follows behind scrubbing it into the concrete. The broom is going to leave brush strokes, so once you get half way done with your current length the sprayer should go back over that area and apply a second coat. Doing this will get rid of any trail or brush strokes, and give you a natural and consistent look.

Since you do not want the edges to dry you should go end to end in a “typewriter” fashion. This simply means that you start at the left side of the room, work your way to the right side of the room, and start the next “level” working from the right side to the left. Make sure to always go over each area with a second coat to remove the marks the broom leaves behind. Repeat this process until you stain all of the concrete.

Once you are finished you need to let the area dry. The amount of time will vary depending on which brand of concrete stain you use.

After the proper reaction time you will want to clean the floor with a mixture of baking soda and water. This will neutralize the acid (this just means it will stop the reaction), and will remove any residue that might still be on your newly stained concrete floor. One person should go over the floor completely with a mop and bucket (filled with the baking soda and water solution), while the other follow behind with a wet vac to suck up all the dirty water. It is very important that neither people step on the un-neutralized area, as this could leave foot prints on the floor. Let this dry for a bit and clean the floor 1-2 more times for best results. You will notice that when the floor dries it will look a bit chalky. Do not worry about this as the floor will only reach its full potential after the sealer is added.

After this step is finished, your work for the day is done. You need to let the stained concrete floor dry fully overnight. It is best to use fans to ensure the floor is dry before coming back tomorrow and apply the sealer.

The sealer should be very easy to put on. The most important part is that you use a sealer that is meant to work hand in hand with your brand of concrete stain. Put the sealer in a paint pan and roll it onto your floor. Allow it to fully dry (read the manufacturer’s label for drying time) and apply a second coat. After the first coat is on you will notice that the colors of your floor are now much richer and fuller, this is the stained concrete effect that you have been working so hard to get. Once the final coat of the sealer is completely dry it is now safe to walk on and return furniture to the room.

If you want an addition level of protection for the stained concrete, as well as making it easier to clean, it is recommend that you add 3-4 coats of a floor finish. Floor finish is a wax that adds another layer of protection to your stained concrete floor, while making it look great and allowing for easy clean ups. The floor finish applies easily, just spill it over the floor and spread it around with an applicator. Let each coat dry for about an hour before you put on the next one.

Now that you know how to stain concrete floors… what are you waiting for!? This is an easy, affordable, and effective way to turn those ugly, dull, and boring concrete floors into something you can be proud to show other people.