When applying your concrete stain there are three major things to consider: areas of application, preparation, and stain application

Areas of application- Acid Stain can be applied on absolutely any cement surface including walkways, driveways, living rooms, bathrooms, patios, floors and last but not least high traffic areas. It is however important to note that not all types of concrete flooring are suitable for staining, even though maturity is not a problem, the condition its in is. The smoother the surface the better the result when compared to older worn floors. Older floors will however add much needed character with flaws and imperfections blending into the over all look. Stain will not react well and give desired result should the concrete aggregate be exposed or previously acid treated, due to aggregate’s non-react to the staining process. In terms of textured surface application, for example stamped concrete or stamped overlays, concrete stain will provides color depth and a beautifully realistic appearance to the surface.

Preparation- Staining preparation will depend solely upon the condition of the concrete. New concrete will require time for curing, which will be approximately three weeks after pouring, rinsing and scrubbing to remove any residue and laitance. Old concrete, preparation will comprise of thorough cleaning of dirt, grease, paint or sealer, which will prevent stain absorption and reaction. Its recommended that you always do a reaction pre-test on a small area. Start your staining project with preparation and planning and then move on to application.

Stain application- Actual stain application involves few tools. All that’s required are assorted sprayers, brushes and diamond blade saw for surface scoring. Try your hand with a simple design at first and then progress to more complicated and sophisticated projects. Remember the more complicated your design, the more labor intensive it will be. Its imperative to seal or wax the stained floor after the process to protect stain and add depth and shine.