Stained Concrete Floors – Types, Procedure, Advantages, and Disadvantages

What is a Stained Concrete Floor?

Stained Concrete floor is a type of flooring where plain concrete floors are stained by pouring a water-based solution or acid stain, after it gets dried it gives an aesthetic appearance to the concrete floor. A sealer must be used to protect the stained concrete floor from fading and wearing.

Concrete floor staining process is a less expensive and less time-consuming process. The plain concrete floor has a high absorbent property, hence it can be stained with any color.

How To Stain Concrete Floors Procedure

The following 4 steps give details on how to stain concrete floors:

1. Concrete floor preparation
2. Application of stain
3. Removal of residue
4. Application of sealer

1. Concrete Floor Preparation

• Clean the concrete surface
• Remove minute dirt, residue, and dust using mechanical grinding or concrete cleaning solutions.
• Existing stains on the concrete floor should be removed, before applying the fresh ones.
• Cracks on concrete floors should be sealed with sealant.
• Level the uneven patches by using a floor scrubber.

2. Application of Stain on Concrete Floor

• Before applying, Cover the area with tape where staining is not required.
• Now, Dilute the stain solution into water to get the desired color.
• Use airless sprayers or brushes to coat the concrete floor.
• Leave the freshly stained concrete floor up to 10 hours to get dried, depending on temperature, humidity, and airflow.
• You can repeat the above procedure to achieve the dark tone colors.

3. Removal of Residue

It is important to remove residue from stained concrete floors to achieve the desired look.

• Stained concrete floor should be rinsed with water until the water runs clear.
• Remove acid stains by using baking soda, T.S.P(Trisodium phosphate) or ammonia.
• If any harsh residue is left, it should be removed using a brush before final rinsing.

4. Application of Sealer

• Sealer helps in protecting the stained concrete floor from wear, tear, and fade.
• After the application of the sealer, the surface should be cured for one day.
• Considering durability and finishing, it is recommended to apply two coats of sealer.

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Types of Concrete Stains

There are three different types of concrete staining.

1. Acid Concrete Stains
2. Water-based concrete stains
3. Concrete Dye

Acid Concrete Stain

Staining concrete floors using acid is one of the oldest methods and is widely used in commercial and residential concrete flooring.

Acid stains are also known as reactive staining, these are made from water, muriatic acid, and metallic salts. When it is poured on the surface it reacts with minerals on the concrete surface such as calcium. Thus forming a permanent bond with calcium in concrete and giving the desired stain concrete floor.

Pro’s

• Durable and can withstand sunlight.
• Less chance of wear and tear, and can be used in high-traffic areas.
• Can be used for outdoor surfaces.
• Resistant to Ultraviolet light.

Con’s

• Limited color options.
• Takes more time to react with concrete surfaces (up to 24 hours).

Water-Based Concrete Stains

Water-based concrete stains are made of acrylic polymers and pigments and do not rely on a chemical reaction to impart color.

Here the stain is achieved by penetrating deeper into the concrete surface and depositing fine pigment into the open pores. A layer of sealant should be coated on top to avoid wear, tear, and fading of stain.

Pro’s

• Wide variety of colors.
• Water-based concrete stains dry quickly.
• They have no odors.

Con’s

• Sealants should be used to protect from traffic, chemicals, and weather.
• Less durability compared to acid concrete stains.
• Skilled workmanship is needed to achieve better results.

Concrete Dye

It is a type of concrete staining that is made from ultra-fine pigments suspended in solvents. this comes under non-reactive staining, as they don’t react with concrete surfaces.

Concrete dyes are widely used for tinting polished concrete or concrete overlays.

Pro’s

• Variety of color options.
• Gives more transparency and a natural appearance.
• Uniform stain color can be achieved.

Con’s

• Concrete dyes are not resistant to UV lights.
• Not suitable for outdoor installation.
• Skilled workmanship is needed to achieve better results.

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Advantages of Stained Concrete Floors

• It gives an aesthetic appearance to the concrete floor.
• Stained concrete floors require less maintenance.
• Variety of colors, hence a lot of options.
• Less expensive

Disadvantages of Stained Concrete Floors

• Less durable, high chance of fade, wear, and tear. when compared to other types of flooring
• Staining won’t cover cracks and discolored areas.
• The final color of concrete staining is unpredictable.

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FAQ’s on Stained Concrete Floors