Stained Concrete Floors: How to Stain Concrete Floors

Did you know that you could actually create a work of art out of an ugly, gray concrete flooring? Yes, it is possible to make a boring looking concrete floor appear attractive, by staining it. You can even paint your concrete floors but staining is a really good alternative. Staining concrete floors is an easy and inexpensive method by which the look of plain concrete flooring can be improved. A variety of textures, patterns and hues can be created, by treating concrete floors with stains. The commonly used stains for this purpose are water based stains and acid stains. The acids and chemicals in the stains react with the concrete to cause a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction then modifies the composition and the color of the concrete. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to stain concrete floors.

Prerequisites for Staining Concrete Floors
The list of prerequisites for staining concrete floors, is as follows.

• Plastic covering: This would be required to cover all the areas surrounding the concrete, in order to protect them from stain splashes.
• Protective gear: Using protective gear like gloves, face masks and goggles is essential to protect your eyes and skin from getting in contact with the stain.
• Water based stain or acid stain - This is easily available at paint supply stores or home improvement stores.
• Sprayer: This would be required for the application of the stain on the concrete.
• Sealer and Floor wax: These would be required to protect the stained concrete and will give it a finishing touch.
• You may also require a scraper, a wire brush and a broom to clean the concrete surface.

Staining a Concrete Floor
Once you have all the necessary materials and tools, you can begin with the process of staining your concrete floor. Follow the steps mentioned below.

Step 1: The first step for staining a concrete floor, is to cover all the surrounding areas of the concrete floor using plastic covers and adhesive tapes.

Step 2: Thoroughly clean the concrete surface. If the surface is relatively new, use a vacuum cleaner to free it of dust and wipe it with a cloth. If it is an old surface, you may have to use chemical solutions, a scraper or a wire brush to rid it of stains and imperfections. Make sure that the concrete surface is clean and dry.

Step 3: Put on the protective gear, which includes gloves, goggles, face mask and clothing to fully cover your hands and legs.

Step 4: The next step would be to apply the stain to the concrete surface. You could test the stain color on the concrete, prior to application, to find out its exact effect on the concrete surface. If you are using an acid concrete stain, you would have to dilute it with water, in a proportion of 1:1. Once you have mixed it well, pour the mixture into a sprayer and then start spraying on the surface, in a systematic manner. Apply a second coat once the first coat dries off completely and leave it to dry as well.

Step 5: After the concrete stain has completely dried, the sealer should be applied to the stained concrete surface. Apply two coats of it and you would notice that the color appears richer and the surface appears more shiny.

Step 6: Once the sealer has completely dried off, apply floor wax to the surface. It will act as an additional protective layer and will also make the surface easy to clean. After the floor wax completely dries, you have your stained concrete floor ready for use.

Staining concrete floors are a good alternative to the conventional floor coverings. Stained concrete floors are attractive, cost effective, durable and functional.