Tips on Acid Stain Concrete

Acid Stain concrete helps you to decorate your floor. Once you get your floor acid stained you would not feel like concealing it under carpets. Staining is now quite a fad but then staining the newly built floor is a titanic task to do since there is an extensive procedure that needs to be followed. With chemically stained floors, the results of substandard cleaning can be difficult to remedy. Unlike paints and coatings for concrete, through which much is not visible and which can disguise many evils, acid stains are transparent. Any unwanted residue remaining on the floor is likely to reveal itself through the newly applied stain. To get the proper results chemical stains also need to penetrate into the concrete surface to react with the lime in the concrete. There are materials that inhibit concrete stain penetration, such as grease, oil, or curing membranes, and these will also prevent the color from taking, therefore if you are negligent in the cleaning process, it can literally change the entire end effect. Curing membranes, which are laid in offices to protect the floor from excessive dirt and dust, are especially difficult to remove. Even after the surface is cleaned, the curing compound has chances of migrating down into the pores of the concrete and if that happens the stains will react minimally. Marks might come but they would not look like they should, instead they would look like water spots.

There is no need to acid etch the concrete before staining the floor like it is done before applying a paint or coating, so that the paint adheres. Acid washing depletes the lime content, which is what the minerals in the acid stain react with to come with the desired effect. If you are doing the staining yourself here are some helpful tips, which would guide you through and help you do it the way pros do it.

• The ideal time to cut lines and patterns in the slab is right after the concrete is poured on an open slab before the framing begins.
• The best time to stain and seal the floors is just after the structure is "dried-in" and before the sheetrock is hung. To ready the floor for staining, keep the concrete free of materials by sweeping it daily. It should be free of grease.
• After the floors are stained, they have to be covered with cardboards or thermo ply to protect them from glue, marks, spills, paint and the like. Do not tape it since that leaves permanent marks.
• After the floors are stained and sealed, leave them for at least a day or two to dry and then cover them for the remainder of construction.

Acid stains are very easy to maintain since the stains are created with acid etching, not paints or pigments, therefore they have unique characteristics like wide variations in color, mottling and unevenness. There are imperfections and irregularities and also flaws caused during construction, which include chemical spills, tapelines, permanent markers and the like. To maintain the acid stains and to enhance visibility if this uniqueness you should sweep and mop with warm water. Wax the floor as needed at least once a year for homes. For commercial places since the footfall is more it has to be done four times in a year. After the staining is done, you have to take basic precautions to save it from getting spoiled. Avoid the bottoms of chair legs and other objects with felt patches to scratch the floor. Roller chairs should be avoided as the sharp ridges can grind a permanent pattern into the floor. Try and use natural material floor mats or rugs in entrances and high traffic areas. Rugs with rubber backings should be avoided. Avoid flexible vinyl mats and wipe the spills immediately with a damp cloth. Do not use strong oxidizers (chlorine-based cleaners), solvents, oils, vinegar and acid. Try not to drag heavy appliances or furniture over the floor.