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Article #76: Concrete Floor Acid Stain Application

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Concrete Floor Acid Stain Application shaken well and poured directly into a
A. Preparation of Existing Concrete plastic sprayer with a plastic filter and
Surface internal acid resistant plastic parts.
Curing agents, sealers, paints, The sprayer should be continuously pumped
coatings, waxes or water repellants must to keep a constant pressure while
be removed prior to the concrete acid applying concrete floor acid stain. We
stain application. Mechanical methods of are very partial to a battery operated
removal are not advised as they may backback sprayer sold by Crusader
scratch the surface leaving unsightly Manufacturing which will spray 120
patterns of scratches in the surface. gallons on a single charge. It sells for
Older concrete surfaces need to be around $200.00 and if you are going to be
tested for acceptance of the acid stain. doing a lot of staining it is well worth
The cleaned surface must be penetrable by the cost.
water. If water beads on the surface and Hold the tip of the sprayer
is not readily absorbed into the approximately eighteen to twenty-four
concrete, mild acidic detergents such as inches from the concrete surface and
a concrete renovator may be of assistance spray onto the slab, being careful not to
in your concrete acid stain application. let the liquid drip out of the spray tip
Never acid etch concrete to be acid as this may leave visible drip marks on
stained. This will use up the free lime the concrete. There is no need to hold
in the concrete and leave you with a the sprayer closer to the ground unless
surface that is not stainable for you might be "working" an edge.
concrete floor acid stain application. We recommend that you use a car wash
B. New Concrete: brush with nylon bristles to gently scrub
Freshly poured concrete should be the concrete stain into the concrete but
sufficiently cured, a minimum of thirty it is not necessary if you are applying
days before the concrete floor acid stain the concrete floor acid stain yourself,
application. If score patterns are just wet the concrete thoroughly with the
desired, a diamond blade grinder may be stain. After the first coat is applied
used to score various patterns, borders and has completely dried, a second coat
or designs onto the surface prior to, or can be applied if a darker color is
after concrete acid stain application. If desired. We recommend that you walk on
light colored grout lines are desired the surface in clean socks or surgical
score after staining process is complete. booties so as not to leave "shoe prints"
Freshly poured or recently poured on the surface. The second coat of
concrete needs to be scrubbed thoroughly, concrete stain should be allowed to work
sometimes more thoroughly than old into the concrete for 1-2 hours.
concrete due to what is known as latency, H. Neutralizing the acid stain
this is the "dust", if you will that Due to the unique nature of Artistic
remains on top of the concrete after it Decor Stains neutralization of the stain
is poured and cured. is not necessary as with most all other
This latency will not allow the concrete acid stains. Plain water will provide as
floor acid stain to penetrate as is much neutralization as is necessary. Just
needed to provide a beautiful concrete simply wet the floor, scrub lightly to
acid stain application so we need to use loosen the slight amount of residue that
a floor maintainer (buffer) with a black remains and shop-vac to ensure you remove
or green scrub pad and TSP (trisodium any residue, usually there is little if
phosphate) or our favorite, Dyna Blue, to any residue.
scrub and shop vac the floor clean. Our stains and method of application
C. Cleaning of Concrete: will save you 1/3 of the labor involved
These next two steps will take you from with acid staining your concrete. I don't
having a good concrete stained floor to a know about you but I'm all about saving
Fantastic concrete acid stain time and money.
application. As we say in the Decorative If you are using another brand of acid
Concrete industry, application of the stain check with the manufacturer as to
pretty stuff is easy but the preparation their recommended method of
of the concrete is what makes the neutralization. Baking soda combined with
difference and boy will this make a water or a cup of ammonia in a 5 gallon
difference as you'll see and be very bucket will usually do the trick.
happy you took the time and effort to do Make sure that you shop-vac your floor
it. no matter whose brand of stain you use.
First we need to scrape the paint and This is another step that the so-called
other things off the concrete before the experts don't advocate in the concrete
concrete floor acid stain process, you floor acid stain application process, but
will not find them all but when you wet it is essential to having a surface that
the concrete you will see everything as your sealer can bond to permanently. Your
we see here, we have scrubbed the floor may appear dry but we would
concrete and are now vacuuming. recommend that you leave the floor
D. Citrus-Degreaser overnight with the AC on if possible and
This is a very important step and most a fan to circulate the air. The fan
manufacturers and even many "acid stain doesn't necessarily have to be directed
professionals" don't take this next step onto the floor, this is just to get the
in the concrete floor acid stain process, air moving and get the moisture out of
which is critical to a beautiful concrete the area.
floor acid stain application for your G. Application of Sealers
floor. If the floor has some oil or After the above step is completed you
grease or really anything questionable on are ready to sealer your concrete. We
it we recommend that you clean the floor recommend using a water-based sealer such
with Citrus Degreaser. Dilute with 8 as our Clear Cover WB sealer. This will
parts water and scrub the floor with a provide you with a sealer that will
black pad and a buffer. Rinse and use a protect the stained concrete and will
shop-vac to remove residue, if possible increase the intensity of the color of
always use a shop vac as this will pull the stained concrete. Normal water-based
the residue and dirt out of the pores of sealers do not increase the color
the concrete. intensity and will leave you with a
This step is only necessary if your "terra-cotta pot look". Two coats should
concrete is extremely dirty. If your be applied with Wooster 1/4 " nap Mohair
concrete is normal or just slightly dirty blend paint roller, which are available
the following process is all that is from Lowe's. If you don't have a Lowe's
normally needed. close any quality paint store should have
E. Concrete Renovator a comparable roller. Apply at a coverage
Next dilute Dyna-Blue, 2 parts water to rate of 250 - 300 square feet per gallon
1 part Dyna Blue. Moisten the concrete per coat.
and use a garden sprayer with all plastic We recommend that you apply three coats
inserts to spray the dilution over the of wax as the last step in the concrete
entire floor and scrub lightly. Make sure floor acid stain application process, to
to have proper ventilation. Let the act as a sacrificial lamb for the sealer.
mixture stand for approximately 5 minutes A great wax to use is Zep High Traffic
or until all fizzing and bubbles have Floor Finish which available at Home
ceased. Depot. The cost is around $15.00/gal and
Use a buffer with a black pad and scrub should be applied with a rayon blend mop
the floor thoroughly. Flood the floor which is also available at Home Depot.
with water and shop vac the floor to This will also provide your slip
achieve the cleanest floor possible for resistance as all waxes are manufactured
concrete floor acid stain application. to what is call "co-efficient of
F. Coverage friction" of 0.05 or greater. This is the
Make sure that your concrete is standard the government requires.
completely dry. This sounds like an H. Maintenance (Low)
obvious statement but you would be very Floors treated with the concrete stain
surprised to know how many folks take need only to be swept or cleaned when
this for granted. When we say dry we mean they become dirty.
that it is better to leave the floor I. Precautions
overnight to dry unless it is summer and Acid Stains are a corrosive liquid and
the AC is on and a few fans are turned should be handled with caution. For more
on. The reason for this precaution is information, refer to the Artistic Decor
that is if the concrete is wet or even Stains Material Safety Data Sheet.
slightly damp this will dilute the Respirators and goggles or safety glasses
concrete floor acid stain and probably are recommended
require you to spray again, therefore J. Limitations and expectations.
this is essential in the concrete acid Concrete floor acid stains will not hide
stain application process. cracks, blemishes, chalk lines (red and
One coat of Acid Stain is all that is blue in particular) or other construction
usually needed. You may feel that you errors. The colors produced by the
want to go back over the area and spray a Artistic Decor Stains acid staining
little more in some areas. Acid Stain can system will vary from surface to surface.
be applied at a rate of 1 part water to 1 Take the time to test the stains on your
part stain. The coverage rate will be slab in an out of the way place to
135-200 square feet per gallon. When determine the color and the dilution you
applicable after you have tested the want to use. These color differences are
stains in an inconspicuous area, you may dependent upon chemical makeup, lime
choose to dilute the stains more to content, porosity of the concrete, age of
achieve a slightly lighter color. . the slab, exposure to the elements,
G. Concrete Stain Application texture and color of the concrete,
For an excellent concrete floor acid application methods, experience of the
stain application all surfaces must be applicator and the number of coats
completely dry, prepared and tested as applied.
described above. Acid Stain should be






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