How do concrete stains actually work?
How Concrete Acid Stain Works
Stained concrete floors are very beautiful, and the color lasts forever. Because it is not a paint or a covering, it doesn’t chip off the floor. This type of stain contains phosphoric acid or mild hydrochloric acid. It also contains an inorganic metal salt. The acids open the pores in the concrete, and then the salts react with the chemicals in the concrete to produce color. Depending on the age and porousness of the concrete, the salts are absorbed in varying degrees and produce different shades of color. The finish looks more like marble than a uniform painted finish, and no two floors ever come out the same.
After the floor is cleaned and stained, we wash it with an ammonia solution to clean up the residue left by the acid. Then it is washed again with plain water at least twice. Not only is there an array of colors to choose from, but you can actually paint a masterpiece on your floor with acid stains.
Water Based Concrete Stain
Maintenance on these floors is as easy and dusting and damp moping once in a while. The water-based stains are said to be the more environmentally friendly stains for concrete. The down side is there are not as many colors to choose from, and they are not quite as translucent as the acid stains. However, once they are sealed, they have a very close resemblance to the acid stain finish.The water-based stains are non-acid polymer stains. They also penetrate the concrete to make a permanent finish to the floor. With this type of stain, there is no need for the ammonia solution when you are finished staining; you just wash with warm water and you’re done.
If you’re interested in having your concrete stained, dont hesitate to contact us for a free estimate. As always, you can set up a specific day and time for Harmon Concrete to come out and take a look at your project by using our online bid request form. We want to be your concrete company for Northwest Arkansas, so go ahead and give us a call today!
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