Jill thank you for sharing your acid stain experience. The cost of acid-stained floors begins at $0.47 per square foot, which is far less than tile, carpet, marble or other common flooring options. This allows for the finished floor to look like large marbled tiles when stained. Again, for tight spaces and corners, apply the sealer with a brush. The stain lightly etches the concrete surface, which allows the metallic salts to penetrate easier. Here are a few I found helpful: We didnt intend on acid staining our concrete when the floor was poured, so we didnt have the concrete crew take any special considerations. Do not use muriatic acid or other acids to clean the floor. I thoroughly cleaned it, but where I patched the concrete holes is lighter after applying the acid stain (I used a hand pump sprayer). how to clean and prepare surface for concrete staining. After the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete surface. The clean, wet surface will be the approximate color of the final sealed surface. And love the idea of scoring the concrete to mimic the look of tile! (Another heart attack, but its OK). So that room is rather blotchy and uneven. 
Because its so versatile in application, acid stain can be used for any commercial project with concrete. Before working with acid stain, its important to have the proper safety gear on hand for personal protection. See: The Barndominium Project. In a homesteading situation you dont want to be slipping in wet snowy boots. (I used a 3/8 nap roller on one of my rooms (it was all I had), and I didnt like the texture it left in the finish. Our house is on a slab, and I, too HATE carpet. How does it hold up to traffic and things draggin on it? I plan to wax my acid stain concrete for extra shine and protection, too,but havent found an appropriatewax yet Ill update this post when I do. Its been about four years since this was posted, how about an update and maybe some things you may have done differently looking back? This will help to remove any soap residue that might remain. 
But I decided to go for it anyway, as I figured a) I have a ton of very thrifty, very handy readers who love frugal, DIY stuff, and b) I honestly just wanted a reference for myself, as I have a bad habit of doing a complex project and then promptly forgetting all the details for time and eternity. 
2022 Direct Colors LLC. I have no idea. So when it came to designing and building the barndominium and our cabin projects at the farm this year, we knew that concrete floors and acid staining would again be a major part of the plan for both! If I had just kept it waxed and sealed more often, it wouldve been protected better. We stained our office floor about six months ago using your instructions to guide us and its held up very well, but to low traffic and areas under our rolling chairs being protected. The floors look amazing I love this idea. That, of course, means the floor will not chip or peel like paint or stain often can. If you have a buffer get a spray and buff which allows spraying a mist of the finish and then buffing which removes the dirt and shines the floor in one operation. A simple solution of basic dish soap and water will work well to clean the floor. Yes, I think wax is key to help protect it! Most notably, that the color is not a coating, but a permanent stain burned into the floor through a chemical reaction. We live in a very sandy area, and our dog (and people) seem to track in sand all the time, which scours the color off the floor in high-traffic area like in front of sink, etc. It is at this stage when the water is put on to clean that you will start to see what the floor will look like when sealed. Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land, 67 Comments | Jill Winger | Last Updated: March 17, 2018. Not only can the look be absolutely stunning, it can also save you thousands of dollars in flooring costs. When I did my first room, I decided to be lazy and NOT mask the bottoms of the walls. Read more on how to clean and prepare surface for concrete staining. With new concrete, you need to let the floor cure for about a month. I just couldnt stand the thought of putting pretty, fluffy carpet downstairs so the dogs could throw up on it, poop on it, and the kids could spill stickiness all over it. . Hi Peter! It created both a beautiful and durable surface for the interior spaces of our home. Thanks so much for giving me the courage to quit researching/procrastinating and actually dive in and give it a shot. This mixture penetrates and chemically reacts with the hydrated lime in the concrete. I have concrete floors, and you are right, there is no forgiveness for dropped glassware and jars. Can this be done outside and how long does it last? That includesprotective goggles, gloves, rubber boots and a mask. I hope to hear from you soon! They also make de-activators for purchase as well. I then followed it up witha hard scrubbing with water and cleaner. Super excited! Ready for a chemistry lesson in painting? We finished out basement a year ago and the floors were pricey in the future I will be staining! Give yourself a full day to do this portion of the project. There are a lot of concrete sealers and waxes available, so make sure before applying you choose a sealer compatible with your acid stain of choice. If you have a large surface, or for floors that have excessive dirt and grime, you may want to consider renting a power floor cleaner. I left my stain on for about 2 hours before I started neutralizing.). I think it is more than a DIY though, so I have not gotten too many on board. Thats pretty tough to do with a regular ol mop, so we relied on the shop vac to suck all the nasty water off the floor. My big idea was to use a foam brush to apply the stain around the edges of the room, and then follow up with a sprayer in the middle areas. It works with the natural irregularities of the concrete to create a rich, marbled look. Its tough. Instead, the acid reacts chemically with the minerals in the concrete to etch a permanent color into the surface. Whats the approximate price of this project? You might even need to apply another coat after a couple hours, (but I didnt). To catch up those who may be new to the Prairie Homestead craziness, we did a massive home remodel last year (basically building a whole new house onto our little shack), and addeda full basement in the process. Jim & Mary. ( in his photos, I havent sanded mine yet) maybe try that? If your concrete floors are machine troweled, prepare the surface by etching it with a Hard Troweled Floor Pre-Treatment. For Stubborn residue or porous surfaces, use an organic degreaser to aid in the removal. The radiant heat is wonderful beyond words. Any positive? Acid stain the basement floor! But I still would not go with any other flooring. First and foremost, acid stain will work best on newer concrete or concrete that has never been sealed. thanks for this! This is a great idea, and Im so glad you posted this even though its not a typical homesteading topic. Once complete, its best to allow at least 24 hours to dry completely before foot traffic. Master the ins-and-outs of essential oils on the homestead, no matter what sort of homestead you may have! Not the end of the world I guess, but needless to say, I masked the next two rooms, used the sprayer on the whole thing, and the results are much better. (My shop vac/squeegee method was handy here, too.). Since carpet was obviously out of the question, we priced wood for the large room (ouch) and tile (bigger ouch) and decided the price wasnt something we wanted to pay. 4. We had considered stamped floors when we poured, and I regret not doing it now. Nap? Includes recipes for DIY fly spray formulas, garden pest control sprays, DIY cleaners, and more! Im now considering staining my basement floor as well. I live in rural Alaska built a home about 8 years ago and acid stained the first two floors. 
You have a point I cant help myself . I would advise against waxing over the finish. Protective Gear: Rubber gloves are a must, and a mask and eye protection isnt a bad idea, either. This has given me the courage to go at it with our guest room and family room! Therefore, you want to make sure the floor is EXTREMELY clean before you start. As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! Looks amazing! Dogs + 3 kids + a rural lifestyle = disgustingly putrid carpet. Each stain has different activation times, Read more about the importance of this step. Work over the entire room, then allow the stain to sit on the floor. Try to keep the spray in an even layer as you go, but remember it doesnt have to be perfect ( thats why I love this project so much). If you apply the stain too soon, the chemicals in the new concrete will not react well with the stain. I cant recall the name of the product at the moment I believe we got it at lowes its what they gave us when we asked for TSP. excellent points altogether, you just gained a brand new reader. Do you drop many things on the floor and shatter them? Safety while applying colorant is important. Clean the floor with a light Concrete Cleaner & Degreaser solution. we can just slap it over the top of the concrete no big deal. Possibly yes although I havent personally tested that out yet. Your best bet is testing a small area of your concrete floor to make sure the acid stain works properly before committing to the whole thing. Read more about the importance of this step. ive been scared to dive in, but this really helps! There was a lot of paint and other old glue/epoxy type stuff on the office floor that I couldnt completely remove, also some areas that polled and still others that just didnt take the stain as much as it shouldve and even though you can still see color variations in those spots, it all comes together and looks like it was intended. Product Link : (Cola Acid Stain Kemiko brand). So how does it all work? Download Cochran & Manns Surface Preparation Checklist. Wash the surface carefully using clean water until nothing but clear water is visible. Even more, it allowed us to save big on our budget by not having to purchase any final flooring for the house. However, the stain still reacted beautifully with the concrete once I cleaned it. By continuing to browse this website, you accept the use of cookies. I cant wait because our office looks amazing. Yep it was super tedious. I replaced our carpet with wood floors. Here are a few tips on how to achieve the ideal finished product: Remember to wear acid resistant spiked shoes to avoid leaving foot impressions on the floor. After the surface has completely dried, the floor should be ready to seal. You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. We love saving money and making cute stuff or our stuff cuter. The longer you leave the stain on, the deeper and darker the colors will be. Once 4 to 6 hours have passed, its time to deactivate the acid stain. It will make it super slippery especially when it gets wet. Youll want all paints, dirt, grime, and glues completely removed from the floor before you get started. What product did you use? Thoroughly scrub & rinse all residues from the surface. A smoother nap would have been much better.). Carefully pour your acid into the pump sprayer. Is the floor slippery if your shoes/feet are wet? Read more about cookies in our Privacy Policy. Clear Concrete Sealer:I found the Clarishield Wet-Look Water-Based Sealer atSherwin Williams and went with that. I read DOZENS of articles on acid staining concrete before I even bought my supplies and I suggest you do the same. (I think it was a better option, anyway TSP is rather nasty I think. Will you have to reapply the clear coat after wear and tear? I saved this blog on my phone a bit ago. I applied my clear coat with a roller with a long handle. I am not claiming to be the definitive acid-stained concrete expert in any way, shape, or form. I did this 2-3 times until the floor was as clean as it possibly could be and there wasnt any dirty water left anywhere on the floor. Yours is the best article Ive read yet! I just found your blog, and I love you. It provides a non-slip surface in a gloss sheen. To be perfectly honest? Yours looks great! The next part is up to you you will need to watch the floor and see if you like the shade of the stain. As dries, it will darken and then turn super chalky and quite ugly. Using a roller, you will want to apply a minimum of two coats of sealer. We had some pretty thick paint overspray around the edges of our walls. Step 5: Neutralize The Acid Stained Concrete Floor. Again, tedious but necessary. Thanks for sharing the step-by-step process! We are building our 3040 barndominium for lack of better word. Put onyour protective gear, and fill your sprayer with stain. This may be our answer! My cleaner wouldnt remove it on its own, so I had to use a sharp scraper to peel it off the floor. Thanks! For corners and tight spaces, use a brush to apply stain. Yet, unlike hardwood, tile and carpet, which require professional installation, homeowners can lower costs by acid-staining concrete flooring themselves! At this point, you will likely worry the color is not what you thought it would be. . I was curious how your sealer has held up? You can buy TSP in most lumberyards, and it can be ordered on Amazon. Weve actually toyed with the idea of doing this on our concrete patio. This article may contain affiliate links. Nope. Avoid any harsh chemicals that could keep the acid from reacting with the concrete. You wont loose subs. With our massive dogs its not working out. Step 7: Apply Liquid Concrete Wax (Interior Floors Only). The effect or coloring of acid stains can be altered by diluting with water. Depending on design and surface conditions, costs can rise as high as $10.00 per square foot. . Acid stains have a big advantage over floor paints and traditional stains. Im also tucking this idea away for a future (hopefully) basement redototally agree about the carpet, especially in a basement. Mix thoroughly and apply to the floor, mopping it as you go. Well be trying this after we paint the cabinets!! (However, 2-4 hours is a pretty average time frame. The stain can burn your lungs if you breathe it in, so good ventilation is wise. Privacy Policy | Terms | Copyright 2022 Cochran & Mann, Inc. 6 Reasons Why All Concrete Needs To Be Acid-Stained. Acid Stain: There are a bunch of different brands out there, but this is the one I went with from Amazon(affiliate link). Acid stained concrete floors are a low-cost flooring option. You must have javascript enabled to use this form. We did hardwood in the main bedroom. Pick a corner and start spraying. When the spray first goes down on the floor, its super light. dark toned color, use a brush to work the acid stain into the surface using consistent circular strokes. Did you ever find a wax that you liked to finish the floor with? However, there are a few tools thatll make your life much easier: A Shop Vac: It is VITAL all residue is completely gone from the floor before you apply the stain and sealer. Again, its all about personal preference. Regular waxing is important in high traffic spaces like hair salons where high traffic and repetitive motion around hair stations is likely. Great idea!! Once the floor has dried from your final rinse, its time to seal. Luckily the paint on the floor in our basement has been holding up, but after the kids are grown this is what is happening on the concrete! My husband and I did our whole downstairs of our strawbale house with acid stain on our concrete floors. Gostaria de saber a formula do acid que foi usada. We are buying a restaurant that has nasty carpet and we are going to do this to both the dining area and the bar area. I used just under 2 gallons for a bedroom, storage room, and the large family room. We are pulling up carpet and cleaning our living room and hallway tonight and will be staining both tomorrow morning. Youll have to let me know if you give it a try! It seems like that would be harder to maintain. I do have throw rugs in a couple statregic places. When deciding on a look for your new flooring project, it is important to understand that acid stains are not an overcoat like paint. And just how easy is it to apply? Start by mopping the surfacewith a mild dish detergent. We scored the concrete first, into 18 blocks, which are now grouted, so they look like tiles. Once the floor is dark enough for you, use a mop and/or scrub brush to scrub it with an ammonia/water solution. I now work in an office with white marble floors sealed with no-slip floor polish, they are gorgeous AND safe to walk on (even in high heels). Your garden is happy to use those phosphates to grow stuff like crazy. However, our basement doesnt get a ton of traffic, so maybe that has something to do with it. All Rights Reserved. And true to my nature, I messed up my first go-round a bit, so Im glad I had a chance to make adjustments before finishing the rest of the rooms. We are almost ready to stain our living room floors. Ive been thinking about doing this but was a little hesitant as Ive never seen it done before. I rushed to acid stain the concrete in the guest room downstairs earlier this year as we had a steady string of house guests coming through and they needed a place to sleep (funny how that works). I love that you stained it yourself. Mine was approximately thecolor of bile when it first hit the floor (I had a small heart attack at that point), but dont worryitll darken as it sits. Im not sure yet. Stumbled on this while looking for something different. It is bare blocks still and with the bare cement floor the possibility could be amazing. Depending on design and surface conditions, costs can rise as high as $10.00 per square foot. Learn how your comment data is processed. Squeegee: You could do the project with a squeegee, sure But it sure made things easier during the cleaning. I did one application of the ammonia & water, and then rinsed it 2-3 times with fresh water until my rinse water was mostly clear. i have a huge basement ( with studs only dividing it into 5 rooms) that i want to tackle, though perhaps only room at a time. I want to do this in our basement that will primarily be used for office/school/exercising and need something that holds up to paint and playdoh..lol. Im thinking about pulling up the floor, and putting in radient heart in concrete. As one person applies the baking soda/water mixture, have a second person go behind with a shop vac to suck up the water from the surface. It is my new favorite site! We have carpet in two small bedrooms in our house and that is IT. 2. And the shards go FAR. Its just about the same color as yours. In fact, the only maintenance needed is an occasional coat of sealer every few years to keep the sheen of the floor desired! We live on a lake and are considering this for the walk out basement floor. You can get everything from a high gloss wet-look to semi-gloss and even matte finishes. Do you see any issue with this? 
Thanks your direction are the easiest looking to follow. More DIY please. Some websites advised diluting the stain with water, but I didnt. Do you have to do the wax finish? Doing that smaller room first gave me a good chance to experiment with the acid staining process (for some reason, it felt extremely intimidating to me when I first started researching it). Scrub Brushes: I had a very stiff hand-held brush, along with another brush with a long handle. Why stain concrete with acid? I cant stress enough how important this step is do NOT skip it and do NOT skimp on it. I hope thats not awkward. How did you get the variances in color? 
To get the color we liked most, our stain was mixed 50/50 with water. Its best to protect up to at least 12 to 24 to avoid getting acid stain on the walls. I also recommend a no-slip floor polish. I did it all for a couple hundred bucks. We too, used quart spray bottles. Next, do you think you could acid stain the slab before the building process and then seal it with a clear coat once the house is move in ready? Starting from the back of the space, apply the stain liberally, thoroughly coating the surface. Thanks for sharing all your details! For sealing outdoor concrete floors, Direct Colors recommends our, For sealing indoor concrete floors, Direct Colors recommends our. Remove all residue and excess color from concrete before leaving to dry. So how will it be maintained. I was hoping that the sealant would be enough shine. Its holding up well except for in front of the kitchen sink and counter area. We sealed it after staining/rinsing with the wet look sealant, and use a commercial floor wax we get at Lowes. I have a passionate hatred for carpet, yall. We have a cement floor in our basement bathroom (long story) and Ive been bugging The Cowboy forever to do this to it. Move the solution around the floor using a squeegee. It is an acid, so taking precautions to keep it away from your skin and eyes is extremely important. The color I chose is dark coffee-brown with some slight reddish undertones. Acid stains are translucent, penetrating stains that slightly etches and permanently changes the color of the concrete by reacting chemically with the hydrated lime in the concrete. The environmentally friendly finish also creates a beautifully stained surface that costs next to nothing after initial installation. I used it to scrape the rinse water towards my shop vac. If you are looking to turn a drab concrete floor into a beautiful, elegant and durable finished surface using acid stain is the answer! You seem to like to document your themes in pictures. I wont get into the long story with my floors, but the problem Ive had has been with the sealer eventually peeling in high traffic areas. The topic of acid staining concrete floors strays a little from my usual subject-matter and seems slightly more suited for a home renovation blog. Hey! Finally, before staining, protect all of the wall surfaces with plastic and tape. Since this is a considerable project with pretty permanent results, youll want to spend time doing your own research and to decide if this will fit your situation. Vinyl floor is also a joke. Acid stains cannot react with the concrete if any of these contaminants is present. (Previously we had a teeny tiny hand-dug basement resemblingsomething out of a horror movie.). I should be able to stain that, I think. Yours came out amazing!! Apply acid stain using a Pump-up Sprayer. You had an unusually quiet week, and what did you do? Mine darkened to my ideal shade after about two hours, but your floor may take more or less time. Watch TV? They are actually not a true stain as the name implies. 
I was researching how to acid stain my cabin basement floor when I ran across your blog. Once you get in your groove, it really doesnt take long to spray an entire room. (And I didt feel as bad about just tossing it when the project was done.). Its cheap. I Have a summer washer-drier in a shed with a lid that pops up, and doors which open in the front. Here is to trying your hand at using acid stains to create a beautiful concrete floor! With more scoring in the concrete it would look like tile. One of the best decisions we ever made when building our original farmhouse back in 2016 was to use acid stain on our concrete slab floors. I know it can I dont know about process or durability, tho. All concrete floors, this weekend cleaning floors to stain on my days off starting Wednesday next week.
Because its so versatile in application, acid stain can be used for any commercial project with concrete. Before working with acid stain, its important to have the proper safety gear on hand for personal protection. See: The Barndominium Project. In a homesteading situation you dont want to be slipping in wet snowy boots. (I used a 3/8 nap roller on one of my rooms (it was all I had), and I didnt like the texture it left in the finish. Our house is on a slab, and I, too HATE carpet. How does it hold up to traffic and things draggin on it? I plan to wax my acid stain concrete for extra shine and protection, too,but havent found an appropriatewax yet Ill update this post when I do. Its been about four years since this was posted, how about an update and maybe some things you may have done differently looking back? This will help to remove any soap residue that might remain. But I decided to go for it anyway, as I figured a) I have a ton of very thrifty, very handy readers who love frugal, DIY stuff, and b) I honestly just wanted a reference for myself, as I have a bad habit of doing a complex project and then promptly forgetting all the details for time and eternity. 2022 Direct Colors LLC. I have no idea. So when it came to designing and building the barndominium and our cabin projects at the farm this year, we knew that concrete floors and acid staining would again be a major part of the plan for both! If I had just kept it waxed and sealed more often, it wouldve been protected better. We stained our office floor about six months ago using your instructions to guide us and its held up very well, but to low traffic and areas under our rolling chairs being protected. The floors look amazing I love this idea. That, of course, means the floor will not chip or peel like paint or stain often can. If you have a buffer get a spray and buff which allows spraying a mist of the finish and then buffing which removes the dirt and shines the floor in one operation. A simple solution of basic dish soap and water will work well to clean the floor. Yes, I think wax is key to help protect it! Most notably, that the color is not a coating, but a permanent stain burned into the floor through a chemical reaction. We live in a very sandy area, and our dog (and people) seem to track in sand all the time, which scours the color off the floor in high-traffic area like in front of sink, etc. It is at this stage when the water is put on to clean that you will start to see what the floor will look like when sealed. Homesteading | Self Sufficient Living | Living off the Land, 67 Comments | Jill Winger | Last Updated: March 17, 2018. Not only can the look be absolutely stunning, it can also save you thousands of dollars in flooring costs. When I did my first room, I decided to be lazy and NOT mask the bottoms of the walls. Read more on how to clean and prepare surface for concrete staining. With new concrete, you need to let the floor cure for about a month. I just couldnt stand the thought of putting pretty, fluffy carpet downstairs so the dogs could throw up on it, poop on it, and the kids could spill stickiness all over it. . Hi Peter! It created both a beautiful and durable surface for the interior spaces of our home. Thanks so much for giving me the courage to quit researching/procrastinating and actually dive in and give it a shot. This mixture penetrates and chemically reacts with the hydrated lime in the concrete. I have concrete floors, and you are right, there is no forgiveness for dropped glassware and jars. Can this be done outside and how long does it last? That includesprotective goggles, gloves, rubber boots and a mask. I hope to hear from you soon! They also make de-activators for purchase as well. I then followed it up witha hard scrubbing with water and cleaner. Super excited! Ready for a chemistry lesson in painting? We finished out basement a year ago and the floors were pricey in the future I will be staining! Give yourself a full day to do this portion of the project. There are a lot of concrete sealers and waxes available, so make sure before applying you choose a sealer compatible with your acid stain of choice. If you have a large surface, or for floors that have excessive dirt and grime, you may want to consider renting a power floor cleaner. I left my stain on for about 2 hours before I started neutralizing.). I think it is more than a DIY though, so I have not gotten too many on board. Thats pretty tough to do with a regular ol mop, so we relied on the shop vac to suck all the nasty water off the floor. My big idea was to use a foam brush to apply the stain around the edges of the room, and then follow up with a sprayer in the middle areas. It works with the natural irregularities of the concrete to create a rich, marbled look. Its tough. Instead, the acid reacts chemically with the minerals in the concrete to etch a permanent color into the surface. Whats the approximate price of this project? You might even need to apply another coat after a couple hours, (but I didnt). To catch up those who may be new to the Prairie Homestead craziness, we did a massive home remodel last year (basically building a whole new house onto our little shack), and addeda full basement in the process. Jim & Mary. ( in his photos, I havent sanded mine yet) maybe try that? If your concrete floors are machine troweled, prepare the surface by etching it with a Hard Troweled Floor Pre-Treatment. For Stubborn residue or porous surfaces, use an organic degreaser to aid in the removal. The radiant heat is wonderful beyond words. Any positive? Acid stain the basement floor! But I still would not go with any other flooring. First and foremost, acid stain will work best on newer concrete or concrete that has never been sealed. thanks for this! This is a great idea, and Im so glad you posted this even though its not a typical homesteading topic. Once complete, its best to allow at least 24 hours to dry completely before foot traffic. Master the ins-and-outs of essential oils on the homestead, no matter what sort of homestead you may have! Not the end of the world I guess, but needless to say, I masked the next two rooms, used the sprayer on the whole thing, and the results are much better. (My shop vac/squeegee method was handy here, too.). Since carpet was obviously out of the question, we priced wood for the large room (ouch) and tile (bigger ouch) and decided the price wasnt something we wanted to pay. 4. We had considered stamped floors when we poured, and I regret not doing it now. Nap? Includes recipes for DIY fly spray formulas, garden pest control sprays, DIY cleaners, and more! Im now considering staining my basement floor as well. I live in rural Alaska built a home about 8 years ago and acid stained the first two floors. You have a point I cant help myself . I would advise against waxing over the finish. Protective Gear: Rubber gloves are a must, and a mask and eye protection isnt a bad idea, either. This has given me the courage to go at it with our guest room and family room! Therefore, you want to make sure the floor is EXTREMELY clean before you start. As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! Looks amazing! Dogs + 3 kids + a rural lifestyle = disgustingly putrid carpet. Each stain has different activation times, Read more about the importance of this step. Work over the entire room, then allow the stain to sit on the floor. Try to keep the spray in an even layer as you go, but remember it doesnt have to be perfect ( thats why I love this project so much). If you apply the stain too soon, the chemicals in the new concrete will not react well with the stain. I cant recall the name of the product at the moment I believe we got it at lowes its what they gave us when we asked for TSP. excellent points altogether, you just gained a brand new reader. Do you drop many things on the floor and shatter them? Safety while applying colorant is important. Clean the floor with a light Concrete Cleaner & Degreaser solution. we can just slap it over the top of the concrete no big deal. Possibly yes although I havent personally tested that out yet. Your best bet is testing a small area of your concrete floor to make sure the acid stain works properly before committing to the whole thing. Read more about the importance of this step. ive been scared to dive in, but this really helps! There was a lot of paint and other old glue/epoxy type stuff on the office floor that I couldnt completely remove, also some areas that polled and still others that just didnt take the stain as much as it shouldve and even though you can still see color variations in those spots, it all comes together and looks like it was intended. Product Link : (Cola Acid Stain Kemiko brand). So how does it all work? Download Cochran & Manns Surface Preparation Checklist. Wash the surface carefully using clean water until nothing but clear water is visible. Even more, it allowed us to save big on our budget by not having to purchase any final flooring for the house. However, the stain still reacted beautifully with the concrete once I cleaned it. By continuing to browse this website, you accept the use of cookies. I cant wait because our office looks amazing. Yep it was super tedious. I replaced our carpet with wood floors. Here are a few tips on how to achieve the ideal finished product: Remember to wear acid resistant spiked shoes to avoid leaving foot impressions on the floor. After the surface has completely dried, the floor should be ready to seal. You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. We love saving money and making cute stuff or our stuff cuter. The longer you leave the stain on, the deeper and darker the colors will be. Once 4 to 6 hours have passed, its time to deactivate the acid stain. It will make it super slippery especially when it gets wet. Youll want all paints, dirt, grime, and glues completely removed from the floor before you get started. What product did you use? Thoroughly scrub & rinse all residues from the surface. A smoother nap would have been much better.). Carefully pour your acid into the pump sprayer. Is the floor slippery if your shoes/feet are wet? Read more about cookies in our Privacy Policy. Clear Concrete Sealer:I found the Clarishield Wet-Look Water-Based Sealer atSherwin Williams and went with that. I read DOZENS of articles on acid staining concrete before I even bought my supplies and I suggest you do the same. (I think it was a better option, anyway TSP is rather nasty I think. Will you have to reapply the clear coat after wear and tear? I saved this blog on my phone a bit ago. I applied my clear coat with a roller with a long handle. I am not claiming to be the definitive acid-stained concrete expert in any way, shape, or form. I did this 2-3 times until the floor was as clean as it possibly could be and there wasnt any dirty water left anywhere on the floor. Yours is the best article Ive read yet! I just found your blog, and I love you. It provides a non-slip surface in a gloss sheen. To be perfectly honest? Yours looks great! The next part is up to you you will need to watch the floor and see if you like the shade of the stain. As dries, it will darken and then turn super chalky and quite ugly. Using a roller, you will want to apply a minimum of two coats of sealer. We had some pretty thick paint overspray around the edges of our walls. Step 5: Neutralize The Acid Stained Concrete Floor. Again, tedious but necessary. Thanks for sharing the step-by-step process! We are building our 3040 barndominium for lack of better word. Put onyour protective gear, and fill your sprayer with stain. This may be our answer! My cleaner wouldnt remove it on its own, so I had to use a sharp scraper to peel it off the floor. Thanks! For corners and tight spaces, use a brush to apply stain. Yet, unlike hardwood, tile and carpet, which require professional installation, homeowners can lower costs by acid-staining concrete flooring themselves! At this point, you will likely worry the color is not what you thought it would be. . I was curious how your sealer has held up? You can buy TSP in most lumberyards, and it can be ordered on Amazon. Weve actually toyed with the idea of doing this on our concrete patio. This article may contain affiliate links. Nope. Avoid any harsh chemicals that could keep the acid from reacting with the concrete. You wont loose subs. With our massive dogs its not working out. Step 7: Apply Liquid Concrete Wax (Interior Floors Only). The effect or coloring of acid stains can be altered by diluting with water. Depending on design and surface conditions, costs can rise as high as $10.00 per square foot. . Acid stains have a big advantage over floor paints and traditional stains. Im also tucking this idea away for a future (hopefully) basement redototally agree about the carpet, especially in a basement. Mix thoroughly and apply to the floor, mopping it as you go. Well be trying this after we paint the cabinets!! (However, 2-4 hours is a pretty average time frame. The stain can burn your lungs if you breathe it in, so good ventilation is wise. Privacy Policy | Terms | Copyright 2022 Cochran & Mann, Inc. 6 Reasons Why All Concrete Needs To Be Acid-Stained. Acid Stain: There are a bunch of different brands out there, but this is the one I went with from Amazon(affiliate link). Acid stained concrete floors are a low-cost flooring option. You must have javascript enabled to use this form. We did hardwood in the main bedroom. Pick a corner and start spraying. When the spray first goes down on the floor, its super light. dark toned color, use a brush to work the acid stain into the surface using consistent circular strokes. Did you ever find a wax that you liked to finish the floor with? However, there are a few tools thatll make your life much easier: A Shop Vac: It is VITAL all residue is completely gone from the floor before you apply the stain and sealer. Again, its all about personal preference. Regular waxing is important in high traffic spaces like hair salons where high traffic and repetitive motion around hair stations is likely. Great idea!! Once the floor has dried from your final rinse, its time to seal. Luckily the paint on the floor in our basement has been holding up, but after the kids are grown this is what is happening on the concrete! My husband and I did our whole downstairs of our strawbale house with acid stain on our concrete floors. Gostaria de saber a formula do acid que foi usada. We are buying a restaurant that has nasty carpet and we are going to do this to both the dining area and the bar area. I used just under 2 gallons for a bedroom, storage room, and the large family room. We are pulling up carpet and cleaning our living room and hallway tonight and will be staining both tomorrow morning. Youll have to let me know if you give it a try! It seems like that would be harder to maintain. I do have throw rugs in a couple statregic places. When deciding on a look for your new flooring project, it is important to understand that acid stains are not an overcoat like paint. And just how easy is it to apply? Start by mopping the surfacewith a mild dish detergent. We scored the concrete first, into 18 blocks, which are now grouted, so they look like tiles. Once the floor is dark enough for you, use a mop and/or scrub brush to scrub it with an ammonia/water solution. I now work in an office with white marble floors sealed with no-slip floor polish, they are gorgeous AND safe to walk on (even in high heels). Your garden is happy to use those phosphates to grow stuff like crazy. However, our basement doesnt get a ton of traffic, so maybe that has something to do with it. All Rights Reserved. And true to my nature, I messed up my first go-round a bit, so Im glad I had a chance to make adjustments before finishing the rest of the rooms. We are almost ready to stain our living room floors. Ive been thinking about doing this but was a little hesitant as Ive never seen it done before. I rushed to acid stain the concrete in the guest room downstairs earlier this year as we had a steady string of house guests coming through and they needed a place to sleep (funny how that works). I love that you stained it yourself. Mine was approximately thecolor of bile when it first hit the floor (I had a small heart attack at that point), but dont worryitll darken as it sits. Im not sure yet. Stumbled on this while looking for something different. It is bare blocks still and with the bare cement floor the possibility could be amazing. Depending on design and surface conditions, costs can rise as high as $10.00 per square foot. Learn how your comment data is processed. Squeegee: You could do the project with a squeegee, sure But it sure made things easier during the cleaning. I did one application of the ammonia & water, and then rinsed it 2-3 times with fresh water until my rinse water was mostly clear. i have a huge basement ( with studs only dividing it into 5 rooms) that i want to tackle, though perhaps only room at a time. I want to do this in our basement that will primarily be used for office/school/exercising and need something that holds up to paint and playdoh..lol. Im thinking about pulling up the floor, and putting in radient heart in concrete. As one person applies the baking soda/water mixture, have a second person go behind with a shop vac to suck up the water from the surface. It is my new favorite site! We have carpet in two small bedrooms in our house and that is IT. 2. And the shards go FAR. Its just about the same color as yours. In fact, the only maintenance needed is an occasional coat of sealer every few years to keep the sheen of the floor desired! We live on a lake and are considering this for the walk out basement floor. You can get everything from a high gloss wet-look to semi-gloss and even matte finishes. Do you see any issue with this? Thanks your direction are the easiest looking to follow. More DIY please. Some websites advised diluting the stain with water, but I didnt. Do you have to do the wax finish? Doing that smaller room first gave me a good chance to experiment with the acid staining process (for some reason, it felt extremely intimidating to me when I first started researching it). Scrub Brushes: I had a very stiff hand-held brush, along with another brush with a long handle. Why stain concrete with acid? I cant stress enough how important this step is do NOT skip it and do NOT skimp on it. I hope thats not awkward. How did you get the variances in color? To get the color we liked most, our stain was mixed 50/50 with water. Its best to protect up to at least 12 to 24 to avoid getting acid stain on the walls. I also recommend a no-slip floor polish. I did it all for a couple hundred bucks. We too, used quart spray bottles. Next, do you think you could acid stain the slab before the building process and then seal it with a clear coat once the house is move in ready? Starting from the back of the space, apply the stain liberally, thoroughly coating the surface. Thanks for sharing all your details! For sealing outdoor concrete floors, Direct Colors recommends our, For sealing indoor concrete floors, Direct Colors recommends our. Remove all residue and excess color from concrete before leaving to dry. So how will it be maintained. I was hoping that the sealant would be enough shine. Its holding up well except for in front of the kitchen sink and counter area. We sealed it after staining/rinsing with the wet look sealant, and use a commercial floor wax we get at Lowes. I have a passionate hatred for carpet, yall. We have a cement floor in our basement bathroom (long story) and Ive been bugging The Cowboy forever to do this to it. Move the solution around the floor using a squeegee. It is an acid, so taking precautions to keep it away from your skin and eyes is extremely important. The color I chose is dark coffee-brown with some slight reddish undertones. Acid stains are translucent, penetrating stains that slightly etches and permanently changes the color of the concrete by reacting chemically with the hydrated lime in the concrete. The environmentally friendly finish also creates a beautifully stained surface that costs next to nothing after initial installation. I used it to scrape the rinse water towards my shop vac. If you are looking to turn a drab concrete floor into a beautiful, elegant and durable finished surface using acid stain is the answer! You seem to like to document your themes in pictures. I wont get into the long story with my floors, but the problem Ive had has been with the sealer eventually peeling in high traffic areas. The topic of acid staining concrete floors strays a little from my usual subject-matter and seems slightly more suited for a home renovation blog. Hey! Finally, before staining, protect all of the wall surfaces with plastic and tape. Since this is a considerable project with pretty permanent results, youll want to spend time doing your own research and to decide if this will fit your situation. Vinyl floor is also a joke. Acid stains cannot react with the concrete if any of these contaminants is present. (Previously we had a teeny tiny hand-dug basement resemblingsomething out of a horror movie.). I should be able to stain that, I think. Yours came out amazing!! Apply acid stain using a Pump-up Sprayer. You had an unusually quiet week, and what did you do? Mine darkened to my ideal shade after about two hours, but your floor may take more or less time. Watch TV? They are actually not a true stain as the name implies. I was researching how to acid stain my cabin basement floor when I ran across your blog. Once you get in your groove, it really doesnt take long to spray an entire room. (And I didt feel as bad about just tossing it when the project was done.). Its cheap. I Have a summer washer-drier in a shed with a lid that pops up, and doors which open in the front. Here is to trying your hand at using acid stains to create a beautiful concrete floor! With more scoring in the concrete it would look like tile. One of the best decisions we ever made when building our original farmhouse back in 2016 was to use acid stain on our concrete slab floors. I know it can I dont know about process or durability, tho. All concrete floors, this weekend cleaning floors to stain on my days off starting Wednesday next week.