Acid Staining: Trendy New Flooring Application

By Author: Wolad Toz
Total Articles: 3
Comment this article

Concrete floors are common, both as a foundation and as a floor surface, in Austin homes. For a city known for its wealth, artistry and great real estate, owners would naturally want to explore all possibilities of improving the look of their dull looking gray concrete floors given the variety of dye and stain techniques available in the market today.

One way to do this is by concrete staining. Currently these are the three most popular: acid staining, water-based staining and patterns in staining. Of these three, acid staining is the most popular method because of its versatility and success of the technique.

Acid Stains are not paint, coating or sealer.  It is a coloring process involving a chemical reaction of a solution made from hydrochloric acid, wetting agents and metallic ions with hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) present in the concrete to form oxides. Although they are often called acid stains, acid is not the ingredient that colors the concrete. Metallic salts in the acidic, water-based solution reacting to the calcium hydroxide in hardened concrete yields insoluble, colored compounds that become ...
... a permanent part of the concrete.There are many manufactures of acid stain and most produce stain in 8 colors that are variations of three basic color groups: black, brown, and blue-green.  These basic 8 colors are:

=>Tan – suede tone with caramel marbling and rust

=>Black – tortoise shell black with brown marbling

=>Red – terra cotta with rust and brown hues

=>Green – grey green resembling aged Italian marble

=>Brown – reddish brown resembling old leather (cola)

=>Blue – soft blue patina with undertone of moss green

=>Gold – amber hued undertones with rust and tan

=>Umber – earthy brown with red and black highlights

Acid Stains give concrete a mottled, marble-like look described above. The resulting varying shades add character and charm to the entire flooring, besides creating an expensive-stone-look.

The different shades and color intensity produced depend on the age of the concrete, its porosity and the amount of salt absorbed. It is suggested that at least two coats of acid stain will deliver best results, and as in any painting job, it is best to wait for at least 4 hours or until dry before re-coating.

Chemical stains can be applied to new or existing, plain or colored concrete surfaces. After application of the stain, the floor needs to be washed with an ammonia solution to neutralize the chemical reaction and remove any acid remains. Once done, it can then be sealed with a professional grade concrete sealer. Unlike paint or other coatings, acid stain will last the lifetime of the surface it is applied to. Because of its durability and low maintenance, it is economical.

It is important to keep in mind though that acid stains contain solvents and acid and may include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which may be risky when done on interior flooring. Thus, it is advisable to hire professional contractors who are aware of the potential hazards and will take the necessary precautions.

One way to do this is by concrete staining austin . For more informations please visit our stained concrete austin website.