Concrete staining is an excellent way to improve your indoor concrete flooring. Concrete staining penetrates deep within the substrate, producing long-lasting, highly resilient floors. Floors stained by Concrete Staining San Diego won’t fade, crack, peel, or even wear down in any way. Once sealed with an epoxy coating, the finished product is incredibly well maintained.
Homeowners first begin by placing a mat over their floor, or some sort of tarp to absorb potential dust and debris. Once the floor is dusted, they proceed to apply a plastic sheet over the concrete, to which they affix the staining products. Floor mats and plastic sheets are often used for outdoor patios and pool decks as well, but there are many more excellent choices available for indoor use.
Once the concrete is stained and treated, it is time to apply the concrete-staining product. This can be done with a hand-held staining machine, or even using a power trainer that has a rotating drum. The actual application of the concrete-staining product can take place either inside the home, over a tarp or other covering, or over bare floors. There are two basic types of concrete staining products; those which are placed on top of a mat and those which are placed on the concrete itself.
When it comes to the actual staining process, it starts by drawing a neat, even line down the middle of the concrete, just above the area that will eventually receive the stain. Then, the consumer simply places the stained concrete on the line drawn, making sure to cover all sides and corners. A bonding agent is then added to the top of the concrete, and a very thin layer of the stain is then applied. When the first coat of stain is applied, the concrete will be very slippery, so you want to make sure to keep the floor level and clean up any spills that may occur.
Most people choose to use an acid-based stain in their concrete floor staining projects, but there are other good options available as well. When choosing an acid stain or sealer, it is important to pick one with water-based additives. These types of stains work well with alkaline substances, such as water, soda ash, and muriatic acids. If you have a sand concrete floor, you can still use acid-based solutions, but you need to choose something with lower pH. One of the best water-based stains available for concrete staining is water-based Muriatic Finish Acid Stain, which contains a mild acid with a neutral pH. Other good acid stains are those which contain bicarbonate alkalinity, because this pH balance prevents corrosion.
A water-based concrete leveling compound is very useful for the home owner, because these liquids are very easy to apply, and they are safe for surfaces like stainless steel and glass. Using this type of stain on concrete floors is not recommended for basement floors because acid residue can form a hard shell around the steel reinforcement. If you plan to stain concrete walls, you should use an alkaline or acid-free stain.
Before you begin staining your floors, you should test the newly stained concrete floors by using a footstep on the floor. In case of a chemical reaction, this will release some of the stain into the air. If this happens, you will need to add a ventilation system for the rooms where the new stained concrete floors will be placed.
Stained concrete sealer floors usually last for years. Some people even choose to resell the floors after they have painted them. Stained floors that have been properly maintained can still look brand new. So, if you are looking for a quick and easy way to change the look of your rooms, try applying one of the many different types of stains that you can buy today.