The pigment imparts the color. In other words, water-based stains perform by flowing into the concrete pores and bonding with the cement, but they do not chemically alter the concrete itself. This means that by definition they are not permanent — if you don't apply a sealer, they can wear away.
They may be used on everything from concrete floors and kitchen counters to pool decks and driveways, both inside and out. So in saying that acid stain can last 5 to 20 years depending on many factors.
Unlike paint, stains don't chip or peel. Give your dull and worn-out concrete a lustrous look by applying a concrete stain that will both complement the look of your house and protect the integrity of the surface.
Yes, acid stain will be permanent, so choose your colors wisely, and think long-term, not just what's in fashion this season. That royal blue concrete finish that looked so lovely in the home magazine may well make you want to gouge your own eyes out in a year or two.
No, the vibrancy and color tone in acid stains do not fade. However, the physical top layer of concrete which contains the stain can be worn away through use, which can give the appearance of fading. Stone Surface Specialists can apply a special sealer on your newly-stained concrete to prevent this.
Acid stains or Chemical stains react with the lime in concrete and color the concrete whereas concrete dyes offer transparent colors to the concrete surface.
Concrete Acid Stains are the only true stains with permanent results.
Staining and sealing these concrete structures make them even tougher and good looking. But this doesn't mean they cannot be damaged. A sliding chair, moving stuff around, a rolling vacuum, accidents, improper maintenance practices, and even normal daily use can cause scuffs and scratches to stained concrete.
Concrete Stain or Paint: Use Cases
However, bear in mind that concrete paint will obscure concrete's natural texture and isn't suitable for concrete that takes a beating, such as a concrete floor. For almost all exterior applications, concrete stain is the superior solution.
The durability of stained concrete
This applies to both interior floors as well as outdoor surfaces, so any concrete floor will benefit from a stained concrete finish that beautifies, seals, and protects against cracking, peeling, chipping, and fading.
So, there really isn't a benefit to not sealing your concrete unless for some reason you want it to have a duller color. We would still advise sealing the concrete, but applying a matte wax instead of a glossy one to get the appearance that you desire.
Stained concrete can be an excellent choice for your residential house. Due to light foot traffic experienced in residential stained floors, a simple cleaning may renew their fresh look for many years.
Epoxy covering is an excellent choice if you need to cover up damage; thus, many commercial work environments opt for epoxy. If you want to improve the look and texture of a concrete surface, stain it to look like natural stone, and achieve a solid, long-lasting color.
When properly designed and installed, acid-stained concrete and decorative concrete overlays are almost completely unaffected by water. Moisture may and does pass through the concrete and sealer used in acid stained concrete flooring, but as it evaporates, it leaves no lingering effect.
Affordability. Applying an epoxy floor coating will cost between $3 and $10 per square foot, which is quite affordable than the $5- $12 price tag that a high-end concrete staining will cost you.
Usually this white or off-white discoloration to concrete and masonry forms when soluble salts and other water dispersible materials come to the surface through capillary voids as a result of temperature changes, moist migration, condensation, rain, dew, and/or too much water in the mix.
Stained concrete is by far the most common type of concrete finish. This is due to stained concrete's versatility. Stained concrete can be installed on both freshly poured and existing slabs to achieve a wide variety of finishes, and is commonly used in both residential and commercial installations.
The most popular colors for concrete stains are earth tones including browns, tans, and terra cottas. Gray, green and blue hues are also possible. Color choice ultimately depends on the desired appearance for the project.
Coloring your concrete can increase the aesthetic value of your property. It does not impact the durability of your concrete and if used on interior concrete, it can always be covered by an alternative flooring option. Cons: Every concrete floor takes the acid stain differently.
KEMIKO® Stone Tone™ Concrete Acid Stain is an acid base, reactive stain. This interior/exterior reactive stain is zero VOC, UV resistant and will not chip, fade or peel.
The top-selling product within Concrete Stains is the Glidden 1 gal. Warm Walnut Interior/Exterior Semi-Transparent Concrete Stain.
How deep does the acid stain react through the concrete surface? Concrete thickness can vary from ¼” to over 3′. However, depending on the finish (how it was troweled) and porosity of the concrete surface, the penetration of the acid reaction may be only 1/16″ – 3/16″.
DON'T etch floors with muriatic acid solutions before staining, in efforts to improve stain penetration. Acid washing depletes the lime content in the concrete, which is what the minerals in the acid stain react with to develop color.