Concrete color staining has become one of the most in style applications for altering concrete slabs to make them more aesthetically captivating.Many people from homeowners to designers and even builders have been drawn to stained concrete because of the distinctive results that can be done by the combination of colors and application techniques on cement flooring.
Only one’s creativity can limit how the results of the stained concrete process will come out. Because of the neutral color and porous qualities of concrete, it is perfect for color to be added into it.
Decorative concrete contractors have produced a wide assortment of rich, earth-toned color schemes which resemble different materials like wood, marble, natural stone, or even leather using acid-based stain materials. This gives floors a more interesting and custom look, which is ideal for both the indoors and outdoors.But it should be taken note that concrete staining does not only add color to the surface, but also produce a rich, deep and translucent tone to the surface.
While it does not give a solid and opaque effect like paint or colored coatings, with staining, the concrete floor becomes has an intriguing gloss that makes it look more interesting.Depending on what application techniques and stain color is used, the results of this procedure can be anything from an elegant polished look resembling marble to a more earthy and rustic look that resembles wood or natural stone. But staining concrete is not restricted to earth and warms tones, as you can actually mix colors to come up with shades that may be more appropriate to where the floor is or its surroundings. From one concrete slab to another, the results are not at all uniform, although still a bit similar, which makes the entire floor area look more interesting.If you are interested in concrete color staining as a DIY project, it would really depend on the skill level and other factors like floor area. If staining would only involve a small area, or if the stain used is the user-friendly acrylic-based type, then a DIY project may be done.
Otherwise, a company like Decorete, which has been highly regarded as a provider and applicator of high quality building materials for wall and floor systems should be employed. It should be remember that once the concrete stain is cured, the color of the finished product is already permanent. Thus, if you don’t want to leave anything to chance, it would be a safe bet to let professionals and experts like Decorete to do the job.
The process of concrete color staining can be summarized in four steps:
- Step 1: Make sure that the stain you are getting is the absolute choice, as it will be permanent once applied. The canvas on which the stain will be applied on should be clean and free from defects. The stain should also be first applied on the canvas that actually contains the actual concrete. This is because the stain material reacts differently to various surfaces. Thus it is important that you actually see how it will look like on the actual concrete where it will be eventually applied into. Doing onsite sampling is also recommended.
- Step2: The stain must be applied in the correct amount and technique. A lot of color staining jobs in concrete eventually turn awry because the wrong application method was used and too much or too little stain was applied.
- Step 3: The concrete surface should be free of any residue and should be neutralized first. This should be done so that the coating system or sealant would adhere to the surface properly.
- Step 4: The concrete surface with stain should be completely dried first before the final stage, which is sealing the surface is done. Methods for applying sealer include spraying, cross hatch rolling, back rolling, and buffing, each having its own pros and cons and would be great for specific surfaces. Before this is done, it must be made sure that there is no debris or marks on the surface that will be eventually trapped once sealer is applied.