Acid stained concrete surfaces are unique, beautiful and durable. They are a great addition to any home, business or outdoor area that will retain their value and attractiveness for years to come. Surecrete, an industry leader in decorative concrete products and services, provides SureStain for consistent, quality results in acid stained concrete floors.
SureStain is a
reactive acid concrete stain designed to be applied on “naked” concrete, meaning there can be no curing agents or sealers on the surface which might block the concrete stain. Preparation of the concrete surface always starts with cleaning. For the best results, utilize a commercial concrete cleaner with a black pad on a rotational floor scrubbing machine.
Reactive acid stains like SureStain can be applied on concrete that is not fully cured, but the final color will not be achieved until the concrete is fully cured. The acid burns the salts into the concrete, which creates the color, however, concrete that has been hard troweled, especially “burned” black or blue may require profiling to accept the stain. A simple test of applying water to the concrete surface and observing whether it readily absorbs or beads up will determine if the surface is ready. If the concrete absorbs the water and darkens, it is ready for stain application.
Most installers will use acid resistant sprayers to apply the stain. Brushing or brooming the wet stain also works, especially if the concrete is not completely flat. Ordinarily, two coats of concrete stain are needed for preferred results and there are many different installation techniques available: layering colors, adding ironite or miracle-grow fertilizer, using a leaf blower on puddles, and so on. Drips, spills, or bleeds across masked areas are permanent, so there is little room for error when staining with reactive acid.
A low pH residue is typically formed on the surface of dried reactive acid stained concrete. Prior to sealing, this residue must be removed and neutralized. A simple ammonia rinse can turn the slab back to neutral pH, and may require some scrubbing to remove.
The final product is a beautiful surface filled with swirling color variations that can be custom tailored to fit any existing décor. If you’d like to find out more about
decorative concrete and acid stained concrete, contact Surecrete today.
