Do It Yourself Concrete staining is the cheapest and easiest way to improve the appearance of your concrete surfaces. The alternatives, ripping out existing concrete and replacing it with new or decorative coatings, are not recommended for DIYers and can be very expensive. But before you start your staining project, there are a few things you need to know.
There are two types of concrete stains to choose from, acid stains and acrylic stains. Acid stains work by chemically reacting with free lime on the surface to produce a natural-looking, translucent color. They create a mottled, variegated, multi-colored coloration. Each concrete surface reacts differently to acid stains, making each job unique. Acrylic stains are water-based and have pigments that seep into the pores and adhere to the concrete, creating a more consistent semi-translucent color like that of a stain. Acrylic stains will help mask blemishes and discolorations, while acid stains will accentuate them.
For many surfaces, acid and acrylic stains will work just as well, but which one you choose will depend on the look you want. However, there are situations where one type will work better than the other. For older exterior concrete (over 15-20 years), acid stains may not work because much of the free lime has leached out. Acrylic stains are great for old concrete due to their increased porosity over time. Acid stains work well with newer concrete due to the availability of free lime. If repairs need to be made, such as patching ledges or scaling, acrylics may be the best option to help disguise the repairs. Any patching material will stand out with acid stains. For smooth troweled interior surfaces with less porosity, acid stains are often better because they don’t require as much penetration to color the concrete.
Before you begin, it’s also important to have realistic expectations. Stain can turn dull gray concrete into a beautiful, colorful finish, but it’s impossible to know exactly what the finished product will look like, especially with acid stains. Every concrete surface is different and will accept stains differently. The exact same stain will have two different appearances with two different slabs. Even experienced professionals cannot predict the exact result of a staining job. For this reason, it’s not a good idea to try to exactly match the color of the concrete to anything else, like brick or siding. There is a great possibility that you will not succeed. Instead, choose a complementary color or shade for your concrete. For example, if you have light brown siding, choose a dark brown tint.
The most critical part of staining is preparation. Take some time to decide what you want your concrete to look like and prepare the surface to apply the stain. You have one chance to get it right unless you want to do a major overhaul of the surface. Do It Yourself Concrete staining is not a difficult process, but it does require honest effort to be satisfied with your finished product.