WHY IS STAINED CONCRETE SO UNIQUE?
You get much more than just a color with concrete stain - you get character. If you use colored coating or a paint, you will get opaque, solid effect but stains add rich tones to your concrete surfaces. You can use different techniques and colors to mimic leather, marble, wood or stone. It's a characteristic you won't get from anything else but staining.
Since the age of the concrete, composition, texture and surface porosity come into play when staining, you won't get two concrete surfaces that look the same. Using these factors, you can get variegated and antiqued look, which is very distinctive. Because there is such variability in stained concrete, it is very popular and appealing when it comes to decorative concrete (more about decorative concrete here).
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
There is no straight answer here, because the type of stain determines the whole process. Today, there are two concrete stains categories - nonreactive and reactive.
Nonreactive category includes water based acrylic stains which don't use chemical reaction to add color to the concrete. They actually penetrate the surface of the concrete and "inject" the pigment in the pores. Since there are much more options when it comes to color, nonreactive stains are more popular than acid stains. Also, they are easier to apply. But, they are not able to produce translucent and unique color tones that acid stains produce. You actually get more uniform color effects when using nonreactive stains on your concrete surfaces.
When it comes to reactive stains, these are acidic solutions (water based) that have metallic salts in them. These metallic salts come into reaction with the lime content within concrete. When that chemicals reaction starts, the concrete and acidic stain form a bond so strong that makes it very hard for stains to peel away or chip off. And when it comes to adding color to the concrete surface, the metallic salts react with lime and form compounds that are now the part of the concrete. To be more precise, it's the acid that opens the way for metallic salts to get to the lime deposits within the concrete. Water from the stain is fueling this reaction.
The color will then be formed, while these factors will determine the final outcome:
- Admixture
- Cement property
- Concrete finishing
- Type of aggregate
- Weather conditions
- Concrete moisture and age
CAN ALL CONCRETE SURFACES BE STAINED?
Old or new and integrally colored or plain concrete surfaces can be stained with nonreactive and reactive stains. What needs to be taken in the account here is actually the condition of the surface itself. Considering the concrete is porous, it is a perfect candidate for staining. In case there is a coating, glue, grime or some sealant on the surface, the stains won't be able to be soaked in, which makes them unable to penetrate into the concrete and do what it is supposed to do. If you want to know is your concrete "elligible" for staining, there is a simple test you can use. Pour some water over your concrete and see will it stay on the surface. If the water can't penetrate the surface, stains won't be able to do that too. There's your answer to can all concrete surfaces be stained.
If you want to stain a new concrete, you should wait for at least 30 days for concret to cure. Don't use any curing compounds!
Old concrete can be stained, but bear in mind that the blemishes and cracks won't dissapear. Stains will enhance the surface, but they won't disguise the flaws themselves. This can work in your favor if you want to create rustic look!
I wouldn't recommend staining concrete that has large cracks and spalling because the patchwork wil be seen through the stain easily. What you should do here is create a new canvas for your stains - cover the surface with a cement based overlay!
HOW MUCH WILL YOU HAVE TO SPEND?
The amount of money you will have to spend varies. Surface preparation, complexity of application, the size of concrete surface and the type of sealer will determine the final price. Usually, you will need to spend $2-$4 per square foot for one coat of stain, sealer and some surface preparation. With more complex projects, that include multiple colors, faux finishing, borders made with sandblasting or sawcutting will cost you a lot higher, around $15 per square foot.
These costs are not high, and if you want to compare them with costs of getting other flooring types like tile, carpet, marble or hardwood, you need to take into account the replacement costs and longevity of the flooring. Stained concrete lasts for decades, if it is properly maintained (and sealed, of course). There won't be any mold, gouging or tearing.
Let's go into details of how much you will have to spend for staining your concrete:
$2-4 per square foot for one color, minimal surface preparation and sealer coat.
$4-10 per square foot for multiple colors and sawcut patterning
$8-15 per square foot for multiple colors and complex sawed patterns.
$12-25 per square foot for hand applied stains and stencil work.
When compared to other flooring types:
$3.3-$6.5 per square foot for Carpet
$11-$22 per square foot for Ceramic tile
$2.6-$5.6 per square foot for Linoleum or vinyl
$8-$10 per square foot for Wood
$20-$60 per square foot for Natural stone
Since the age of the concrete, composition, texture and surface porosity come into play when staining, you won't get two concrete surfaces that look the same. Using these factors, you can get variegated and antiqued look, which is very distinctive. Because there is such variability in stained concrete, it is very popular and appealing when it comes to decorative concrete (more about decorative concrete here).
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
There is no straight answer here, because the type of stain determines the whole process. Today, there are two concrete stains categories - nonreactive and reactive.
Nonreactive category includes water based acrylic stains which don't use chemical reaction to add color to the concrete. They actually penetrate the surface of the concrete and "inject" the pigment in the pores. Since there are much more options when it comes to color, nonreactive stains are more popular than acid stains. Also, they are easier to apply. But, they are not able to produce translucent and unique color tones that acid stains produce. You actually get more uniform color effects when using nonreactive stains on your concrete surfaces.
When it comes to reactive stains, these are acidic solutions (water based) that have metallic salts in them. These metallic salts come into reaction with the lime content within concrete. When that chemicals reaction starts, the concrete and acidic stain form a bond so strong that makes it very hard for stains to peel away or chip off. And when it comes to adding color to the concrete surface, the metallic salts react with lime and form compounds that are now the part of the concrete. To be more precise, it's the acid that opens the way for metallic salts to get to the lime deposits within the concrete. Water from the stain is fueling this reaction.
The color will then be formed, while these factors will determine the final outcome:
- Admixture
- Cement property
- Concrete finishing
- Type of aggregate
- Weather conditions
- Concrete moisture and age
CAN ALL CONCRETE SURFACES BE STAINED?
Old or new and integrally colored or plain concrete surfaces can be stained with nonreactive and reactive stains. What needs to be taken in the account here is actually the condition of the surface itself. Considering the concrete is porous, it is a perfect candidate for staining. In case there is a coating, glue, grime or some sealant on the surface, the stains won't be able to be soaked in, which makes them unable to penetrate into the concrete and do what it is supposed to do. If you want to know is your concrete "elligible" for staining, there is a simple test you can use. Pour some water over your concrete and see will it stay on the surface. If the water can't penetrate the surface, stains won't be able to do that too. There's your answer to can all concrete surfaces be stained.
If you want to stain a new concrete, you should wait for at least 30 days for concret to cure. Don't use any curing compounds!
Old concrete can be stained, but bear in mind that the blemishes and cracks won't dissapear. Stains will enhance the surface, but they won't disguise the flaws themselves. This can work in your favor if you want to create rustic look!
I wouldn't recommend staining concrete that has large cracks and spalling because the patchwork wil be seen through the stain easily. What you should do here is create a new canvas for your stains - cover the surface with a cement based overlay!
HOW MUCH WILL YOU HAVE TO SPEND?
The amount of money you will have to spend varies. Surface preparation, complexity of application, the size of concrete surface and the type of sealer will determine the final price. Usually, you will need to spend $2-$4 per square foot for one coat of stain, sealer and some surface preparation. With more complex projects, that include multiple colors, faux finishing, borders made with sandblasting or sawcutting will cost you a lot higher, around $15 per square foot.
These costs are not high, and if you want to compare them with costs of getting other flooring types like tile, carpet, marble or hardwood, you need to take into account the replacement costs and longevity of the flooring. Stained concrete lasts for decades, if it is properly maintained (and sealed, of course). There won't be any mold, gouging or tearing.
Let's go into details of how much you will have to spend for staining your concrete:
$2-4 per square foot for one color, minimal surface preparation and sealer coat.
$4-10 per square foot for multiple colors and sawcut patterning
$8-15 per square foot for multiple colors and complex sawed patterns.
$12-25 per square foot for hand applied stains and stencil work.
When compared to other flooring types:
$3.3-$6.5 per square foot for Carpet
$11-$22 per square foot for Ceramic tile
$2.6-$5.6 per square foot for Linoleum or vinyl
$8-$10 per square foot for Wood
$20-$60 per square foot for Natural stone
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