How much concrete stain do i need

These processes can also cause the concrete to drink up more stain and sealer, so be sure and get a bit extra product. Also, it is important to note that the same machine can be used to achieve the stunning polished concrete look that many people liken to marble. If you are trying to achieve different looks with your concrete such as borders or patterns, something as simple as design tape, can help you create an interesting and professional looking design.

Additionally concrete scoring can be done with simple supplies like a skill saw and chalk and looks extremely realistic. If you're interested in these more advanced decorative techniques, be sure to check out our audio guides: Advanced Concrete Staining Technique Guides.

Concrete floor staining is an inexpensive and rewarding process. You can achieve beautiful and unique stains using techniques that require little expertise, without breaking the bank. Also, the industrial look is becoming very trendy in modern design and design elements such as exposed beams and concrete floors are very commonly used in this type of decor.

The recent decade of design trends point towards one thing: Minimalism and it is here to stay for some time. If your home is built or redone around the minimalist industrial elements of an exposed concrete floor it could lend to the long term value for future home sales.

Now that you know how much it costs to stain concrete floors, be sure to check out our comprehensive Concrete Staining Guides before starting your next project. Login Search Cart. Toggle navigation Cart. If the water soaks in, then you are good to start prepping for staining. If water beads up or sits on top of the concrete, you will need to strip the sealer from the concrete before you can start staining.

For the other contaminants listed above, just take a look at the concrete itself. Even if you do not have any contaminants on the concrete, you will need to clean the concrete well before staining.

However, different contaminants on the concrete require different tools and methods to deal with, so we have outlined what to do.

You'll need to remove the sealer before staining. To remove concrete sealer pour on Xylene also known as Xylol or Touline onto the concrete and let sit for 30 seconds or so, then scrub with a stiff straw brush. Then use a painter's shield to scrape the sealer into a pile and remove with a square point shovel. Then pour a little more Xylene on and repeat.

If you're staining old concrete outside, such as staining an old concrete patio, you can power wash the sealer off of the edge of the concrete. If the concrete floor has wax, you will need a floor wax remover.

You want to apply the floor wax remover to the old concrete, let it sit for a while, and scrub with a soft bristle brush. Mop up the area as you go until the floor wax is completely removed. Note: if you need to remove both wax and sealer, then there's no need to strip the wax and then the sealer, as the Xylene will melt and remove both at the same time. You'll need to remove these with a paint stripper, mastic remover or heavy duty glue remover.

With paints and glues you will still likely need to lightly sand the concrete. Which you can do with a rented floor sander or floor buffing machine with the sanding pads.

If you have grease or oil on the floor, you will need to use a degreaser or stain prep for concrete floors. Since the concrete is old and you may not know for sure if any type of oils, grease and thin petroleum products have ever been spilled on the concrete, we suggest degreasing the concrete regardless.

We suggest using our Concrete Stain Prep because it's not only a degreaser but also a natural solvent that helps to deep clean and lift oily petroleum contaminants up and out of the concrete pores. True Value Rewards is available at participating stores.

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How to Stain Concrete. Author: True Value. Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Surface Remove any furniture or other items. Safety Alert! Step 2: Etch with Acid Concrete surfaces should be acid etched before staining. Safety Alerts! Step 3: Apply Stain Apply a water-based concrete stain in the color of your choice on interior or exterior surfaces. Helpful Tip Do not apply the water-based stain or solvent-based sealer if rain is expected within 12 to 24 hours.

Step 4: Seal the Concrete Optional Consider using a quality waterproof concrete or masonry sealer to protect the stained finish indoors. Step 5: Clean Up Dispose of used stain or sealant cans appropriately. Related Posts. We use your Zip Code to connect you to your closest store.

Last Name. No Thanks Enter. Please select your preferred store Optional. Tell us a little about yourself Optional. True Value Rewards Number. Skip this Step Enter. Are concrete floors a good idea? The good things! Concrete flooring is very durable and very resilient so this makes it difficult to damage. With concrete flooring you don't have to worry about things like high heels, pet claws or furniture legs damaging its surface because it's just nearly impossible.

Concrete flooring requires minimum maintenance. Which is better epoxy or stained concrete? Alternatively, you can choose an acrylic version which adheres to the concrete but penetrates deeper than normal paint.

You can see the focus with epoxy is on protection while staining is more about aesthetic features. Is colored concrete worth it? Colored concrete is a relatively inexpensive way to add resale value to a property. Used for both interior and exterior features, decorative concrete applications require less maintenance and are less labor-intensive than other surface finishes.

They also require less long-term and short-term maintenance. How long does it take to stain concrete? Staining concrete is a great way to add color to an otherwise dull surface.