Can I stain my concrete floor myself?
A stained concrete floor is a great and durable flooring option, and – good news! – staining one yourself is a surprisingly easy task (although you’ll want to avoid one major pitfall we fell into below).
Is it better to stain or paint concrete floors?
Concrete stain embeds the surface to color it translucently, while opaque concrete paint covers the top of the concrete but is subject to chipping and peeling when improperly applied. Concrete stains go on quicker, dry faster and take less work than concrete paint, but they offer no significant protection.
What colors can you stain concrete floors?
MOST POPULAR CONCRETE STAIN COLORS
- Grey concrete stain.
- Black concrete stain.
- White concrete stain.
- Blue concrete stain.
- Brown concrete stain.
- Red concrete stain.
- Terracotta concrete stain.
- Charcoal concrete stain.
How do you stain an indoor concrete floor?
How to stain interior concrete floors
- Prepare the surface. Before anything else, you want to make sure you’re working with a clean slate.
- Clean the surface for optimal results. Once the concrete is smooth and free of any previous coatings, vacuum or wash away dust.
- Mask the design.
- Apply the color.
- Seal the color.
Is it hard to stain concrete floors?
IS IT HARD TO STAIN CONCRETE? Overall, staining concrete can look like a simple process. However, it is important to keep in mind that while your stain is permanent, so are your mistakes.
Do you have to sand concrete floors before staining?
If the concrete floors are particularly smooth or have been polished, you should sand them before staining. The best concrete surface for staining is rough and porous to allow good color penetration. Smooth, glossy surfaces will prevent all types of stains, even acid stains, from properly sticking to the floor.
Does concrete stain last?
Although concrete stain is permanent and won’t flake off like paint, it penetrates only the top layer of the concrete surface and will eventually wear away as the surface is worn by traffic or weather exposure.
How do you prepare old concrete for staining?
- Apply Concrete Cleaner and Degreaser: The vast majority of concrete slabs only require minimum cleaning using an organic degreaser diluted at a medium concentration with water.
- Scrub Surface: Clean the surface with a soft nylon bristle brush or power wash on a low setting to prepare most floors for staining.
How long does concrete stain last?
With stained concrete, the concrete itself will last for many years, potentially over 100 years. However, in order for the stain to last, the floors will need to be sealed or waxed once or twice per year.
Is stained concrete cheaper than wood floors?
Yes, concrete floors are generally more affordable than hardwood floors. Generally, a concrete floor costs between $2 and $15 per square foot, while hardwood floors cost between $12 and $20 per square foot, according to Floor Critics.
Is stained concrete flooring a good option?
Concrete floors are a great alternative to linoleum, carpet, wood, tile, stone or marble flooring. Concrete can be stained nearly any color, resurfaced in a variety of textures and finishes, or polished for a smooth, shiny look. Plus, concrete flooring is durable, long-lasting and easy to clean and maintain.
How do you stain interior concrete floors?
Staining & Sealing Interior Decorative Concrete Floors Step 1: Allow the Concrete to Cure Step 2: Wash the Surface Step 3: Apply a Concrete Stain for Color Step 4: Wash the Surface (when using Smith’s color floor, omit step 4) Step 5: Allow the surface to dry Step 6: Apply Two Coats of Concrete Sealer Step 7: Wax the Surface (interior surfaces only)
Does paint seal a concrete floor?
Sealing a painted concrete floor is an important step because it adds an extra layer of protection on top of the painted surface. If the painted concrete floor is in an area that experiences heavy foot traffic or contains a lot of furniture, a concrete sealant is necessary to protect the paint from peeling, flaking, wearing off or getting scratched.
What is the process of concrete staining?
The four steps for staining concrete are: surface preparation, stain application (pictured), residue removal and sealer application. Staining concrete is a great way to add color to an otherwise dull surface. The concrete staining process takes about 2 days, is moderately difficult and fairly affordable.
Can You stain old concrete?
Your existing old concrete should be fine to stain, so long as it is not contaminated with glue, paint, oil, grease, sealers, waxes, or anything else that would prevent the stain from soaking into the pores of the concrete.