Concrete is the most widely used man-made material on earth. It is a
composite material that consists of a combination of an aggregate and a cement
binder. The most common type of concrete is a mixture of Portland cement,
mineral aggregates and water.
Acid staining is a process that creates a decorative mottled, marbled look in
the concrete. Depending on the acid agent, a variety of beautiful colors can be
created. Acid staining is permanent and will not fade or chip.
Acid staining is not paint and does not superficially color your concrete. The
stain is created by a chemical reaction on cement material. A combination of
water, acid and inorganic salts and metallic ions react with the minerals in the
concrete, which in turn creates the beautiful colors. The older the cement, the
better and more beautiful the stain! There are different brands and styles of
stains available such as ChemTone, a stain that does not contain hydrochloric
acid and is very safe for transporting and handling.
Acid staining is perfect for decorative accents on sidewalks, entryways, patios,
driveways, living rooms and bathrooms. Acid staining concrete is not a difficult
process, but it does take time to prepare and cure.
Assess your surface; a smooth concrete surface works best for acid staining.
However, small scratches and flaws on the concrete surface can add to the charm
of the finished product. If you are going to acid stain new concrete, the
concrete should cure for about three weeks, then rinsed and scrubbed.
Old concrete will work wonderfully acid stained if it’s thoroughly free of dust,
dirt and grease. Dirty concrete, on the other hand, will prevent the acid from
penetrating. You may want to test a small corner of your concrete slab before
applying the acid stain widely.
You need only non-metallic paintbrushes to apply the acid stain and a gallon of
it will cover about 400 square feet of cement. The stains themselves are clear
and easy to use. When the acid stained concrete is dry, a sealant is recommended
to enhance the color and shield the concrete.
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