Tips For Staining Concrete

Staining concrete is an affordable and easy way to remodel your indoor or outdoor space. The results are fantastic!

Just a few years ago, this technique wasn’t that well-known. Today, it’s the new trend.

​It is popular because you can see rapidly turn something dingy and drab into something amazing.

Moreover, it's a fast DIY job. Are you interested in getting started? Here are tips for staining concrete.

Pick a color
A few concrete stains are opaque, just like paint. Others are semi-transparent to let the concrete's color distinctions come through. Search online for ideas or ask a professional house painter for ideas and to get some vision for your job.

For best results, patch and repair crevices and cracks. Be sure that patching compounds won’t show through the coating. New concrete must first cure for a month.

Clean the surface
Surfaces must be dry and clean (no dirt, grease, sealers, or dust). All old and new concrete must be sand/water blasted, deep cleaned, or etched first. Any residual liquid must be removed and the concrete completely dry before sealing.

If you plan on doing any design elements that need taping, now's the time to apply it. Gently stir the stain before use. If in doubt about the correctness of the product, test an inconspicuous area for adhesion.

Apply the stain with a high-quality synthetic brush, or roll using a shed-resistant roller cover, or apply using an airless spray.

With edges and corners, apply with a brush, then apply evenly with a roller over the remainder of the surface, applying in one direction. Don’t overwork the stain.

Keep edges wet for no lap marks
Two coats are all that’s needed to get maximum protection and performance. 4 to 6 hours is all that’s necessary for the first coat to dry.

Don’t use in temps under 50°F or if it is going to rain. Also, don't apply the stain in direct sunlight. The stain will dry too fast.

Dry to touch: 25 minutes. Light foot traffic: 60 minutes. Heavy traffic: 3 days.
If this job seems like too much of a hassle, contact a Rochester painter to do the project.

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