Acid straining can make ordinary concrete floor appear like expensive natural stone floor. Not only is it much cheaper but it is also wonderful for people who are allergic to carpeting materials. One more use is in homes with radiant floor heating. Radiant heating is most efficient when insulating floor coverings like tile or carpet are minimized.

It can be difficult to get the look you want when staining a concrete floor, even though the process is not complicated. You may want to consider hiring a professional contractor, since this is a project that has some risks if you do it yourself.

Concrete stain is not a paint or a finish coat, it is actually a chemical reaction with the cement. Usually a water-based solution of hydrochloric acid and inorganic salts, the stain will react with the minerals and lime in the concrete aggregate, and the staining reaction results. This will work on old or new concrete, and is quite durable if you complete it with finisher or wax, since it will not flake or chip. This can also be used for interior or exterior floors. It is possible for walkways, bathrooms, entrances, driveways, patios, and living rooms.

Upon completion of the work, stained concrete resembles marble, although it is more speckled and less even all over. It will have mainly brownish hues, with a hint of reds and greens. You can even create your own personal stain by blending or by putting it on unevenly. When staining cement flooring, however, do not anticipate a completely even color, and plan your decoration and coordinating colors with that in mind. Since various portions of the concrete will react differently, even someone with a great deal of expertise in this area would have difficulty predicting the precise outcome.

Depending on the condition of your slab flooring will determine the preparation of your acid staining. Concrete which in recently poured will only need a certain amount of time for curing: Wait three weeks after you have poured and then rinse and scrub. It is a different story for older concrete floors. Older concrete needs to be thoroughly cleaned due to any dirt, grease, paint, sealers or possibly even curing agents which would stop the stain from getting into and reacting the way it is suppose to. In order to make sure it is ready you should always do a little test area.

Newer poured concrete will require less stain than older floors, but typically, a gallon of water added to one gallon of stain will cover about 400 square feet. Apply the stain with a non-metallic brush or broom, working in the morning or evening hours when it is cooler, rather than in the heat of the day. Be careful to protect yourself from spillage, drips and fumes from the acid stain, and follow all of the manufacturer's precautions. After application, you will need to cleanup by sweeping away any leftover stain and residue with a broom. When the floor is thoroughly dry, it is best to apply a sealer agent and then wax it.

If you are in the market for natural stone flooring, want a fresh look for your patio area or basement, or just searching for some new design ideas, stained concrete floors may be just want you are looking for.

Acid Concrete Floor Stain looks like an expensive natural stone floor. A great use for stained concrete floors is in homes with Radiant Floor Heating.