Greater Variety With a Concrete Stain
If you want to retain a beautiful looking concrete floor without the hassle of taking care of it, then a concrete stain, followed by a sealer, may be your best answer. These are simple enough to apply, going on after the concrete has been poured and given enough time to set.
At this point a lot people choose to have the concrete treated to make it look like stone, tile, or wood. This is done by scoring, and then a stain being applied to the concrete. Where the concrete was scored the stain tends to gather, making for a deeper color-this can be a beautiful effect if it is desired. However a more even look will be achieved for your stain by leaving the concrete intact, also avoiding the build up over time of dirt in the score lines.
Different types of stain are available, each with their own advantages, and they may be either permanent or temporary. Permanence is achieved with an acid stain which seeps deep into the concrete, staining it deep down. For a more temporary effect a color base may be chosen, which simply sits on top of the concrete so that it can be removed and changed when you choose.
You can also choose from a plain, flat color or a more varied effect. Wood or stone effects can be achieved with a stain alone, though this may require a little practice to get right, but if you have the time and the patience it is well worth it. As with any concrete, the best results are achieved by finishing with a clear coat…using a sealer that will protect the concrete. This certainly provides better protection in most circumstances compared to concrete paint alone.
Your floor does not have to be stained as soon as it is set, however the condition it is in is very important. Just like with a scored floor, if the surface is damaged in any way the color may gather in those areas, giving an uneven finish. Worse still are floors where the aggregate has started to show, or those that have previously been acid treated. So although your floor does not have to be new, older floors are less likely to give great results.
A textured concrete however that has been stamped or otherwise deliberately textured can give beautiful results, so long as the surface is intact. It will take the stain well, and the final result will show a lovely variety in depth of color.
