What is reactive concrete stain?
A reactive concrete stain contains metallic salts, and these react with the lime content in concrete. As it reacts with existing minerals in the concrete, it provides you with the look and feel of natural stone. It forms a permanent bond with the concrete and does not peel or chip.
What kind of acid do you use to stain concrete?
Learning how to acid stain concrete isn’t difficult. Perform each step carefully before going on to the next step. Concrete should be fully cured before applying acid stain, so if your surface is new, wait 28 days before staining.
Can you acid stain outdoor concrete?
Depending on the look you want to achieve for your stained concrete patio, you can choose from acid-based chemical stains or water-based stains. Acid stains work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the concrete. The acid in the stain lightly etches the surface, allowing it to penetrate more easily.
Is basic stain better than acidic stain?
Basic dyes are more successful in staining bacteria than acid dyes because basic dyes have positive charges and the bacterial cell walls are negative, so they attract. Acid dyes are negatively charged, so the negative cell walls are not attracted to it. If you over or under stain you won’t be able to see bacteria.
What will permanently stain concrete?
There are two types of concrete stain to choose from: acid-based and water-based. Acid-based formulas for are long-lasting and resistant to fading. They react chemically with the concrete to create a permanent chemical bond. This means it will not peel or chip and help produce a natural-looking finish.
Is it hard to stain concrete yourself?
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).
How much does a gallon of concrete acid stain cover?
Coverage – should cover approximately 400 square ft. per gallon for slick finished concrete and 280 Square foot for rough or broom finished concrete.