Replies

1. 
   buck_b | Jan 06, 2000 05:38am | #1

   *
   Bob, this same question came up a couple months ago so I am taking the liberty of reproducing my answer from then! Hope this helps:

   I am a DIYer, so if you get more posts from the pros, then please take my advice with a grain of salt. However, I just did some large acid staining projects this summer and did my damnedest to pump the guys at White Cap (contractor supply, in case they're not in your area) for the spec sheets and any personal experience they had before I started. I have to say that although the concrete did turn out well in the final run, the various slabs were a pain in the ass and are not, repeat not, as durable as the manufacturer would have you believe. Some particulars: Stains were Lithochrome by Scofield. Surfaces that I stained varied in age (the oldest being slabs from 1922, youngest 6 months), type of exposure (both interior & exterior), and amount of "surface garbage" (pristine to latex spatters).

   Every single slab took the stain in its own way. Best: the old pristine interior concrete (to my surprise) from 1922. It took the stain in small increments (requiring multiple coats) but when done, was the most beautiful, resembling slate. Worst: the new exterior concrete with latex spatters. It sucked in the stain like an alcoholic in a gin factory, and showed every brush stroke/swirl in glaring detail. the latex spatters did not take the stain at all and stood out like a sore thumb. Even the latex spatters I had burnished out with a wire brush "ghosted" through becuase the concrete had a chemical "memory" of where they'd been. I had to sweat & swear & use multiple iterations of acid cleaner and stain to get a decent result.

   As for durability, I have coated these slabs with 3 coats of exterior-grade sealant. While I have a feeling they will hold up to foot traffic, imagine my surprise when I put down a strip of blue painter's tape to mask a section of baseboard that needed retouching, only to find the tape LIFT OFF granules of stained concrete showing the lighter unstained stuff underneath. This with only a light touch to keep the tape in place.

   I admit I have seen photos of beautiful installations, and as I say, mine looks very well right now, but if I had the money to do it over again I would seriously consider tile. Hope you get some other feedback to balance mine.

   Hope this helps -- good luck with your project! Buck

2. 
   Bob_Karrow | Jan 06, 2000 05:38am | #2

   *
   I want to add color to an existing, bare concrete basement floor. Has anyone out there had experience with acid concrete stains? I'd be interested in hearing your story and any recommendations you miught have.