BobVila.com home page

Color Staining a Concrete Floor

Tom Moorad joins Bob to show how his proprietary technique and product for color staining concrete is applied. He explains that the concrete slab should first be etched then treated with a mineral acid -- not muriatic acid, as that is too strong and will degrade the acrylic stain that goes on the surface. This is called "shocking the substrate". Moorad then applies the stain with a hand pump, making drip patterns over a small area and using a squeegee or skimmer to move the material across the surface. The key is to avoid pooling or puddles and to be sure that it sinks into the surface. The stain dries very quickly and will be covered with two other colors to complement the dark metallic look of the Porcelanosa tile inside. Moorad applies a final clear coat sealant once the colors have been set. Homeowners Jim Minardi and Teresa Fogelini tell Bob about the other selections they have made for floors, including a light oyster color for the pool deck, which will reflect light and stay cooler. The bedroom adjacent to the lanai area will have Bellawood hardwood Brazilian walnut. More information