Acid Staining Concrete

Acid Stained Concrete – a mixture of water, hydrochloric acid, and metallic salts. They work by penetrating the surface and reacting chemically with the available lime content at the surface of the concrete. The acid in the stain lightly etches the surface, allowing the metallic salts to penetrate more easily. Once the stain reacts, it becomes a permanent part of the concrete and won't fade, chip off, or peel away. Acid stains are translucent and the color they produce will vary depending on the color and condition of the concrete they are applied to. Concrete will accept the stain in varying degrees of intensity, creating natural color variations that bring character to each project.

Acid staining concrete is not rocket science, but an art. Artisans use this simple solution to transform typical concrete surfaces into elegant alternatives to common tile and hardwood floors as well as other not so common concrete elements like the concrete bowl pictured below.

Concrete Bowl Acid Stained

concrete bowl made by Anthony Sloan

Everyone is familiar with the durability of concrete surfaces as they are used world wide in every place that you look. Concrete is the most common building material that humans have ever developed. Since concrete is so common the cost of using it for flooring is considerably low compared to other materials. Concrete does not rot or decay in the fashion of other materials and cannot be consumed by termites or other pests. Having realized these excellent qualities of concrete, doesn't it make since to use it to its full potential? Many people are catching on to the benefits that concrete flooring has to offer.

In recent years we have seen an explosion of acid stained floors all over the country. It is becoming quite common in urban areas where it is being used in high-end homes, offices, shopping malls, etc... It seems that we Americans simply love art in a vast array of forms. Acid stained concrete floors are an excellent canvas for the creation of artwork. The inherent nature of concrete lends itself quite well to the soft colors provided by acid staining. You will never see two floors that look exactly the same. Most other flooring options will always have some type of pattern where acid stained floors can be decorated in most any way that the artist can imagine. Acid stained floors can be designed to compliment any type of architecture.

Rendering provided by SCS for acid stained floors in a commercial setting

Acid stained interior floors are as functional and durable as they are beautiful. Maintenance usually involves dust mopping and an occasional damp mopping. Unlike hardwood floors, accidental marring can be fixed opposed to a deep gouge by furniture on a wood floor. Acid stained interior floors most times have the increased protection of a sealer. While the concrete itself does not need protection, the sealer will protect your floors from most common spills. Sealers will also lend depth to the overall floor design and enrich the color tone.

elegance by design

Stenciling lends elegant design opportunities to acid stained concrete flooring. Elements such as boarders and motifs can be incorporated into your floor with delightful results. Acid Stained interior floors are usually priced by the overall design. One of the most common designs is to score lines into the concrete at a depth of only an 1/8" to create tile patterns. We prefer to color our scorings with black or gold to make the design pop.

example of 4'x4' tile design in kitchen area

Acid Stained Sidewalk

We are Artisans in concrete with over 30 years experience in concrete construction. Our unique in site into architectural design can bring warmth and personality to your investment. Call us today for an appointment and welcome to the wonderful world of concrete!

call 615-426-2677 for more information about acid stained concrete solutions

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