Common Problems with Acid Stained Concrete Floors
Staining a concrete floor combines elements of science, engineering, and art to produce results that are often unpredictable. The color variations are one of the reasons why so many people choose acid stained concrete floors for their homes and businesses. Unfortunately, problems can arise.
Preparing a Concrete Floor for Acid Staining
Before a concrete floor is stained, the contractor can sample the floor to see its true color and to identify any natural character marks that can affect the final result. Other factors, such as paint, chalk lines, oil, sealer, curing compounds, patching materials, tape residue, burnished finish, and inconsistent cure can also affect the performance of stain. Most of these can be detected by applying water to the surface of the floor. If it beads, the stain probably will too. Water can also make hidden surface issues apparent so the surface can be prepared before it is stained.
Issues with the surface of the concrete can be addressed with a variety of products, including concrete degreasers, cleaners, strippers, surface sanding, and micro-topping overlays. An inconspicuous area should be tested before the rest of the floor is treated. If a character mark is noted later, a tinted sealer can be used to hide it.
Applying the Stain
The problems that are most commonly noted with acid staining are related to application. If too much or not enough stain is applied, the results can be unattractive. This can be corrected by using the correct amount of stain. Using heavy coats of stain does not always help color develop better. This can make it harder for the stain to penetrate the concrete and react.
The problem of applying too much stain can be amplified if the concrete is dense and tightly finished. This can cause most or all of the color to come off during the neutralizing and cleaning process. The solution is to prepare the surface properly and apply the right amount of stain.
Stain should not be applied with a mop, roller, or squeegee because they can leave roller marks or rows of color. These issues can be remedied through dry sanding, acid washing, or applying more stain.
Maintenance for an Acid Stained Concrete Floor
Problems can also arise after application because of sealer failure or improper sealer maintenance. The most common cause of sealer failure is too much stain residue on the floor. The residue is very acidic. It can chemically alter the sealer film and clog the pores of the concrete, which breaks bonds. This is why it is important to neutralize and remove stain residue from the concrete floor. The problem can be corrected by stripping the sealer, neutralizing and cleaning the floor, possibly restaining, and then resealing the floor.
Another common problem is lack of maintenance. Often people do not properly maintain their stained concrete floors and believe a traffic pattern is failure of the stain.
At Elite Concrete Systems, we have acid stained concrete floors for many of our customers. We have encountered these common problems and know how to address them to create a beautiful concrete floor. If you are interested in acid staining for your concrete floor, contact us today for an estimate.