What is acid staining?

Acid Staining is a process where acid penetrates the surface of the concrete and reacts with the calcium hydroxide to change the colour properties of the concrete. Most acid stains are a mixture of hydrochloric acid, water and metallic salts. 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. What you are left with is beautiful natural rich colour tones and textures creating a unique and beautiful decorative floor.

Acid staining can be applied to old or new concrete and it's applications are only limited by your imagination. Whether you desire a marble type finish over a large area or a patterned and multi-coloured design, acid staining is a popular alternative to tiles.

Once the desired design is achieved a clear coating is applied to seal the floor and provide a gloss finish.

Acid-based stains are translucent and the colour they produce will vary depending on the colour and condition of the substrate they are applied to. Each concrete slab will accept the stain in varying degrees of intensity, creating natural colour variations that bring character and distinction to each project.

Water based Dyes

Water based dyes work basically the same but will give you a more even and controlled coverage without the messy clean-up.

It is advised to do some sample staining if possible as no 2 pieces of concrete react the same way.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Reapplication of the film coating over an acid stained floor is required periodically to maintain the gloss finish and repair wear on the surface. This reapplication needs to be applied to the entire floor surface at one time to ensure continuity of the finish. Depending on the level of traffic the floor is exposed to and coating used the lifespan of a film coating is two to five years. It is also important to note that when reapplication of the coating is applied the entire area is required to be traffic free for a period of seven days while the surface cures.

Cleaning is simple and is as follows:
  • Spills should be cleaned from the surface when they occur
  • Areas where heavy soiling has occurred will require localised cleaning prior to cleaning the entire floor surface
  • If detergent is desired to clean the floor surface a PH Neutral solution should be used and applied with a mop and bucket of water