DIY Concrete Stain

 
                         Before                                                                     After

Using a gel acid for etching concrete on a concrete garage floor is an effective surface prep solution. For years contractors and do it yourselfers have been using liquid acid solutions to profile a floor before applying coatings.

The problem with liquid acids is that they are not only dangerous but are ineffective because they over etch the low spots in a floor and under etch the high spots.

A gel acid is rolled on the floor with a 3/8" - 1/2" nap roller and the gel stays where it is applied, it does not flow to low spots.

Gel acids are also excellent for removing rust stains from concrete like in the photo above at the Harborview Marina and Yacht Club in Baltimore Maryland.

Your can find complete information about the gelled acids and their uses by visiting www.etchingconcrete.com

Unless your concrete garage floor is properly resurfaced by a professional you run the risk of delamination and chipping. This project in Belle Mead New Jersey was done right.

Completed by artisan Fernanado Franco of Garage and Beyond, the surface was prepped and a topical mositure barrier was applied before the decorative coats.

The top coats are a high solids epoxy system. The #1 causing problem with coatings and a constant headache to inexperienced contractors and Do It Yourselfers is moisture vapor.

According to Fernando, he will apply an epoxy waterproofer that will withstand up to 20 lbs of moisture pressure (per 1,000) square feet. Most flooring companies don't warranty their product on concrete surfaces with more than 3 lbs. of moisture pressure.

Fernanado specializes in high performance decorative concrete garage floor coatings in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. He can be reached at 866-568-5611 or his website www.garageandbeyond.com

The story here - a builder in Westport Connectcut did a DIY Concrete Stain project in a basement of a new home. House was built, everything finished except the basement floor.

Problem was the builder was owed $50,000.00 as the final payment. Howver, the basement floor had drywall paste on the floor. When the floor was poured, color was mixed into the concrete. The plan was to seal the floor when complete. The owner would not release the final payment until the floor was fixed.

The solution was to use a thin skim coat, really thin, then color the floor. The builder had never seen decorative concrete and certainly never applied it. However it wasn't in the budget to hire someone to do the floor.

So I guess this qualifies as a DIY concrete stain project. Worked out great as you can see and the owner released the final payment. Skim coat, color and sealer cost the builder about $900.00.

Products are available at Duraamen in New Brunswick New Jersey. Contact Victor Pachade at 707-228-9278