How To Acid Stain Concrete

  

Concrete Solutions based in San Diego holds 6 classes throughout the year teaching how to stain concrete floors. Classes are held at their facility in Las Vegas.

Each class is two days teaching floor prep for acid staining, protecting walls from damage during the process, tools, techniques, graphics and sealing.

Concrete Solutions is one of the largest decorative concrete manufacturers and distributors in the country with an impressive network of applicators worldwide.

Visit www.concretesolutions.com to register or contact Gerry Sadler at 619-987-4721

 

When learning how to acid stain concrete adding customized graphics to enhance your result is worth considering.

Graphics, or Flattoos, is a process that Surface Gel Tek of Mesa Arizona developed using their gelled acids.

The process is to stain your floor then apply a Flattoo (graphic) to your surface. The Flattoos can be custom designed or chose a predesigned image in their extensive catalog. Flattoos can be any size. Large graphics are assemled on your floor like putting together puzzle pieces. Flattoos have an adhesive that sticks to concrete and flows smoothly with the contour of an imperfect surface.

One the Flattoo has been applied gelled acids are applied pulling the acid stain out of the floor. If the gelled acids are left on for a short time and removed you will have an antiqued finish. If you leave on for 10-15 minutes the acid stain completely lifts off the floor. Then you can apply colored dyes or stains to creatye your image.

The Flattoo process adds a unique result to your floor and it is easy and fast depending on the size and complexity.

Contact Tamryn Doolan at 480-970-4580 or Visit www.surfacegeltek.com

 
                         Before/After

I have written a few updates about how to remove rust stains from concrete, the solution of which has been elusive to mot people, including professionals.

Surface Gel Tek, owned by Tamryn Doolan in Mesa Arizona invented the solution with their gelled technology over 10 years ago. I have used their product HD24 which is 24% acid and their heaviest with excellent results.

Simply, HD24 is rolled on concrete with rust stains, mold or algae and is left to sit for 15 minutes. It fizzes when first rolled on, you can see it working. The acids pull the rust or mold out of the concrete and is contained in the gels. It can easily be washed away or vacuumed in a shop/vac.

The gelled acids also pull acid stain out of concrete. This is part of the Surface Gel Tek artistic "Flattoo" system. Graphics are applied on concrete over a stained floor. The gelled acids are painted on and wiped off after a few minutes. The gelled acids pull the stain out of the floor contained in the gel.

The before/after photo here is at a marina in baltimore who had tried every solution possible. Gelled acids were the only solution that worked. They are ASTM certified and water soluable. For information contact Tamryn at 480-970-4580 or visit www.surfacegeltek.com

In this stained concrete flooring project Denis Wryn of C4 Coatings in Portland Oregon added a nice touch. The home owners, Wisconsin natives, went for their alma mater logo in their floor.

Denis had a custom Flattoo made for the floor by Surface Gel Tek who specializes in custom graphics for concrete surfaces.

The floor was first grinded smooth then colored with concrete acid stains and sealed with an acrylic sealer. Click the link here to view more projects completed by C4 Coatings or contact Denis Wryn at 503-719-7073

This is a acid stained concrete floor in a basement of a residential home in Portland Oregon.

As is typical of C4 Coatings projects, the floor was first grinded to a smooth surface, eliminatiing all impurities in surface. Denis Wryn, owner of C4 Coatings uses a Sase concrete grinding and polishing machine for the main part of the floor and hand held grinders around columns.

The floor color is Padre brown. Denis Wryn of C4 Coatings specializes in Decorative concrete and can be reached at 503-719-7073

   
Here's a good video that teaches How To Acid Stain Concrete by Gaye Goodman. Gaye has been a leader in decorative concrete for years and influential to the growth of the industry.

What I like about Gaye's videos is that it shows how she takes her time to get the floor in good shape before she starts the process. The photos here show the potential when using graphics called "Flattoos" created by Surface Gel Tek of Mesa Arizona.

The process is fairly simple provided you have limited amount of imperfections in your floor and you follow the steps. Don't expect a perfect floor. Your finish will have quite a bit of variation which is due to the nature of concrete. Every floor will be different no matter how good you are.

I like using Flattoos, even if they are small and subtle. They make the floor more interesting and make imperfections look natural.  Surface Gel Tek gives classes in Arozna teaching how to acid stain concrete and use Flattos. They can be reached at 480-970-4580