Often asked: How To Make Concrete Stain?

What can you use to stain concrete?

Use an acid-resistant airless paint sprayer to neatly and evenly apply the stain on the concrete slab. You may also use a paint roller or handheld brush for stain application in smaller areas and tight corners on the slab.

Is it hard to stain concrete?

IS IT HARD TO STAIN CONCRETE? Overall, staining concrete can look like a simple process. However, it is important to keep in mind that while your stain is permanent, so are your mistakes.

What is the cheapest way to stain concrete?

There are products on the market that will paint or resurface concrete but to go cheap, use the least expensive oil base stain or paint you can find. Mix the paint/stain with paint thinner in a 50-50 solution. That is one gallon of paint to one gallon of paint thinner.

Can you add stain to concrete?

Staining Concrete



Stains are popular because they can be used on both new and existing concrete. They produce subtle, earth-toned colors that appeal to many homeowners and blend well with natural surroundings.

Is it better to stain or paint concrete?

Concrete stain embeds the surface to color it translucently, while opaque concrete paint covers the top of the concrete but is subject to chipping and peeling when improperly applied. Concrete stains go on quicker, dry faster and take less work than concrete paint, but they offer no significant protection.

What is the best concrete stain?

6 Best Concrete Stains

1. Kemiko Stone Tone Concrete Stain. View Deal.
2. User & Eco-Friendly Semi-Transparent Professional Grade Cement Stain. View Deal.
3. Acid Stain DIY Kit with 100% Acrylic Solvent Sealer.
4. VIVID Acid Stain – 1 Gal – Walnut.
5. TuffCrete Waterborne Acrylic Concrete Stain Paint.
6. Rust-Oleum 247162 Concrete Stain Spray.

How long after staining concrete can you seal it?

Be sure and remove any residue left behind if using our acid stain, then apply sealer. Don’t seal too soon as there could be moisture in the floor and hazing can occur. A good rule of thumb is to wait 24 hours time after any water has been applied to the floor before sealing.

How long does concrete stain last?

With stained concrete, the concrete itself will last for many years, potentially over 100 years. However, in order for the stain to last, the floors will need to be sealed or waxed once or twice per year.

Can I apply concrete stain with a roller?

Use a roller with extension pole or a sprayer to apply concrete stain over the rest of the surface evenly. On exterior surfaces, you can apply a solvent-based, solid-color concrete sealer. These work similarly to stains by penetrating the concrete rather than coating it, making for a more durable finish than paint.

How do you stain concrete naturally?

Using natural products such as iron sulfate or copper sulfate to stain concrete is an easy, economical and environmentally friendly way to give old concrete a new look. Step 1: Use a mild detergent and a scrub brush to clean the concrete thoroughly. Every imperfection will show through the stain.

How do you color concrete cheaply?

For a really inexpensive way to add unexpected interest and color to concrete, press objects such as marbles, bits of colorful tile, colored fibers, tumbled beach glass, coins or bottle tops into wet concrete just as it is being poured.

How do you stain old concrete?

If you want to stain old concrete, using a true acid stain is always the best option. Avoid “acrylic stains” as these are disguised paint and will also peel with time. Concrete Acid Stains are the only true stains with permanent results.

Can you color concrete after its poured?

Another option for coloring concrete is to apply a color hardener to the top layer of concrete after it has been poured. While a color hardener can produce more vibrant colors than adding colorant to the mix, any dings or edges in the finished slab will show, since the color is only on the surface of the concrete.

What is the best way to color concrete?

6 ways to color concrete

1. Integral coloring. Colorant added to concrete during mixing produces uniform color throughout the slab.
2. Shake-on colors. Shake-on color consists of finely-ground pigments and dry cement that is “broadcast” onto freshly placed concrete.
3. Acid Stains.
4. Acetone dyes.
5. Water-based dyes.
6. Color hardener/densifiers.

How do you add pigment to concrete?

Add a latex paint or any water-soluble paint to a concrete mix. Use the paint like water in the same proportion when adding it to the concrete. Additionally, any type of powdered paint pigment can be mixed with water in a bucket and added to the concrete.