If you have concrete floors or are thinking about putting in concrete floors, and just hate the look of concrete, you might try staining.
Staining concrete is a popular way to make your concrete floor more appealing and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. This is a great option for those wishing to turn their basement into a finished part of the home, or for businesses with concrete floors.
Traditionally, concrete staining was done with an acid stain. But recent years have seen a rise in water-based stains. While both have their place in the market, there are a few added benefits to water-based stains.
Keep reading to discover why you should choose a water-based stain for your concrete floor.
Difference Between Water-Based and Acid Stains
Concrete acid stains have historically been the only name in the game for concrete staining. Acid stains work by chemically reacting with the chemicals on the surface of the concrete. These reactions result in different hues and changes to the color.
However, acid stains are limited to the choice of colors. Whereas water-based stains offer a wider array of color hues to choose from.
This is because a water based concrete stain does not rely on a chemical reaction to alter the hue of the concrete. Instead, water-based stains flow into the pores of the concrete and bond with it. Because there is no chemical reaction, and pigments are used to achieve color, water-based stains offer a variety of colors not available before.
However, unlike acid stains, water-based stains can be worn away over time without being sealed.
Easy to Apply
Not only is water-based concrete stain beneficial to the customer, but it also has benefits to the installer as well. One of the biggest benefits is the lack of cleanup and the need to neutralize after 24 hours. Those steps are only required for acid stains.
Additionally, contractors who don’t feel comfortable explaining to clients that there is no way of telling exactly how an acid stain will turn out, won’t have that problem with water-based stains.
Because acid stains involve a chemical reaction and no two slabs of concrete are the same, there is no way of telling how the stain will turn out. This can be troublesome to clients who fail to understand that or to the contractor who has to explain it.
Water-based concrete allows for more control over how the final look will come out. And without the need for neutralizing after 24 hours, the contractor can seal the floor the next day.
Aesthetically Pleasing
When it comes to staining concrete, the goal is to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. You want people to like what they see, and more importantly, you want to like what you see. After all, it is your home office or business. You’re there more than anyone else.
Because there is little to no control over how an acid stain concrete floor will turn out, many clients are opting for water-based stains. This is because clients are able to do things like stain designs into the floor and use vibrant bright colors to appeal to their customers.
Acid stains are often a dull color and don’t provide the ability to stain designs onto the floor. This is because water-based stains act very similar to water paints.
With water-based stains, you can actually mix the colors together in the same way as water paints. This can be done if you want to change the color entirely by mixing colors or the hue of color by diluting it.
Water-Based Stains for Concrete
When it comes to staining concrete, being left to the mercy of the acid stain is a thing of the past. With the advent of the water-based stain, consumers are more able to create designs and use colors like never before.
Where acid stains rely on a chemical reaction, water-based stains instead flow into the pores of the concrete and bond with it. This is how so many different colors can be achieved. No chemical reaction, more colors.
If you’re thinking about staining your concrete floor, water-based stains will offer the widest variety of colors and designs, as well as provide a far more appealing place to walk.
