Acid Stained Concrete
A quality concrete product offered by Artistique Concrete
Acid Stained Concrete and floors are growing in popularity. Many people are looking to acid stained concrete as an alternative to carpet, tile and wood. In
addition to the marbled beauty of the surface, acid stained concrete floors are low maintenance and don't retain dust which may affect some people's allergies.
Acid stain is not a paint or coating agent, rather, it's a colouring process involving a chemical reaction on a cementitious material.
A solution made with water, acid and inorganic salts reacts with minerals already present in the concrete, the result of this reaction is colour.
It works very well on new or old concrete, and we've seen impressive results over decorative polymer overlays as well as self-levelling products.
Acid Stained Concrete is a very durable product if properly protected with sealer or wax, and it can be applied to both interiors and exteriors.
What makes Acid Stained Concrete so attractive?
Acid stain gives concrete a mottled variegated, marble look. It creates beautiful colours on concrete, mostly earth tone browns, reddish
browns, and greens.
We can also create other shades by mixing and matching other available colours in the Artistique colour range.
Never expect acid stain to be uniform or have an even tone , you'll get different reactions from slab to slab, and even on the same job you may
see different colouration patterns.
Acid stain can be applied to most types of concrete flooring including vertical cementitious surfaces.
Acid Stained Concrete is available in many colours.
A great advantage of a acid stained concrete finish is that you can
also make your own colour by mixing and matching available colours. One thing that
you should keep in mind that you can never expect an acid stain to stay 100% uniform in colour.
If you want a way to add colour to your existing or new concrete surface look into acid staining. An acid stain can give
your concrete surface a life of its own. Unlike paint, it enters the exterior and a chemical reaction occurs to change the colour.
Therefore, the colour usually won't chip or peel.
Acid Stained Concrete Care Tips
Cleaning your acid stained concrete surface should be part of a regular home maintenance program.
Keeping your acid stain finish looking new will add to both the enjoyment and beauty of your home.
Following these simple cleaning tips, will help to maintain your new acid stained concrete surfaces and keep
them looking good all year round:
- Keep your surfaces clean, including sweeping off leaves as they may stain.
- Wash or hose surfaces regularly to remove loose dirt.
- Clean with detergent - DO NOT use any solvent based, or chlorine based cleaners on the surface.
- Remove oil type stains immediately using a mild degreaser. Wash or hose afterwards.
Acid Stained Concrete FAQs
1. Is acid stained concrete slip resistant?
There are a large variety of techniques used to create a slip resistant surface. Please discuss these with your contractor.
2. Will the colour fade?
The pigments used are inorganic metal oxides, which are extremely UV and chemical resistant. A maximum of 5% shading variation may
occur over a period of 5 years, but this is barely detectable to the human eye. We recommend that a quality UV protect sealer be applied.
3. What are the advantages of acid stained concrete versus bricks, stones, or tiles?
Acid stain concrete can be reinforced to serve any structural need or purpose. Acid stain concrete is a more versatile option that offers
multiple colours, patterns and textures to compliment the existing structure. It is a lower cost, lower maintenance product and as concrete
is the base, weeds will not appear and undulation will not occur.
4. How often do I need to reseal?
Re-sealing is usually recommended 12 months after the initial application of sealer on top of the acid stained concrete texture finish.
