After the acid colors your cement you may for some reason want to add more color. This can be done by mixing standard waterbased stain with either alcohol or a waterbased sealer and some water. This is an extra step that you can take only if you wish to. Otherwise you will proceed to the next article. This process is especially useful when refinishing old acid stained floors that need a color boost or have worn areas where the original cement color is returning. We will cover refinishing old floors in a future article.
The first thing you will need to do is obtain a waterbased stain or pigment either from a hardware store or online. I have used several waterbased pigments and stains and all have worked fine. You will mix this stain with either alcohol or some water and waterbased sealer.
If you use alcohol you will need to be careful about walking on the floors too much until you have sealed in the color. If you use a sealer and water you can walk on the floors as soon as they are dry. Alcohol acts as a carrier in an attempt to carry the stain as deep into the cement as possible. If you use this method it is possible to get the stain back out by mopping. The sealer, water, stain method locks the stain in as soon as it dries. I normally use the sealer method and just put on a little at a time until I have the desired look and color.
To apply the extra color I first mix the color in a bucket. Then I take a clean mop and dip it into the stain and let it drip a little. I then take the mop and spin it a little over the floor and let it hit the floor while spinning. I then lift it off the floor and then repeat the process over and over again in the areas that I want more color. The mop spinning is simply a way to get random coverage versus mop marks. You could also appy the color with a large sponge and just dab it on the areas you need more color in. Be careful not to put on too much stain as it will look like you painted your floors. Use just enough to boost the color or cover up any imperfections.
Acid Stained Concrete Articles
Table of Contents - Do It Yourself Acid Stained Concrete -Acid Staining Your Concrete Floors.
Introduction to "Do It Yourself" Acid Stained Concrete Floors -Acid Staining Your Own Cement Floors.
Locating and purchasing your supplies -Acid Staining Your Own Cement Floors.
Prepping the area and cleaning your floors. -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Applying Acid Stain to your floors -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Adding Additional Color to your Acid Stained Floors -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Sealing in the Color -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Applying the Glossy Floor Finish -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Refinishing Old or Damaged Acid Stained Floors -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Troubleshooting Acid Stained Floor Problems -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Cutting Designs into Cement - Acid Stained Floors -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
Maintaining your acid stained floors -Acid Staining Your Own Concrete Floors.
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