What Kind of Concrete Do You Need for Stained Concrete Flooring?

New Concrete

The best concrete to use is a recently poured floor that has been wet cured and fully dry. If curing compounds have been used they will interfere with the chemical bonding between the stain and the concrete. If the floor has been cured via chemicals then you need to lightly sand it to remove any trace of them from the surface.

You cannot stain a concrete floor that has been painted over or sealed, unless you remove the paint or sealant. If the sealant has penetrated deeply into the concrete then it is difficult to remove without surface damage. A concrete grinder does the best job of removing the sealant while protecting the floor and not leaving behind areas in low spots that are missed.

Older concrete will accept a stain but the nicks, wear marks and weather wear easily show on stained concrete. If there is a footpath that people use across the concrete then it will show very clearly. Other cosmetic flaws, such as light cracks, absorb the stain and become more noticeable. Attempting to fix the flaws in advance usually doesn't work to hide them since the material used in the fix will take a different color from the stain than the concrete floor.

Depending upon the chemicals used, the floor can range from light orange to dark brown. It is better to put several thin coats on than to try for one heavy coat. The chemicals will continue to deepen in color unless you neutralize it with a mixture of baking soda and water. After drying, the chemicals need to be swept and mopped up so that they are not trapped under the sealant.