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You too can acid stain.

by Erica Norwood

First of all, you should understand that acid staining is not just painting something. A solution of water,acid, and inorganic salts is used to to creat a chemical reaction in or to color cementitious material. It will usually give the concrete a mottled marble like look. The colors are mostly earth tones like reddish brown and green. If you wish you can mix and match your colors. Don't expect it to be even in all areas. You get different reactions from slab to slab and see different coloration patterns. It's a good idea to do a small test area first to be sure you are getting the right reaction you desire. A smoothe older concrete is a preferred floor for staining. Although textured concrete can help the acid staining bring more depth of color and a more realistic look. There is also a way to do a custom design using stencils and sand blasting. Be sure the surface is clean as dirt or grease can prevent the stain from reaching the desired effect. You only need a few simple tools like brushes and sprayers to apply the acid stain. But don't use any metal. Apply non uniformly and follow up with a brush to work the stain into the concrete. Remember this is a chemical reaction. Some colors may not show right away. Let dry and apply a second time. Once is has dried the second time, apply a mixture of baking soda and water and then rinse completely. Once this has dried you just need to apply a non yellowing sealant to the entire area. This is a beautiful and easy enough way to decorate your cement and help give your house a little face lift.