Most types of stains for concrete are translucent. The color produces a marbled finish, with the base color of the concrete playing a role in the final shade. That works great when you are coloring gray concrete and want to have all that variegation and marbling, but not so good when you want to refresh the monotone color of integrally colored concrete or stamped concrete.

The market to revitalize and refresh old concrete is where solid-color stains have found their niche. They work like traditional stains and penetrate into the concrete, but unlike traditional stains, they produce an opaque finish.

The first solid-color stains hit the market in the 1990s. Not readily available at first, they were regional niche products used by only a handful of installers.

When decorative concrete went mainstream in the early 2000s, so did solid-color stains. Marketed hard by a few companies, the products went from regional awareness to national acceptance very quickly. Over the last 10 to 15 years, the market has grown and so have the number of manufacturers.

Advancements in technology and formulation have created newer solid-color stain systems that have fewer components, are easier to mix and apply, and have better long-term durability. But almost all solid-color stains are applied similarly and perform very well.

A solid-color stain might be described as a cross between a coating and a stain, with the opaque solid color reminding one of a coating and the penetrating properties being more like a stain. But don’t be fooled. Solid-color stains are all stain. Their ability to penetrate into the surface and provide a clean solid color without forming a film is what makes them so powerful.

Most solid-color stain systems come as multipart kits that are mixed on-site. They contain a resin backbone that acts as a binder, encapsulating the color and gluing the system together in the concrete substrate. Application with a sprayer or soft brush is most common, allowing for high coverage rates and consistent color.

As with any stain, surface preparation is critical to long-term performance. Typical surface preparation prior to application ranges from power washing to chemical stripping. Once again, the most critical element is the ability of the stain to penetrate into the surface of the concrete. Any type of contamination, such as paints, sealers, cures, grease, oil or foreign material, will prohibit penetration and lead to premature failure of the stain.

In my opinion the final look of solid-color stains is what makes them such good candidates to recolor old or worn colored or stamped concrete. Most of the solid-color systems on the market will very quickly (in a matter of days or weeks) take on a flat or matte appearance that very closely resembles natural concrete.

This natural look makes it hard to differentiate between integrally colored concrete and concrete that has been treated with properly applied solid-color stain.

While nothing is as good as the real thing, a solid-color stain is the next best thing when it comes to restoring the color of old or worn concrete. It doesn’t even have to be a bright or exotic color, as gray is one of the most popular colors of solid-color stain sold today. I encourage you to do some research and learn more about how solid-color stains can recolor the concrete in your life.

Chris Sullivan is vice president of sales and marketing with ChemSystems Inc. He has led seminars and product demonstrations throughout North America. Contact him at trowelanderror@protradepub.com.

2013 is going to be a great year and we appreciate all of your referrals and testimonials.

Sincerely

RestoraCrete Restoration Team

RestoraCrete | Taking high quality concrete to new heights in color.  In June of 2012, RestoraCrete completed this specialized color stain restoration application for a family home in Coto De Caza, Orange County California.  The structural condition of the concrete was in great shape, but our customer did not care for the discolorization of the original grey concrete.  They wanted a company and product that can provide them a solid integral color,  and provide a predictable long term maintenance program that is cost effective.  We applied a BeachHouse color which fit perfectly with the customer color objective.   They wanted a color that had a tinge of gray feel but also earth tone.  

RestoraCrete specializes in concrete color restoration systems that have a very cost effective long term investment. Based out of Orange County we have hundreds of satisfied clients who have embraced our system that is not confusing and very predictable. For more information about our company and services go to www.RestoraCrete.com or call 866 446-8873

A general look at how to use decorative concrete staining products to breathe new life into your concrete.

Decorative concrete staining is a great way to improve interior or exterior concrete surfaces and increase your curb appeal. Stained floors are beautiful, easy to maintain, and can be a relatively affordable do-it yourself project.

The type of concrete stain you prefer will determine your specific preparation steps. No matter what type of stain is used, all require adequate cleaning and preparation of the surface. Do not skip this step. It will affect your overall results and new concrete is no exception.

Preparation:

First, gather all supplies and tools needed. These include personal protective equipment and clothing. If you are dealing with acid or reactive stains be sure to wear appropriate protective clothing including thick pants and socks, long sleeves, safety glasses and gloves. Next, use paper or plastic to mask off and protect the areas you are not staining. If you are acid staining outdoors, protect nearby vegetation or find an eco-friendly stain that will not harm your lawn or plants.

Note: If you are using tape, make sure the tape adhesion does not leave behind any sticky residue; this will affect the look of your handiwork.

Repair cracks or flaws in your existing concrete. Use as close to a cementitious material as possible when filling in cracks. Differences in texture can create differences in the color and finish. Different levels of porosity in your concrete will affect how well the stain or dyes penetrate.

Preparing your concrete also includes removing discoloration, residue, previous sealers, coatings, debris, efflorescence, etc. If your concrete has been treated with water repellant or curing compounds then consider removing them as this can prevent penetrating coatings from absorbing and bonding. The type of coating or contaminant you are trying to remove will determine what type of stripping agent you should use. Be sure to wash off any stripping or cleaning residue and wait for the concrete to dry completely before staining your concrete.

Note: If you are going to acid-stain, do not use acid-based cleaners or etching agents for prepping your concrete as they will effect the penetration of the stain.

In many cases, proper pressure washing is required to ensure the concrete pores are open and to remove obstructing particles. This rule applies even to new concrete. If you are prepping an interior surface where pressure washing is not an option, light acid washing, grinding, stripping or etching practices should be utilized. Again, wash off any residue left behind from your chosen preparation technique and wait for the concrete to dry before beginning to stain.

Note: If you've just poured your concrete, make sure it has cured appropriately before beginning any decorative treatments on it. Refer to the product label.

Test it:

You're almost ready to start staining. Before you begin, however, test a small area of the surface with your chosen product to make sure you have the right color, adhesion, consistency etc. It is important to remember to use a manufacturer's color chart as a guide only. Each concrete surface can vary in texture, porosity, age, temperature and more, effecting the penetration, shade and even the consistency of your stain.

Staining:

The stain application process differs depending on the type of stain you are using. We will focus on three main types of stain: acid stains, water-based stains and dyes.

Acid Stains:

Mix the stain as directed by the manufacturer. Start in one corner of the area and stain from one side to the other. Then repeat in a typewriter like fashion being careful to not step on any wet, stained areas.

Note: It is important to ventilate the area.

After letting the first coat dry, which can sometimes take up to 24 hours, you can repeat the process for applying a second coat. If you are looking for a rich, marbled or textured look, the successive coats are applied in the same manner, but more selectively. You can continue to add textures and layers in different colors to your liking.

Acid staining may be applied with a sprayer, sponge or rag. It is suggested while one worker sprays, another follows with brushing. The brush strokes are then sprayed over one more time. This will prevent any evidence of what method you used being visible in your stain. You can spray on the stain, roll it on or brush it in depending on the manufacturer's recommendations. Again, sometimes it is best to use more than one method.

Acid based stain must be neutralized after application. Residue from the hydrochloric acid etching must be removed and the surface neutralized to ensure proper adhesion of the sealant. Wash the surface until nothing but clear water is visible.

Water-based stains:

Mix the stain as directed by the manufacturer. Again, an easy way to apply the stain is to start in one corner and work your way to the opposite corner applying the stain from side to side. Some stains, such as NewLook's ORIGINAL Solid Color Stain, require a re-brooming technique because of how the pigments are suspended in the mix. Other stains, such as NewLook's SmartColor, can be sprayed on with a standard HVLP sprayer. Be sure to read and refer to all instructions from the manufacturer in order to apply the stain correctly.

With water based stains, there is no chemical reaction taking place between the stain and the concrete as the stain simply penetrates into the concrete's pores. Therefore, neutralizing the stain after application is unnecessary.

Dyes:

Dyes may be solvent or water based. Many dyes are formulated specifically for use with polished concrete surfaces and should be used only for such purposes. Mix and dilute the dye according to the instructions. To apply, grind the concrete slab up to 200-400 grit resin level.

Note: The grit level you apply the dye at may vary if the dye is water-based vs. solvent-based. Read the instructions for the specific dye you have purchased.

Next, apply the dye according the manufacturer's instructions. A good approach would be to spray the dye in a consistent, overlapping circular motion. Once the dye has dried, perform a white rag test and clean off any excess material. Two applications of the dye may be necessary. After you have polished the concrete slab to 400 grit resin (again, this number may be different depending on the type of dye used), apply the second application of dye.  Finish by cleaning off any residual dye and polishing the surface again.

Note: Some dyes are not meant to be installed on exterior surfaces.

Sealing:

Once you have stained the concrete to your liking and let it dry for the recommended amount of time, you are ready to apply a concrete sealer. It is important to find a sealer compatible with the stain you have used. Contact the manufacturer for more information. Remember, some sealers will leave a slick, slippery surface. If this is a concern look for a skid resistant sealer or non-skid additives that can be mixed into your sealer.

Sealers can be brushed, sprayed or rolled on. No matter what method you use, be sure to apply adequate, thin layers, especially when using water-based acrylics. Sealers that are applied too heavily or too sparingly can ruin the look of your surface and leave you with more work to do. Usually more than one coat is recommended. Be sure to let the first coat dry sufficiently before applying another coat.

Note: High speed burnishing may be required for sealers formulated specifically for dyes and polished concrete surfaces.

After your sealer has finished drying you can further protect your masterpiece with a floor finish, or wax. You can apply the floor finish much like the sealer, applying more coats only after the prior coat has finished drying. Some wax coatings require a buffed finish. Again, be sure to read all instructions and contact the manufacturer with questions before beginning to stain or seal your concrete surface.

Note: Wax finishes are not recommended for exterior application.

Remember that even if you follow every direction and install your stain seemingly without flaws, in the end, the look is dependant on the condition of your concrete and the products used. It may not be possible to completely hide a badly damaged concrete slab with semi-transparent stains.

After years of frustration trying to keep safety line marking in place in a cold storage warehouse, Bill Smith of US Food Service in Michigan started looking for a better way. Installing safety line marking in a 38°F cold storage warehouse is especially challenging. With the 24/7 operations and the heavy fork lift traffic, there was never enough time to let traditional marking paint to cure without the forklift tires marking up the paint. At cool temperatures, the cure times were even slower. Marking tape fared no better. The cold concrete was hard to adhear to and the heavy traffic would quickly damage the marking tapes.

Bill was using Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™ to repair cracks, joints, and spalls in the warehouse floor. He liked the fast cure times at low temperatures and he noted the repairs hold up very well to forklift traffic. Bill thought, "What if we could fix our safety line issue with Concrete Mender?" After experimenting with different types of Yellow sand and a request into Roadware for Concrete Mender factory colored in Safety Yellow, the permanant line marking system was born.

After much experimentation, here is the system that works the best.

1. Scarify a shallow recess in to the concrete the length of the line marking. This can be done any number of ways. Stacking several diamond blades together and placing a temporary saw guide works best. Cut the recess about 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch wide.

2. Vacuume all dust and debris from the saw cut area. Mask off the recess with duct tape.

3. Carefully flood the recess area with Safety Yellow MatchCrete™ Concrete Mender. A small amount of safety yellow quartz sand may be used to choke-off any material that flows too far into any cracks or joints. The top of the material should be slightly recessed and smooth.

The lines will be ready for full traffic in about 15 minutes at room temperature. Give them a few hours to cure if working in a cold room or freezer. No special matainance is required.

If you wish to find out more about this process and how it can save you time and money call RestoraCrete at 866 446-8873 or you can order online at www.restoracrete.com.

Polishing and honing concrete to smooth shiny surface is a great way to give an old warehouse floor new life. Sometimes, warehouse floors are too damaged and worn to make polishing practical. Floors that are full of cracks and spalls will require a large amount of grinding and polishing to achieve an acceptable surface. Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™ may be used to restore the concrete surface and reduce the time and expense of heavy grinding. The Microdweling™ action of Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender™ can penetrate the surface of the cracks and spalls, fill in all the low spots, and make the floor ready for polishing.

Prepped

Filled, Grinded Smooth

The final Result

Restoracrete also educates their clients on how using Restoracrete's concrete staining products and services adds value to your home and how a solid color staining restoration with newlook stains for your driveway increases the curb appeal and fosters pride of ownership without costing you an arm and a leg.

Using NewLooks Concrete Stain products has allowed restoracrete to deliver predictable results in an otherwise unpredictable application.  Many other concrete stain products products boast that they can restore color in concrete but does it last?  Over and over, newlook international concrete stains has proven its case that its not only the best concrete stain in the decorative concrete marketplace but also the most environmentally friendly.

Restoracrete is the #1 distributor of newlook concreete stains in southern california with a stocking store in los angeles and orange county.  They also have a  website that allows decorative concrete contractors or any customer who is restoring concrete color to purchase the newlook directly through www.restoractrete.com.

Restoracrete provides services in Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego County.  For more information about our services and or business opportunities please visit, www.restoracrete.com or call us at 866-446-8873

Please contact Restoracrete at www.restoracrete.com for any of your NewLook International Solid Color Stain Supplies.