October 7, 2006
Acid Stained Concrete Floors
An acid stain may sound like something you'd want to avoid, but it can make concrete floors look really good. It's one of the styles that's making concrete more popular in the home right now (and that's inside the house, not just on the backyard patio). Normally, the material doesn't evoke feelings of warmth and desire, but some of the acid stained floors out there are quite handsome. Aside from looks, one of the key benefits is that they are very low maintenance. And of course people are attracted to concrete floors because they are cheaper to install than hardwoods or expensive stone tiles such as travertine.
But what is acid staining, exactly? Basically it's when the concrete is colored as part of the mixing process (as opposed to being painted after it's laid and dried). The coloring comes about as a result of a reaction that occurs when the solution of water, salt, and inorganic salts combines with the minerals present in the concrete. All of this can be done at the job site, which is another reason concrete can be a money saver.
To browse a gallery of pictures featuring stenciled and acid stained concrete, check out Decorative Concrete.
