Simi Valley Stained Concrete
Acid-based chemicals are commonly used in stained concrete Simi Valley. This is because they can create a rich color scheme that looks like natural stones, wood, marble, or leather. However, today, you don’t have to be limited to the earthly shades. There are new products on the market such as solvent and water-based dyes that can greatly expand the artist’s pallet.
Concrete stains contain a mixture of water, acid-soluble metallic salts, and hydrochloric acid. Due to the porous nature of concrete, these can enter and react with concrete. Since concrete stains don’t fade away, they are popular for their durable colors. Here is everything you needed to know about stained concrete Simi Valley.
The Concrete Staining Process
No matter the age of concrete, it is always possible to stain it. The process of staining concrete will defer depending on the kind of stain, whether this will be applied indoor or outdoor and the kind of result you expect. There are four key steps involved in stained concrete Simi Valley.
- Preparation of the surface
- Concrete stain application
- Cleanup/neutralizing acid stains
- Concrete sealing
Concrete Staining Tips
When starting a concrete staining job, you need to understand various tricks to use. Ensure that you read the instructions of the stain before starting. Also ensure that:
- Concrete has cured well before the concrete stains can be applied
- It is possible to re-stain the concrete if no sealing has been done
- After understanding how they work, you can use water and acid-based stains on the same project
- Ensure that stained concrete is sealed, whether you use water or acid-based or whether outdoor or indoor
Can You Re-stain Concrete?
It could be that you weren’t happy with the stained concrete’s color. It could also be that you would like to refresh concrete that was stained a long time ago. Dyes and water-based stains are a good choice in the restoration of faded concrete. Before you can do any re-staining, you need to ensure that the remaining sealers have been removed. This will enable the stain to bond well with concrete.
Amount of Stain Needed
If you would like to determine the amount of stain necessary, you should consider:
- The stain’s coverage rate
- The concrete’s square footage
- The coats of stains that you will be applying
Time Take for Acid Stains to Dry
Acid stains will dry within 15 to 20 minutes. However, this doesn’t mean that the reaction process is complete. The majority of staining products have a dry time of 24 hours. Many concrete contractors will tell you that you should leave the stained Concrete Simi Valley to dry overnight. The drying period of the concrete will be affected by:
- Humidity
- Air and concrete temperature
- The porosity of the concrete
After the stain has dried, it should be neutralized and rinsed. Your Simi Valley masonry contractor will wait for a few more hours before they can apply a sealer. The concrete should be dry and shouldn’t have any residue for it to bond properly. After the application of the sealer, wait for 24 hours before using the concrete like earlier before. The entire process of staining and sealing should take 2 to 3 days.
As a professional stained concrete contractor, Simi Valley Concrete And Masonry can handle all your concrete staining needs. We have professionals who can handle your staining needs. Call us today on (805) 864-5407.
