Concrete Acid Stain

Jim had a beach house that he intended to rent out, but he wanted it to be more than the standard white or gray. Here’s what he did:

“For my Santa Cruz beach house project, I conceptualized and designed the house and back courtyard with the assistance of a local contractor, who totally rebuilt the home and courtyard in about 8 months’ time.

“To get the ideal home exterior protection near the ocean, I chose stucco. We used one of your standard concrete pigment colors added to the final concrete mix or “color coat” in a small motorized concrete mixer which is applied (sprayed from a gun) on top of the grey scratch coat and lathe. We loved the results.

“We used a 10-1 concrete stucco to concrete pigment ratio (about 9-10 lbs. concrete pigment for each 90 lb. bag), which was mixed in a portable motorized mixer and sprayed directly onto the house with a stucco gun. We used the ratio that you suggested, and we added no other coloring. It was the stock color you provided. The base color of the concrete was grey.

“The stucco guy did not charge anything extra for mixing the color in. They always do a color coat of some kind; grey and white are just more common.

“The house took about a week to complete (each coat of concrete had to dry) start to finish. The backyard was done later, and took about three days.

“A few days after the initial application we applied (with a roller) a clear waterproof sealant. That was it!

“We saved almost $4,000 by not having to paint the exterior. Also, if the stucco gets chipped, it is the same color underneath.

“I highly recommend your products and your service. You guys are the best!”

- Jim Goudge
Santa Cruz, CA

Also, Jim was kind enough to offer a 10 percent discount to Direct Colors customers. Just visit him over at www.beachhouseforyou.com!

Jim’s Shopping List!

175 pounds of 1311 (Tarnished Brass) Concrete Pigment
10 gallons of Sprayable Satin Finished Sealer

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Liquid acid stain works great for large spaces. But how do you bring that beautiful color and texture to smaller projects, like statuary?

Direct Colors has come up with the perfect solution, Deco Gel. This is the only gelled acid stain mix available on the market today. We’ve used it to decorate a boring concrete bird bath, and you’ll get all the details below!

Shawna started with a pretty ugly gray concrete birdbath. She chose deco gel acid stain Malayan Buff and Coffee Brown Deco Gel to add color in a precise 2-tone design to give interest where the water will actually sit in the birdbath.

“Because the birdbath was shaped like a bowl, liquid acid stain was out of the question; it would just run to the middle of the bath. Instead we decided to go with a new product, Deco Gel. The beauty of this stuff, is you can really get artistic in small spaces. It won’t run all over the place like liquid acid stain.”

“As usual, I did a surface preparation with a diluted de-greaser and let the surface dry thoroughly. Once everything was clean and ready to go, I laid the lid in the middle to maintain the circle shape I wanted. Around that, I applied the deco gel in a thick layer with a foam brush for texture.

“I left this to process four or five hours, Then we neutralized the gel and cleaned it up. After the deco gel, we did a light misting of Coffee Brown Acid Stain to give a little additional color on the surface.

“We’ll be using Sprayable Satin Finish Concrete Sealer, applied with a plastic pump-up sprayer. We always recommend a sprayable sealer for statuary and garden decor because they are so easy to use, and can completely coat small crevices and creases.”

  Shawna’s Shopping List

Malayan Buff Deco Gel
Coffee Brown Deco Gel
Coffee Brown Acid Stain
Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer

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Larry and Tina had just purchased some new property, but needed to build a retaining wall. Once the wall was built, they thought it would look better if they colored it somehow. Here’s their story:

“We bought a few acres of property, which is a south face and nice view, but is on a bit of a slope. We decided we needed to cut into a bank and needed a retaining wall. We found a company that made 3000-lb. ecology blocks nearby, so we decided to make the retaining wall out of them.

“We used about 160 blocks — 4′ x 2.5′ x 2′ — to make the wall. When it was finished, it looked good, but we decided if we could color the wall, it would not look so commercial.

“We looked into different staining methods and decided on the concrete acid stain for longevity and virtually no maintenance. We talked to different companies and had very good luck with Direct Colors Inc. They were very helpful on the phone on how to apply and had a very good price on the stain. We went with the Cola color concrete acid stain with the sprayable satin finish acrylic sealer.

“We let the blocks cure for three months and then pressure-washed them to make sure they were clean. Three days later, we sprayed the blocks with the acid stain.

“We used a cheap sprayer and a stiff long-handled brush. My wife and I were able to apply all the concrete acid stain in two hours. One of us would spray and the other would brush the stain in. We then let it set for another two hours, and then applied soda water with the sprayer to neutralize the acid.

“What we learned was it was very easy, but we should have covered up better. I was thinking because we were outside we would be fine, but we had a little burning skin afterwards. Nothing bad, but a word of caution: follow the directions and cover all skin and use a respirator.

“We had a nice hot day, so the next day I sprayed the sealer, which was very easy. I did both applications in the morning when it was cool, so when the day warmed up, the drying was very fast.

“We are absolutely satisfied with the results and get many compliments. We call our work the Great Wall of Glenoma for the little town it is located in. The wall now blends in with the hillside and doesn’t look commercial.

“Thank you.”

-Larry and Tina

Larry’s Shopping List

 10 gallons of Cola Concrete Acid Stain
10 gallons of Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer

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Julie had a retaining wall on her property that was a bright white eyesore. Here’s how she stained the wall for the better:

“I used your gel stain two years ago to stain a 120 foot white concrete retaining wall. The wall now looks great and I get a lot of compliments. I need one more quart of coffee brown gel stain to finish an area that I could not reach because my neighbor’s fence was too close.

“The wall was a regular poured concrete wall in a brick pattern form. I took a clean broom to wipe the concrete wall from any debris. I applied the Deco Gel with a paint brush. I spot stained occasional orange bricks then did the rest with coffee brown (not black). Then I used a sprayer with water and baking soda to neutralize the stain after it remained on the wall for many hours.”

-Julie J.

Julie’s Shopping List:

8 gallons of Coffee Brown Deco Gel
1 quart of Black Deco Gel
1 quart of English Red Deco Gel
3 gallons of Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer

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Homeowner and Direct Colors President, Frank Turner, wanted to create a beautiful garden in his backyard and highlight his business’ specialty – acid stained concrete.  “At the time [2003], very few people in Oklahoma had stamped and stained concrete around their homes.  In fact, my wife was a little worried about how it would look in the end. As you can see, the walkways, patios and driveway turned out great.” 

Mr. Turner applied Direct Colors Complete Gray Overlay to an existing driveway and two patios.  After using a gauge rake to assure a uniform thickness, the surface was lightly troweled in preparation for stamping.  An Ashler Slate stamp was used for the driveway and patios while a Random Stone pattern was selected for the garden walkways. “The driveway was 1650 sq. ft. and the patios about 1000 sq. ft. We used five stamps and one floppy for the driveway although I would have preferred to have seven.  Both the driveway and the patios took us about 12 hours to stamp.”  The overlay was given approximately 10 -15 days to set up before staining.

The walkways were formed, poured and stamped across the backyard and around the gardens. “We used three stamps and a floppy to complete the walkways. Fortunately, this process only took six hours to finish. August tends to be pretty hot in Oklahoma.”  The walkways were given a full month to cure before acid staining.

“We used Direct Colors English Red Acid Stain for the entire 3450 square feet.  We left the stain on overnight to get a deep red color on the surface. We were very pleased with the outcome.”  The Turners’ used just over 17 gallons of stain for their project.  The amount of stain needed will vary from project to project depending on the condition and age of the concrete.

“Because this was an outdoor slab and we didn’t want a glossy finish, my wife and I opted for the Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer. This sealer has fewer solids and is generally less slippery when wet which is always a concern for outdoor concrete.” Approximately the same amount of sealer as acid stain was used to seal the surfaces.

“I knew when a kid leaned out the window of the school bus and said he loved our driveway, we were on to something.  Staining your outdoor concrete is a relatively easy, inexpensive option to make your home really stand out.”

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Scott recently stained his basement, and he wrote in to let us know just how he did it:

“To prepare the concrete for staining, I thoroughly swept and vacuumed as much dirt as possible. Then, I used a metal scraper to remove dried-on paint and rust spots from the concrete, and vacuumed again. I had to use a stiff brush to scrub some difficult paint stains.

“I used an organic degreaser cleaner diluted with water and mopped the entire floor. I used a squeegee to push all the dirty water down the basement drain, and then rinsed the floor two more times with fresh water and used the squeegee again. I let it dry for 24 hours, with a large box fan to assist in drying.

“My basement is approximately 400 square feet. Here are the Direct Color products and amounts I used:

• 1.5 gallons of Desert Amber
• 1 gallon of Malayan Buff
• 1 gallon Krystal Kote water-based sealant (my basement is very dry with no sump pump)
• 1 gallon of residential floor wax

“I diluted the Desert Amber with a 3:1 ratio (3 quarts stain, 1 quart distilled water) and put this into a garden sprayer. I sprayed an even coat over the entire basement surface, and let it sit for an hour. I had the sprayer nozzle about 8 inches from the surface for the base coat. After an hour, some natural pooling had occurred due to the uneven concrete surface.

“I used full strength Malayan Buff and applied it only to the high/dry parts of the concrete, where there wasn’t a standing pool of acid already on the floor. On this part, I put the sprayer nozzle much closer to the surface to force the pooling action to occur. This resulted in the darker color pooling down into the lighter colors, and gave it a unique marbling/pooling effect.

“I wore my golf shoes; this helped to prevent footprints but still allowed you to walk on the surface.

“I let this stand for 8 hours, and then I used a watering can with a baking soda/water mixture to neutralize the acid. Again, I used the squeegee to remove all the water from the surface. I rinsed it once more with more baking soda, and rinsed it three more times with clean water. I let it dry for another 24 hours with the box fan to assist drying time.

“At this point, the floor was ready for the clear coat. I used a 9.25-inch nap roller. I used the garden sprayer again to wet the surface with the clear coat, and then used the roller to spread and even it out. I had just enough sealant to coat the entire 400 sq. ft. with only one gallon (per the instructions – thinner coat of sealant provides a more durable surface, so my goal was to use as little as possible). The clear coat turned out perfect. There’s virtually no visible roller marks and it’s a nice gloss finish.

“Waxing the floor was simple. I just used a clean mop and dragged it over the surface as directed. I applied four coats. The wax made the floor a little streaky, but I’m sure I could buff it out with a dry microfiber mop.

“For other DIY customers, I would strongly recommend performing a test sample before coating the entire floor. I tested the stain under the stairs where I wasn’t going to notice it, and this helped me to gauge how much I needed to dilute the stain to get my desired color.”

-Scott Coventry

Thank you, Scott. Your basement looks amazing! You did a great job with it.

If you have a concrete acid stain project that you’re particularly proud of, write in and tell us about it! Send your stories to info@directcolors.com. We’d love to hear about them!

Scott’s Shopping List

1.5 gallons of Desert Amber
1 gallon of Malayan Buff
1 gallon Krystal Kote

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Susan and her husband were getting a new pool put in, and they wanted a swim-up bar area. Instead of paying somebody else to do it, they decided to do it themselves.

Together, they created two fantastic concrete acid stain projects: a swim-up fish bar, and a poolside banana bar.

Susan wrote to us to tell us how they did it. Here’s her story:

“My husband and I had a pool installed in 2008. We knew we wanted a swim-up bar included in the pool design, so we had the pool company leave a portion of the pool coping off the pool. This area would later be where we would set our concrete swim-up bar top. We also planned to install a concrete countertop under a roof area for entertaining. For each countertop, my husband created the mold, we poured the concrete together, and I acid stained them.

“After researching acid stains on the web, I found Direct Colors, Inc. Being a novice at acid staining, Frank Turner, with Direct Colors, Inc., was very helpful and offered advice on how to get the mottled look I was trying to achieve for the fish bar.

“To complete the fish bar, I used 1311 Sunray color pigment for gray-based concrete. I found that I didn’t use enough of the concrete pigment to get the color I wanted, so I then followed up with Malayan Buff acid stain.

“Once I had achieved the concrete color I wanted, I then started to work on the fish with the Delco Gel Stains. I used a small paintbrush, normally used for painting with acrylics, when I applied the Delco Gel Stains. First, I outlined the fish with Coffee Brown. I then shaded the fish spikes and markings with Cola and Coffee Brown. Thirdly, I completed the inside of the fish body with Cola.

“I mixed the Delco Gel Stains with a little water when needed to aid in shading process. When applying the Cola stain to the body of the fish, I used a swirling motion with the paint brush to produce a fish scale effect.

“After completing the fish, I used English Red acid stain in a small spray bottle around the outside of the fish. To obtain a mottled look around the outside of the fish, I dropped clumps of sand on the countertop and sprayed the English Red directly onto the sand and the areas without the sand. I protected the fish with old towels from the spray as I did not want the English Red to touch the fish. I then neutralized the countertop and applied a several light coats of Krystal Koat Cross-Linking Water Based sealer.

“When I poured the concrete for the banana bar, I used enough of the 1311 Sunray color pigment to get the color I wanted. I then used a small spray bottle and applied an even coat of English Red acid stain over the entire countertop. I then used a foam brush to apply the Delco Gel Stains for the banana leaves. I used Cola and Coffee Brown and a bit of water to shade and fill in the banana leaves. For the final step, I used the Black Delco Gel Stain mixed with a small amount of English Red acid stain to outline the banana leaves and to accentuate the stem. I then neutralized the countertop and applied a several light coats of Krystal Koat Cross-Linking Water Based sealer.

“Having never worked with acid stains prior to these two projects, I was a bit unsure as to the outcome. Overall, the process was simple and the Delco Gel Stains were quite easy to work with. I am pleased with the final appearance of the projects and look forward to many years of enjoyment using the countertops.”

-Susan Turfle, Maryland

Thank you, Susan! Your bars look beautiful. Great job!

If you have a concrete acid stain project that you’re particularly proud of, write in and tell us about it! Send your stories to direct.colors@gmail.com. We’d love to hear about them!

Susan’s Shopping List:

Fish Countertop:
English Red – 1 Quart
Krystal Kote – 1 Quart
Integral Color – 1311 – 5 Lbs.
Deco Gel Custom Sample Kit (Cola-2, English Red – 1, Coffee Brown-4)

Banana Countertop:
English Red – 1 Quart
Krystal Kote – 1 Quart (Water-Based)
Integral Color – 1311 – 10 Lbs.
Samples – 4oz Black Deco Gel

Filed under: Projects by Shawna
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Randy Woods of Pinion Ridge Construction used concrete acid stain to etch a company’s logo onto the new concrete floor of their building, much to their excitement. Here’s how he did it.

“It was brand-new,” Woods said. “We do commercial buildings, and it was just new concrete. [We stained] 900 square feet.”

For materials and everything, the cost was about $400, very cost-effective for Woods and his company. They used a coffee stain, which they cut 50-50 with water. The company wanted their bulldog logo on the floor, and that’s what Woods gave them.

“They love it,” Woods said of the company’s reaction to the logo. “They’re ecstatic with it. They did not think I could do it like that.”

He does wish that he’d diluted the acid more around the dog, but overall, “It actually turned out really good. Everything went together good on it.”

Though Woods considers himself a rookie, this was his seventh job dealing with concrete acid stain.

“Acid stain is the only way to go,” he said. “[It's] cost effective, durable, and lasts longer than linoleum or carpet. I wouldn’t go any other route. I recommend it on every job we do now.”

And he also recommends Direct Colors, who has provided him with concrete acid stain for all the jobs he’s done.

“I think Direct Colors has a good product,” Woods said. “Everything I’ve bought comes from Direct Colors. I don’t think I’d go anywhere else.”

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Jack Whitley undertook quite a project: rather than putting down carpet or hardwood floors in his 2000-sq. ft. home, he stained all the concrete with acid stain from Direct Colors.

“It was just straight new concrete,” Whitley said of the space before he stained it. “I wasn’t trying for any pattern; it just came out that way.”

He used both the English red and the coffee brown stains, mixing them to achieve the color that he wanted. He first poured the red out and mixed it with the brown. Then, he mixed one part coffee, one part red, and one part water. He sprayed the floor, used the baking soda mop, and then sealed and waxed them.

Because concrete acid stain won’t stick to painted wood on baseboards, Whitley could spray the stain inside and just wipe off the baseboards, leaving no mess. He was able to do the entire project by himself.

“Once you get the soda mopping, the sealer and the wax is easy,” he said. “You just mop it on with a roller or lambswool. I used a 2-ft. roller to put the wax and sealer on.”

“We live right out of Freeport, Texas, by the river,” Whitley said. “No matter what walks in or out, you just do a damp mop and it’s ready to go, really easy to maintain.

“We used this [concrete acid stain] in the entire house. Every closet, every floor, bedrooms, kitchen. We put a few throw rugs in. I did the whole interior of my 2000 square foot house for about $500-600. To carpet and tile it, it would’ve been about $5,000. And it’s pretty much bulletproof. Been on over a year, and I’ve re-waxed it one time. It looks perfect.”

A couple of dogs had gone through the house and scratched a few places. According to Whitley, the floor was still shiny, but he wanted to redo it.

He also enjoyed working with Direct Colors on the project.

“It was real good, no sales tax, free delivery,” he said. “We had delivery the next day, and it wasn’t expensive.”

So what are other people saying about his new flooring?

“Everybody just marvels about it,” Whitley said. “They can’t believe it. With a new construction concrete, it works very well if you protect it. [It's] excellent. I would recommend it to anybody.”

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