Concrete Acid Stain

Map of VOC Compliant States

Environmental/VOC Compliance

Gray states can purchase all of our sealer products.

Red states adopted the new Environmental/VOC regulations in January 2008. Customers living in these states cannot purchase the Sprayable Satin Finish or High Gloss (AC 1315) sealers.

Green states – California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island & Virginia. Customers living in these states also cannot purchase the Sprayable Satin Finish or High Gloss (AC 1315) sealers. DCI’s WR Meadows solvent-based sealer, water-based sealer & Krystal Kote sealer can all be used in the red and green states.

Sealing the Surface of Your Concrete

After the surface has been neutralized and has thoroughly dried, the acid stained floor must be sealer with an appropriate concrete sealer. Direct Colors offers both solvent and water-based sealers suitable for any concrete project. Sealers can be applied with either an applicator or sprayer; however, some solvent-based sealers cannot be used in all US States.

See Map of VOC Compliant States above for your state’s VOC Regulation Laws.

The method used to apply sealer depends on the type of surface and the variety of sealer used. Our solvent-based non-sprayable sealer can be used in the most states and are appropriate for both indoor & outdoor applications; however, we recommend using a water-based sealer for occupied indoor applications and for basements. Use caution in applying solvent-based sealers, particularly during indoor applications.

Indoor application of solvent-based sealer is not recommended. Wear a mask while applying the sealer and make certain the area is well ventilated to the outside. It is recommended for customers with machine troweled, ground, or smooth hand-troweled floors to apply sealers in the following manner for best results:

• WR Meadows Solvent-Based (309.25) or High Gloss (AC 1315) Sealers should be applied with a Padco coater.

• DCI’s Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer (SSB) is a solvent-based sealer and is the ONLY sealer recommended for use with a sprayer. SSB can be applied with a Padco coater or a pump-up deck and fence sprayer with a fine spray tip. The sprayer can be purchases at your local hardware store. One coat of SSB will produce a satin finish. The finish will become glossier in in appearance as you apply more coats of sealer. Up to Four thin coats may be applied.

• WR Meadows Water-Based or Krystal Kote Sealers should be applied with a Padco coater or a long-handled paint pad.

• DO NOT apply Water-Based Sealer if the surface temperature is under 60°F with an air temperature difference of 5 degrees or less. Central heating, radiant or convection heaters, or similar heating devices should be turned off during application. In-floor heating should be set at 60-65 degrees before application and turned off during the process.
  

• DO NOT apply masking or duct-tape to the sealed surface.

Textured or broom finished surfaces sealed with a non-sprayable solvent and water-based sealers should be rolled on using a short-nap roller (approximately 1/8″) or less. For best results with a roller, use the pan grid to purge the roller of all excess sealer and apply with slow, even strokes. Sealer bubbles, should they occur, can be removed with a hair dryer set to cool or a clean leaf blower set to low speed. SSB can be either sprayed or rolled on a textured/broom finished surface.

Generally, the thinner the application, the stronger and more durable the sealer will become. Applying a thick coat will result in an inconsistent finish with tacky areas that may not set-up correctly. Depending on the sealer selected, leave the solvent-based sealers to dry for AT LEAST 4-6 hours between coats. The DCI Sprayable Satin Finish sealer has the shortest drying time between coats and the water-based sealers the longest.