Doug is a hands-on craftsman who believes that the result of every project should be a work of art which is functional, personal and beautiful. He believes that it should reflect your personality or project goals. Doug has been in the decorative concrete business since 1994 and has a passion for concrete stain. When you choose Re-Crete for your project you will be working with Doug and his crew. Re-Crete believes that every floor should be a collaborative effort of our experience and your desires. Together we can create a look that magnifies the natural beauty of cement, the oldest building material in the world.
Acid Stain:
Acid stains are metallic salts in acidic, water-based solution that reacts with the lime in the concrete and becomes a permanent part of the concrete. The stain can be applied to new or existing concrete. Stains come in earth tone colors and can be layered for different effects. Each floor will take on an original and different look.
Dyes:
Concrete dyes are translucent, penetrating color solutions. But unlike stains, they do not react chemically with concrete. Instead, they contain very fine coloring agents that penetrate into the concrete surface. We use dyes to add depth, additional color, and colors that are unavailable with stains. Like stain, they will not hide or mask imperfections in the concrete.
New Concrete:
The most important thing to know about acid staining on concrete is “what you see is what you get” Acid staining will beautify and enhance the natural aspects of the concrete, but it will NOT hide or cover up any imperfections or construction errors. Re-Crete tries to use the imperfections in the concrete to give the floor a natural stone look, but acid staining is a translucent process. Concrete Staining is not an exact science, due to the content of the chemicals in the concrete, the color, the intensity and the depth of penetration may vary greatly. Some concrete may not stain successfully at all. Our work is artistic in nature and no exact results can be guaranteed. Exact colors and stained patterns cannot be achieved and it is fundamental that all parties involved understand this. Your invoice will be based on the work performed and not the aesthetic results.
Existing Concrete:
Again, the most important thing to know about acid staining on concrete is “what you see is what you get” Acid staining will beautify and enhance the natural aspects of the concrete, but it will NOT hide or cover up any imperfections. Re-Crete tries to use the imperfections in the concrete to give the floor a natural stone look, but acid staining is a translucent process. Hidden under the existing flooring can be mirad of stains and damage. Carpet tacks and cracks are very difficult to disguise. Cracks will give your floor character and personality, but only you can decide what you can live with. We may recommend a light sanding or grinding to clean the floor. Depending on the condition of the floor, a deep grinding may expose the aggregate in the concrete and a distinctive mottling effect may result. Again, your invoice will be based on the work performed and not the aesthetic results
Products that must NOT touch the floor:
Tapes, glues, paints, acids, oils, tires, food and beverage stains, and rust from leaving metals on the floor must be avoided. Cure and/or Seal, bond breakers, muratic acid, chemicals, silicone products, markers, crayons, grease sticks, pipe glue, primer and the like will all cause significant problems to the floor. Once the floor is stained and sealed, most of these items won’t be a problem, but some are and falling objects can damage the floor so it is highly recommended that the floor be covered immediately.
Job Site Requirements:
We want to complete your job in the timeliest manner possible. Prior to our arrival, please make sure that any existing surface is removed, that there is no equipment, materials or other items on the floor. Client is responsible for removal and replacement of all personal property. Client is also responsible to protect the floor from other trades, sprinkler damage, pets, vandalism and the like. Please do not schedule any other trades to work in the immediate area while Re-Crete is scheduled. You are responsible for providing running water and electricity. On existing floors with carpeting, the client is responsible for the change in the heights of the baseboards.
Scoring:
If scoring is desired, we score the concrete to a depth of about 1/8 of an inch in pre-approved pattern. We will work with you to design a pattern that will work well in your room. We suggest the pattern be no smaller than 24” by 24” to keep the floor from becoming too busy and if there are existing walls, we will have a minimum 8” border around the room. We can work with you or your architect to create custom patterns at an additional fee. While we use a vacuum system during this process it will still create dust in your room.
Time Needed to Complete Project:
The time needed to complete a project depends on many factors such as size and scope of the project, weather conditions and product availability. Preparing the floor and protecting the surrounding surfaces is the most time consuming part of the project. Typically we can complete a 1,000 sq ft project in less than 5 days. We do not require residents to move out during our project; however we do want you to be aware of the dust and the fumes from the sealers so you can plan accordingly.
Maintaining a Concrete Stained Floor:
Concrete stain wears only as the concrete wears. We seal each floor with Resin Sealer to give the floor the most protection possible. We wax the floor as a sacrificial barrier protecting the sealer coat. Between waxes, (every 3-5 years in most homes) just normal floor maintenance is all that is required On exterior surfaces, we suggest resealing every two to three years. For Commercial floors please see the Chem Coat cleaning schedule.
Stain Colors:
Please refer to our color chart for the standard acid stain colors. However, please keep in mind that this is just a reference. Colors will vary greatly depending on the chemicals composition of your concrete. The acid stain reacts with the lime content of the concrete, the intensity depends on how the floor was finished when it was poured and the character of the floor depends on any contaminates on the floor, cracks or other imperfections. We will be happy to do a test area if appropriate.
Concrete Pricing:
The cost of concrete staining will vary depending on your project. The variables in pricing your project will include: square footage, scoring, colors, intricate patterns and geographical location. That price includes preparation of the slab, cleaning, staining and sealing.
General Information about Concrete Staining
