How to Redo Stained Concrete Floors (& fix any mishaps from DIYs!)
Concrete restaining is the process of how you can fix stained concrete. But first, you must know how those damages came about. Know all these in today’s article. Before you apply the proper fixes, you must determine what causes issues on the floors and how they occur.
These signs of damages tell you it’s time for you to call a professional installer of Miami concrete sealers.
Don’t miss a beat. Here are the steps for restaining concrete. You may opt to DIY or better call a concrete contractor in Miami to fix issues on previously stained flooring.
The other concerns one might have may include:
- Can you stain over already stained concrete?
- How do you fix a lousy concrete stain?
- How can you deal with old concrete stains?
- Can you apply a different color of stain?
Troubleshoot: When Stained Concrete Went Bad
Have no worries now. If you recognize only one issue on the list above, then the following list will help you out on how to correct a bad staining job. You can fix a bad acid staining with
- Concrete patching
- Acid-etching
- Blending
- Re-sealing
- Resurfacing
Blending Stained Colors
Blending comes in two ways wet on wet and wet on dry. If you find issues on previously stained floors, well, you can fix them under the blending method.
Wet on wet.
This process takes place when you mix two or more staining colors while they are still wet. The patterns that you will see after are more subtle and translucent looking.
Wet on dry.
You can apply wet on dry when a staining job has completely cured. This method produces a sharper and distinct color blending. It makes you recognize the two colors that meet on the surface.
A wet on dry is how you want to do it as a fix for a bad staining job. The wet on dry is so applicable for touching up random parts on the concrete surface. Usually, blending with wet on dry encourages the user to apply a lighter color first. But if you want to ask, “can dark stained concrete be lightened” then you need some necessary floor prep to do.
You’ll get on that as you read further. But, first, here are more ways to fix a bad concrete staining job.
Acid Etched Stain
When bad staining or coloring happens, you need to open up the surface of the concrete. This means that you need to re-stain or refurbish the flooring surface,
But to do that, you need to prepare the surface for effective results. The new layers of sealers or coloring should adhere perfectly. Acid etching is one way that does this well.
Acid Wash
To remove unintended staining on the concrete, you need to perform acid wash. This requires you to use muriatic acid to clean the surface thoroughly.
Concrete Patching
Some users ask, “how can I refresh a stained concrete.” The answer is concrete patching. Patching is also like blending but solves more complex jobs.
The standard way to patch chipped or cracked staining on the concrete is through a concrete crack filler. If you plan to refinish the flooring surface with staining, then make sure to use a cementitious filler, not silicon or caulking fillers.
5 Steps to Re-staining Concrete
As you go about staining, you need to observe what to do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER.
The various ways of restaining mentioned above require that you follow necessary floor preparation and correct concrete staining.
1. Sampling
Begin by trying products on certain areas of your concrete. Your stained concrete also require multiple methods and products that will fit the condition of the concrete flooring.
Some flooring surfaces may have used densifiers, or some have been acid washed. These processes diminish adequate adherence to acid stains. Some use acrylic colors, or others perform resurfacing of an overlay so a desired acid stain or coloring will adhere to the surface.
2. Grind the surface
After you sampled the surface, some restaining job requires you to grind the surface. If you got the wrong type of product over your concrete floor, then you need to scrape those off first. Even if you perform a minor touch-up or blend a lighter or darker tone over a previously stained floor, you must sand or grind the surface for the fresh staining color to adhere to the top surface and penetrate the concrete flooring effectively.
Some flooring surfaces may have used densifiers, or some have been acid washed. These processes diminish adequate adherence to acid stains. Some use acrylic colors, or others perform resurfacing of an overlay so a desired acid stain or coloring will adhere to the surface.
3. Clean the Surface
The cleaning process before staging only requires you to use mild soap and water solution.
This is to remove any residue after you perform grinding or acid washing.
4. Apply Bonding Agent
The application of a bonding agent allows you to minimize faulty staining jobs. This step is crucial for those who need to install an overlay.
5. Applying Concrete Stain
Finally, if you are sure you followed the essential steps, it’s time for staining. If you are a DIY warrior, be careful not to mess up the process. Hence, it is your duty now to call on professional flooring installers.
Conclusion
Stained concrete is a fantastic idea for refurbishing floors with colors and patterns. It’s practical, and DIY users have fun using it. If you missed the mark, don’t fret. There are easy ways to restrain or touch up the stained concrete flooring!
