Want to add character to your home or commercial building? Concrete staining is a great approach for transforming a dull-looking concrete floor. It adds a beautiful opaque colour to your concrete floor that could match the type of interior design and vibe that you’re going for.
When treating concrete floors with professional concrete staining services, it’s important to understand that results will vary depending on the texture and age of the concrete as well as the environmental conditions. An expert concrete staining provider will know how to approach the job to ensure the result matches your vision as the property owner.
In this article, we are going to dive deep into the world of concrete staining solutions, why it’s beneficial, how it’s performed, and most importantly, how this decorative style and service evolved over the years.
What Are Concrete Staining Services?
Concrete staining services include preparing a water-based product and pouring it onto the surface of washed concrete. The stain can vary in colour and will face over time, but if you use a sealer, it can be a permanent part of the surface that will last a long time.
There are two types of staining services that a provider can offer:
| Pros | Cons | |
| Reactive Staining |
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| Non-reactive Staining |
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Both stains have their personal charms and different aesthetic feel. It is most likely dependent on the homeowner, property owner, or contractor to identify which stain will help them achieve their aesthetic vision for their flooring.
How Do You Perform Concrete Staining Services in Modern Day?
Here are a few steps to perform these services:
1. Thoroughly Clean the Concrete with a Degreaser.
This step helps remove all dirt and oils that will hinder the staining process. Use a floor buffing machine or a stiff straw brush and clean the area twice with clean water and wait for it to dry.
2. Test a Small Area of Concrete.
Stain a small area to ensure you will get the results you expected. This will also help you assess if:
- The concrete is cleaned thoroughly
- The concrete will react properly, especially if you’re doing reactive solutions
- You like the colour outcome
3. Pour the Staining Solution onto the Concrete.
As you pour the solution, adjust the amount you use with the coverage you want. And once it’s dried, seal it with a sealer to achieve a long-lasting result.
A Brief History: How Concrete Staining Solutions Evolved Over the Years
Now that you know how they performed concrete staining services today, let’s compare the methods and materials used a couple of years ago.
Limited Products are Available Before the Late 1990s
Until the late 1990s, concrete staining on floors only used reactive acid stains as a staple. This means, there were fewer colour options, and the colour outcomes are difficult to control if you’re not experienced with concrete staining. However, most concrete floor staining also resulted in more organic-looking floors with natural colours. The dye also lasted longer as it penetrated deeper into the concrete.
New Products Entered the Scene in the Early 2000s
By the early 2000s, new products started appearing. There is a wider range of colour options, and the new products were mostly water-based. This meant that the outcomes were more predictable and easier to control. They are also more UV stable, even if you use them indoors or outdoors.
Because most of the new concrete stains’ liquid portion were mostly water-based resins, they are more compliant to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building program.
LEED aims to increase the environmental and health performance of building structures, and the new water-based concrete staining products support their goal.
Over Time, There Were More Concrete Staining Options
The concrete floor staining providers now have more options to offer. They could offer the traditional look of concrete stains, or they could over the new, modern, and vibrant pattern trends that are popping up from new concrete staining products in the market.
This led to a division in the world of concrete floor staining services providers: some were traditionalists and stuck with the earth tone aesthetic of acid-stain concrete. Meanwhile, the newer batch of providers was more open to using the bright colours of water-based concrete stains that have become mainstream.
And some, well they offer both depending on the needs and the preferences of the client.
Concrete Staining Services Expanded the Market
Due to the introduction of water-based stains and dyes in the early 2000s, the use of concrete stains no longer limited itself to indoor applications of commercial and residential buildings. Now, it’s applicable to outdoor spaces such as parks.
Do You Need Concrete Staining Contractors Sydney?
At EzyGrind, we offer a broad variety of concrete stain floor colours. Thus, you can always get the best stained concrete floors that match your requirements and aesthetic needs.
Our professional staff are experienced in staining your concrete floors, as well as other concrete polishing and sealing services such as quality epoxy services. We’re backed by the appropriate technology and reliable materials, so you can ensure that the quality of your stained concrete flooring will always be of the highest quality.
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