If you have older, damaged or discolored concrete or even new concrete that was not protected from paint and glue spills during construction, we normally recommend an overlay or "cap" of cementitious material to prepare the concrete for staining. (However, if you have structural damage, large cracks in your concrete, crumbly concrete or other major flaws, your slab is not a candidate for stained concrete.)
The process: Current floor covering must be removed first. Depending on its condition, the bare slab may next require sanding and/or a "cap" which resurfaces the old concrete with layers of cementitious material. (We use a material that takes the stain especially well.) Preparation can take two or more days. Then we score (if desired), stain, seal the surface. For interior floors, we also add three layers of wax. While more expensive than staining directly on new concrete, overlays offer beautiful results and are quite durable. COLORS
Colors for overlays are slightly different from our colors for new construction. Click this link to see a few of the colors that are available. We also bring sample boards with other colors when we come to measure.
See more pictures of "remodels" on the next two pages.
Sumatra (by Colormaker) selected for this stained overlay (solid). Click image for larger view.
Distressed Look
If you have an older floor and want a distressed look, you can eliminate the overlay step (above). However, the current covering must still be removed and the slab sanded or stripped before staining. We can either patch old nail holes and other gouges or leave them, depending on the look you want. Ghost images of patterns from old tile will be visible.
Distressed look achieved by grinding floors before staining (and not applying an overlay.)
Example of "distressed" look. Floors above were stripped first and holes patched. (Original floor at lower right will be carpeted later.) Click on picture for larger view
