Welcome to

  

    Stained Concrete Chicago!
 

     Thanks for visiting our new site.  Stained Concrete Chicago is an online resource meant to help homeowners, architects, builders, general contractors, and anyone with a stained concrete project in the Chicago metro area, indoors or outside, make that project a resounding success. 

     Concrete staining, particularly acid staining, has come to flourish in the past decade.  But while great stained concrete work is being done out there, a lack of industry standards, surplus of inferior products, and  abundance of confused and inexperienced contractors are tarnishing this growing option for decorating interior concrete floors and exterior architectural concrete.

     Stained Concrete Chicago is meant to provide you the tips and information you need to complete your concrete staining project successfully.  Our goals are to promote the development and integrity of the concrete staining trade and to encourage increased use of stained concrete as a way to beautify the wonderful city of Chicago.

     As in any other industry, there are many staining products, suppliers, and installers to choose from.  This web site is meant to help you find only the best, so as to ensure the success, appeal, and  longevity of your stained concrete flooring or flatwork project.

  
 
     
  Acid-Stained Patio by Stained By Design of Lafayette, LA


• Do It Yourself
• Hiring an Installer
• Optimizing New Concrete
• Maintenance

Acid-Stained Restaurant Floor by Gaye Goodman of Albuquerque, NM
  Doing It Yourself
 

     Stained concrete is a fashionable new trend in basement flooring.  So a basement floor, or even a garage floor, is a great place to start with your first DIY concrete staining project.  Concrete staining products fall into 1 of 4 categories:  dyes, acrylic stains, tinted sealers, and acid stains.  Good technologies have been developed and are available for each.  Dyes, acrylic stains, and tinted sealers are easier to apply than acid stains but can fade and lose adhesion over time, requiring reapplication.  Acid stains are trickier to apply but are more permanent and have the more genuine look of marble or other forms of natural stone.  Dyes, acrylic stains, and tinted sealers also come in both water and solvent based versions.  Solvent based versions always have a strong odor but result in better penetration and adhesion.  Here are some tips:

  
 

      •  If using acrylic concrete stain or tinted concrete sealer, acid etch or make sure your concrete is the profile of medium grit sandpaper
      •  If using acid based concrete stain, test the entire concrete surface with water and make sure no areas resist absorption
      •  Stripping large areas of paint, glue, or adhesive does not always leave concrete clean enough to stain; diamond grinding is better
      •  Small areas are best stripped with Removall from Napier at (912) 571-2377, or available at PPG stores as "DuraPrep"
      •  Download the concrete stain product manufacturer's tech data sheet from their web site, and follow those instructions to a "T"
      •  A quality pump up sprayer (see table below) is  fine for most concrete staining applications; you may also use an HVLP type sprayer
      •  Many cement patch compounds contain polymer & won't accept stain well; we recommend Cement All or Wunder Fixx from Rapid Set
      •  Always use joints or saw cuts to separate different colors in a border or design; concrete stains will bleed under most tapes
      •  Use at least 3 coats of concrete sealer to protect your stained concrete & do not seal until the surface, joints, and cuts are thoroughly dry
      •  Always use a solvent based acrylic ("lacquer") or silane ("water repellent") sealer outside & a water or solvent based acrylic sealer inside 
      •  Only use urethane or epoxy sealers inside, with dry concrete, when wear conditions require it,  and if you have experience with them
      •  Stay away from Kemiko, Increte, and Behr products!  All have great Internet marketing but bad product quality and no customer support
      •  Painting concrete is a bad idea, even with concrete paints; they have poor adhesion & durability and will eventually peel or flake

 
Manufacturer Of High Quality Concrete Stains & Sealers             Chicago Area Installer of High Quality Decorative Concrete Flooring
 		  
  Hiring an Installer
 

     Most people understand the importance of hiring a good contractor for their construction or home improvement project.  But for the best results with stained concrete, you don't just need a good contractor:  you need a skilled and experienced one.  Concrete staining is an art, and you generally get only one attempt at it.  Fixes after the fact are costly, time consuming, and not always possible.  To ensure that you hire the best contractor for your stained concrete project, complete these two checklists:

   Acid-Stained Floor by Gaye Goodman
  A.  The Basics:
 

•  make sure your contractor has liability insurance to cover for accidents or poor project results
•  ensure that they stain floors full time, not in addition to painting, drywall, or another business
•  review photos of their work; confirm that photos are theirs and not on loan from a manufacturer
•  get references and check to see if customers are satisfied with the outcome of their project
•  consult on site with your installer to walk through the project space and clarify design details
 •  get a formal written proposal, not just a verbal or email quote

•  when evaluating bids, compare number of coats of stain, sealer, and floor finish, and type of concrete staining product being used
•  understand that a professional concrete stainer will take at least 4 to 5 days to complete a quality stained concrete project
  Acid-Stained Floor by Stained By Design   B.  Finding the Best:

•  contractor is willing to do several sealed color samples on your floor to pick from
•  contractor is prepared to provide a lien waiver at end of project in accordance with Illinois law
•  company has a professional looking web site; this shows the pride they take in their work
•  company web site appears on 1st several pages of major search engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN)
   results related to "stained concrete"; this is an indicator of company's reputability in industry
•  few or no complaints with Chicago Better Business Bureau; and if so, were they resolved
•  be prepared to pay extra; the best contractors charge more for high quality & attention to detail
Optimizing the Staining Potential of New Concrete

   Light Hard Trowel Finishing of Concrete
 

     It's not always the case, but if you know before your concrete is poured that you want to stain it, there are certain steps you can take to optimize the potential of your concrete for coloring with acid stain or other types of concrete stains and dyes.  Here are some basic rules of thumb and good online references to make your concrete contractor aware of:
 

•  Maximize cement content of the concrete, using a five or six sack mix
•  Limit or preclude the use of pozzolans, such as fly ash, silica fume, and metakaolin
•  Use no plasticizer, mix water conditioner, or densifying admixtures; they block concrete stain
 

•  Avoid calcium chloride based accelerators; they often leave permanent dark spotting and patterning on concrete
•  Specify a light hard trowel finish; burning or excessively power troweling will blacken the surface and hinder staining
•  Avoid liquid curing membranes at all costs; they have to be removed from the surface before staining concrete
•  Wet curing with HydraCure curing covers is best; this increases concrete strength & durability, reduces moisture permeability
•  Use a heavy duty protective covering during any subsequent construction process to avoid damage to the concrete
•  Not using a covering will ensure several more days of surface prep to remove construction chemicals & add thousands to the cost of your project
•  It will also require more aggressive surface prep methods that will remove the top layer of cement and negatively impact staining results
 •  Be wary of ACETONE, which is often spilled or dripped on new concrete by other trades; it will leave PERMANENT white spots!
•  Do not place drywall, framing, lumber, or other large objects on concrete during curing; they will leave dark patterns beneath
•  Cracking generally adds character to stained concrete but can be entirely avoided using CTS'  fiber & expansive cement system
•  Refer to these position statements by the Decorative Concrete Council:  Acid Staining and other Decorative Concrete issues
 
Maintenance of Stained Concrete
 

      Nothing in our world of constant activity and harsh, changing weather conditions is maintenance free.  But one of the great benefits and advantages of stained concrete over other types of floor coverings is its high durability and relatively easy, low maintenance.  By following several basic principles, and investing a regular but limited amount of effort, stained concrete can retain its original, beautiful appearance indefinitely.  Effective stained concrete maintenance is easy and affordable, done by either the owner or an installer.
Concrete Stainers Preparing to Dust Mop Acid-Stained Concrete Floor Before Waxing

 Concrete stainers preparing to dust mop an acid
stained concrete floor before applying floor finish 		A.  Interior

•  Use a vacuum, broom, or micro fiber dust mop weekly to prevent dust accumulation
•  Wooster has a great new dust mop for stained concrete: Dust Eater; as does Norton: BlueMagnet
•  The Shark VX3 costs a little more but is a great new lightweight cordless vacuum for hard surfaces
•  Damp mop monthly using a ph neutral cleaner diluted in cool water to restore gloss
•  Recoat with new floor finish (matte or gloss) periodically to rebuild loss from cleaning & abrasion
•  Most stain manufacturers (above) also carry or recommend brands to be used with their product
•  Exercise caution before placing stationary objects or materials on a stained concrete floor
•  Use felt, fabric, or quality rubber under objects that are heavy or have plastic or acrylic backing
•  Expanded Technologies has a great selection of high quality furniture pads and sliders
•  Be vigilant of painters; they often damage stained concrete with tape, paint, and solvents
 •  Maintain clean, heavy fabric mats at exterior entrances; this will reduce dirt by 85%
•  Refer to more detailed stained concrete floor care & maintenance instructions here
  B.  Exterior Concrete Stain Specialist Preparing to Re-Seal Exterior Stained Concrete
 

•  Waxes and floor finishes are not meant to be used outdoors; they will whiten or discolor
•  To maximize durability and gloss retention, use a high quality solvent acrylic sealer
•  The sun's uv rays degrade even the best clear sealers, so recoating every year or two is a must
•  Light pressure wash (3,000 psi or less) periodically to remove dirt, oils, and other debris
•  Use the same rules about objects as with interiors:  no tape or solvents, and be careful of plastic
•  Be careful of runoff water from plants which may contain tannins or fertilizer and discolor sealer
•  Excess moisture on surface or in concrete may cause sealer to temporarily whiten or "blush"
•  Persistent whitening may be cleared by misting xylene, lacquer thinner, or MEK on sealer surface
•  Dyes, acrylic stains, & tinted sealers will eventually peel and fade outside, requiring reapplication
•  Constant shadowing from trees or other objects may also cause these products to fade unevenly
•  The most effective and permanent outdoor coloring is achieved with acid stains or integral color
•  Avoid blue and green acid stains outside; they will eventually blacken from excess moisture
 
 
 
 
 © 2008 Stained Concrete Chicago.  All rights reserved.  No pictures or any part of this site  may be used or reproduced without the express written consent of Stained Concrete Chicago.  Stained Concrete Chicago is owned by Premier Veneers , a Chicago area staining contractor.
 
Special thanks to Stained By Design and Faux Real Floors for use of their project photos.
  
    Contact us:   Info@StainedConcreteChicago.com