arbutus
Member
I'm bound and determined to acid stain my basement floor.
It was built in the early 1990s, fairly smooth, machine troweled hard, and only a few tight hairline cracks from curing.
Water beaded up and stayed until it evaporated. I ground the first area I will be doing, both to open the concrete for the stain up, and to remove partial checkerboard glue residue from peel and stick vinyl.
Family logistics dictate one move of utility equipment out of the area, proceed with stain and seal over a few days max, and move the equipment back in before proceeding with the rest of the basement. The first area is about 200 sq feet.
I have the acid stain in hand, but haven't settled on a densifier or sealer once the stain is down. The area has a high water table and clay soil but I have a sump pump and drain tile. Never had water up through the concrete but I don't know rates which it moves through the slab. I have had the pump fail once in 11 years and caught it an inch or so below the upper edge of the sump. No water or dampness was visible through the floor then.
I have the acid stain in hand (Sika Lithochrome). I haven't settled on a densifier or sealer. Finished surface doesn't need to be gloss, just not produce dust and be reasonably easy to clean. First area is a utility and laundry area. The second area is a family area with everything from bedroom to sewing and craft area to dance barre to weights and elliptical.
Advice appreciated on next steps:
1) Check water transmission through slab.
2) If high, select a vapor permeable densifier, if low, select a water (likely) or solvent (vapors might be an issue) sealer.
3) Clean floor. This area has had light foot traffic since grinding. Is a standard household floor cleaner like Mr. Clean ok?
4) Stain.
5) Neutralize. (Uncertain if I need spiked shoes or tyvek shoe covers or neither)
6) Stain and Neutralize again if darker is desired.
7) Seal or densify. (Again Im uncertain if spiked shoes are necessary for the first or second coat.)
8) Wax.
9) Move all the stuff back and tackle the other 600 sq feet.
It was built in the early 1990s, fairly smooth, machine troweled hard, and only a few tight hairline cracks from curing.
Water beaded up and stayed until it evaporated. I ground the first area I will be doing, both to open the concrete for the stain up, and to remove partial checkerboard glue residue from peel and stick vinyl.
Family logistics dictate one move of utility equipment out of the area, proceed with stain and seal over a few days max, and move the equipment back in before proceeding with the rest of the basement. The first area is about 200 sq feet.
I have the acid stain in hand, but haven't settled on a densifier or sealer once the stain is down. The area has a high water table and clay soil but I have a sump pump and drain tile. Never had water up through the concrete but I don't know rates which it moves through the slab. I have had the pump fail once in 11 years and caught it an inch or so below the upper edge of the sump. No water or dampness was visible through the floor then.
I have the acid stain in hand (Sika Lithochrome). I haven't settled on a densifier or sealer. Finished surface doesn't need to be gloss, just not produce dust and be reasonably easy to clean. First area is a utility and laundry area. The second area is a family area with everything from bedroom to sewing and craft area to dance barre to weights and elliptical.
Advice appreciated on next steps:
1) Check water transmission through slab.
2) If high, select a vapor permeable densifier, if low, select a water (likely) or solvent (vapors might be an issue) sealer.
3) Clean floor. This area has had light foot traffic since grinding. Is a standard household floor cleaner like Mr. Clean ok?
4) Stain.
5) Neutralize. (Uncertain if I need spiked shoes or tyvek shoe covers or neither)
6) Stain and Neutralize again if darker is desired.
7) Seal or densify. (Again Im uncertain if spiked shoes are necessary for the first or second coat.)
8) Wax.
9) Move all the stuff back and tackle the other 600 sq feet.