so after searching on here, I still have a few ques. Is the stain at lowes a stain or paint?? they mixed it like paint? and I have read nothing about neutralizing it after putting it down?? Also they said I should start with the light color first and add the darker color to my liking? Thanks for the help
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concrete stain?
- Thread starter 79mudbugg
- Start date
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Acrylic paint.
Weak and susceptible to hot tire issues.
True concrete stains are typically translucent.
Weak and susceptible to hot tire issues.
True concrete stains are typically translucent.
kd3pc
Well-known member
so after searching on here, I still have a few ques. Is the stain at lowes a stain or paint?? they mixed it like paint? and I have read nothing about neutralizing it after putting it down?? Also they said I should start with the light color first and add the darker color to my liking? Thanks for the help
not sure what they are talking about, light color first and darker to your liking.
The box stores offer something they call stain, and something they call concrete paint...it is not clear which they are offering to you and they are two completely different product, with different application prerequisites and preparation. The stain is purely cosmetic and is not made for cars to park on it, or work on it and the like. It will need to be redone at least every year, if not sooner. The paint is even less sturdy and will not adhere to a smoothly finished floor for long, if at all. Works on rough finished or broom swept OK, again a year or so of life. Neither offer much protection to the surface.
Both are expensive when compared to products you learn about here on GJ, when you look at the overall long term project.
I still say stay away from these stores and go to a concrete plant or contractor, or the dealers here on GJ and talk to them about what works for your concrete situation. Age, finish and use will definitely impact what you will need to do....and cost of application.
I used a clear finish from the local concrete plant and it rolls on, I did two coats and it looks great and is easy to walk on - even wet, it is easy to keep clean and keeps the concrete from dusting, however it is not resistant to a lot of stuff, so you need to mop/clean up quickly and it is not anywhere near as tough as epoxy. It meets my needs and was a lot cheaper than the box store stuff. It needs recoating every two years or so.
More details and pictures as to what the floor is, looks like, age and what you want to do on it, will allow more folks to offer advice.
thanks for the replies sry bout it not being in detail, it will not be used in the shop area, it is more less an office/ man cave. so the worst it will see is foot traffic and a few beers! yeah I figured it was not a top quality product like people have on here. (my wife seen it in one of those booklets at lowes and was like WOW, I told her it probably wont ever look like that in real life)concrete is troweled smooth but no sealer, so the paper work says etch, clean, dry. damping concrete and spray semi transparent stain. Thanks for the info guys.
Use the pump up sprayers from the garden department at the box stores and keep the pressure high. Mask your walls with 18" paper. Set the spray tip to a nice fog type spray pattern. Dampen floor with water, not soak it. Keep a quart cup in your hand with a rag in it and start your spray in the cup, don't let go and move to the floor. Don't let go of the trigger until the nozzle is back in the cup. This will eliminate drips from starting or stopping. Use circular motions to avoid leaving a pattern. The second color goes on in the same manner, but with less coverage. Keep your water sprayer handy to fog the second color to help lay out. This will give you a mottled look with professional results that you can be proud of.
Show some pics when you're all done. Love to see the finished work. I'm trying a prototype stain out tomorrow that we are hoping to be UV resistant and work well outdoors. Each type of stain has it's own characteristics, but the application method doesn't vary too much. The sprayer I use is an SP35 acetone sprayer and they are $150 and up, but with that method you can get the same results in small areas