Can you acid stain new concrete? Yes. New slabs take acid stain beautifully — with two conditions: let the concrete cure at least 30 days so it’s fully dry and hard, and aim for a mix with less than 10% fly ash for a good chemical reaction (too much fly ash, and a water-based stain like ColorWave® may be the better call). This real project — a new commercial headquarters floor in Black and Azure Blue — shows how it’s done.
A new commercial slab acid-stained in Black and Azure Blue EverStain™ — cost-effective and stunning.
— Kyle Wilkins, DIY Contest Winner (May 2021)
How the project came together
Kyle prepped the new slab thoroughly, laid a lighter base color first, then worked in darker accents, neutralized, and sealed. Applying the light shade first makes it far easier to layer the darker colors on top.
What’s Next
- The full method → How to Apply Acid Stain to Concrete
- Staining floors → Acid-Stained Concrete Floors
- Blending colors → Layering Acid Stains
- Shop → EverStain™ · Trial Kits
Direct Colors. Shawnee, OK. Manufacturing the full decorative concrete system since 1997.
