Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement · Episode 37
Listen to this episode
Acid stain reacts with the concrete rather than coating it, so the color is permanent — which is exactly why the slab has to be a candidate in the first place. Shawna Turner on how to tell before you order, where to start if it is your first project, and the sealer choice that matters most: water-based indoors, solvent outdoors, and never high gloss where the surface gets wet.
7 min 33 sec · Download MP3 (10.4 MB)
For this job you need: EverStain™ 3-Step Kit · EverStain™ · ProSeal Li™
Not sure which is right for your slab? Send us the details — the free project consultation is a person, not a form letter.
The written guide on this topic, with photographs: Acid-Stained Concrete Floors: How-To Guide.
Editor’s note. This episode was recorded some years ago. The transcript below has been corrected where the facts have changed; nothing about the technique has been altered.
- “Sorrel” is no longer a dye color. The current Vibrance™ range does not include it, so the shade Shawna used on her own floor cannot be ordered today. Shifting Sand is still a current EverStain™ color.
- Two products in that same story are discontinued — the concrete overlay and the “550 Glossy Polyurethane”. Direct Colors no longer sells an overlay, and that polyurethane is discontinued, so the branding has been dropped; the technique still works with an overlay from a concrete supplier.
- “DCI Water Based Sealer” is now AcquaSeal™. “Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer” is EasySeal™ Satin and “AC1315 High Gloss” is EasySeal™ Gloss. “DCI Penetrating Lithium Hardener Sealer” is ProSeal Li™.
- The “DIY Acid Stain Kit for Homeowners” is now the EverStain™ 3-Step Complete Kit, still covering 200 sq ft. The “Kit Add-on” she offers is discontinued and has been left in her own words rather than rewritten — for a bigger area today, order the EverStain™ 3-Step Contractor System at 1,000 sq ft, or add product individually.
- ProSeal Li™ was described as “a one-time application sealer”. Softened: a penetrating sealer avoids the periodic recoating a film sealer needs, but we do not claim a single application lasts forever.
- The unboxing video referenced is no longer published.
- Two sentences of general marketing copy have been dropped — “That’s when Direct Colors can help!” from the intro, and a line about providing design tips and product recommendations. Neither carries technique or product information.
- ⚠ Direct Colors does sell a polyurethane again — ThaneForce™ High Gloss, for professionals only. It is not available to buy online and has no product page: call (877) 255-2656 to buy. It comes in 3 gallon and 15 gallon. The specific products named in this episode are still discontinued — this is a different sealer, not a reissue.
- Housekeeping, applied to every episode in this archive. The spoken sign-off has been rewritten to point here rather than at the old directcolors.com/listen address. The RSS-feed line, the social-media list and any pointers to retired photo-gallery, blog or video pages have been dropped, along with pointers to pages that have since been retired or superseded by the links under What’s Next — in some episodes that removes a whole sentence or a short exchange. Every speaker says “design consultation”; the service is now called the free project consultation, and we have used the current name throughout rather than send you to a page that no longer exists. Run-on speaker turns, duplicated intro lines and obvious transcription slips have been repaired without changing meaning. Nothing bearing on technique, safety or product choice has been altered; those changes are itemized above.
Still accurate: acid stain is chemically reactive and permanently alters the concrete; smooth basement and garage slabs often need profiling while eroded patios may not react at all; and the sealer logic — water-based indoors, solvent outdoors, and never a high gloss on anything that gets slippery when wet, pool surrounds and garage floors included.
What to use for this today
Shawna’s own floor used an overlay, a discontinued dye color and a polyurethane. Here is how you would build the same look from the current range.
- Base color
- EverStain™ Acid Stain — Shifting Sand is still current.
- Accent color (in place of the old dye shade)
- Vibrance™ Dye, or DecoGel™ where you want it to stay put.
- Seal indoors
- AcquaSeal™, or HydroCryl™ where you want maximum chemical resistance.
- Seal outdoors
- EasySeal™ Satin — and ProSeal Li™ where you want no film at all.
- Everything in one box
- EverStain™ 3-Step Complete Kit covers 200 sq ft.
Full transcript
Tyler Thompson: You’re listening to Direct Colors podcast Episode 37: Acid Stain Concrete Indoors and Out! If this is your first time listening, then thanks for joining us. Acid stained concrete is a popular option for both floors and patios, but what are the pros and cons, and how do homeowners or businesses know if acid stain is the right choice for their project? Here to talk about the options is Direct Colors General Manager, Shawna Turner. Welcome back to the podcast, Shawna.
Shawna Turner: Thanks, Tyler.
TT: So, what are the advantages of acid staining concrete floors and patios?
ST: Without question, acid stained concrete makes outdoor concrete look beautiful and increases your home’s overall curb appeal. Acid stain is a chemically-reactive stain that permanently alters the color of the concrete, which is particularly beneficial for patios or other outdoor concrete exposed to weather and wear over time. As for concrete floors, I think our customers probably appreciate the ease of cleaning and low allergens the most over time, especially if they have pets. Every acid stained floor application is unique and really gives your home a stunning look without being ridiculously expensive. Acid stain, sealer and floor wax are a very durable flooring system that will give you many years of use without refinishing or stripping.
ST: I stripped out the carpet in my home about 7 years ago because of allergies and I was just sick of carpet in general. I used a concrete overlay to create some texture on the floor, acid stained with Shifting Sand, highlighted with a concrete dye and sealed with a water based sealer and finally a glossy polyurethane. My floors still look great and I’ve never done more to clean them than a mop and a very light dishwashing soap and water solution. A huge improvement over carpet, I can tell you!
TT: Since acid stain is a chemically-reactive stain, I would think the quality and condition of your concrete would be important. How do you know if acid stain is a good choice for your project?
ST: That’s a very good question. It’s true that not all concrete is a good candidate for acid staining. Sometimes concrete floors, especially in basements and garages, are too smooth to acid stain and need to be profiled; or in the case of outdoor concrete, patios are too eroded to get a good reaction with the stain. We have a comprehensive guide to help DIYers determine if their concrete is ready for acid staining or not. The first page of the guide has a short list of questions and tests that, if followed, significantly reduce the chances of problems during the process. We also have acid stain guides specific to our most popular projects, including patios, basement floors, concrete floors and garages. Of course, doing a test area on the actual concrete first using acid stain samples does confirm whether the acid stain will react well with the concrete or not, and we highly recommend testing before ordering product for the larger project.
TT: That makes good sense. If I were a first-time DIYer starting with a small acid stained concrete floor or patio project, what would you recommend?
ST: Most of our DIY homeowners begin with a patio or possibly a bathroom acid stain concrete floor project. Both are manageable in size and scope for most handy individuals. With this in mind, Direct Colors created the DIY acid stain kit that includes all the tools and products needed to complete a 200 sq. ft. indoor or outdoor acid staining project. If you have a slightly larger patio or floor, we also have a DIY Acid Stain Kit Add-on that has the cleaner, neutralizer, acid stain and sealer for an additional 200 sq. ft.
TT: We haven’t really discussed sealer options, but how would you choose between the sealers available in the kit?
ST: As a general rule, I recommend using water based sealers indoors and EasySeal™ Satin outdoors. Water based sealers, either high or satin gloss, are low odor and can easily be applied even in an occupied home or basement with little ventilation. Having said that, we do have a number of customers that really want a wet-look, high gloss sealer and prefer to use EasySeal™ Gloss. That’s fine as long as there is excellent ventilation to the outside during application and the customer is wearing a respirator to apply. Safety first!
ST: The gloss can also be used outside, but I’d reserve that for heavily textured, porous or stamped concrete. EasySeal™ Satin is a better choice for smoother outdoor concrete, especially around pools or on any surface that could become slippery when wet — and that includes garage floors. This sealer looks great, is very durable and won’t turn your concrete into an ice skating rink when wet, which is very important to most homeowners.
ST: Now if you’d prefer a matte concrete finish, ProSeal Li™ can be used on floors or outdoor concrete and is a great deal on patios, driveways and garage floors in particular, because it does not need the periodic recoating a film sealer does and is very salt-resistant. For folks living in very cold climates, that’s a valuable selling point for sure.
TT: That’s extremely helpful information and will no doubt inspire DIYers to get started with their first decorative concrete project. If you have questions about your project, call one of our expert technicians at 877-255-2656 and we’ll help you select the best products and technique for your needs. If you prefer email, send in a free online project consultation and we’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours.
What’s Next
- The written guide → Acid-Stained Concrete Floors
- Is your slab ready? → Concrete Surface Preparation · the prep episode
- Pick a color → Acid Stain Colors Guide · Shifting Sand Gallery
- Sealer choice → Best Concrete Sealer
- Shop → EverStain™ 3-Step Kit · EverStain™ · ProSeal Li™
