ColorWave2-Step Trial System(3 colors to test)
Test 3 colors, stained and sealed, on your own concrete.
$39.95$58.80
Save $18.85
ColorWave® Molasses · AcquaSeal™
Water-based concrete stains
Water-based concrete stains color bare concrete with fine pigments carried in water, for semi-transparent color indoors and out.
Shop water-based color
9 products
ColorWave® Stain
5 productsEach system pairs the stain with its sealer.
ColorWave2-Step Complete Kit(Up to 200 sq ft)
Everything to stain and seal 200 sq ft, tools included.
From$188.95$225.95
Save $37.00Est. $0.60/sq ft200 sq ft · full tool retail value excluded
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ColorWave2-Step Contractor System(Up to 1,000 sq ft)
Contractor-scale color and protection for up to 1,000 sq ft.
ColorWave2-Step Stain Bundle(Up to 200 sq ft)
Matched stain and sealer for 200 sq ft, in one order.
ColorWaveStain(About 200 sq ft per gallon)
Translucent color that soaks into concrete. Sealer sold separately.
AcquaTint™ Colored Sealer
4 productsThe two systems with ProWax Polish™ are for interior floors.
AcquaTintTrial System(3 colors to test)
Test 3 colors on your own concrete before you commit.
$29.95$43.85
Save $13.90
AcquaTintContractor System(About 1,000 sq ft)
Color, seal and protect about 1,000 sq ft of interior floor.
AcquaTintInterior Seal & Polish System(About 200 sq ft)
Color, seal and protect about 200 sq ft of interior floor.
AcquaTintColored Sealer(About 200 sq ft per gallon)
Long-lasting color and protection in one water-based product.
Guides for every step
Prep, color and sealer guidance that helps every coat work together.
Prepare your concrete
Clean it, water-test it and open the surface so the color can take.
Read the prep guideUse water-based stain
How to apply, layer and seal water-based stain, step by step.
Learn the processChoose the right sealer
Match the sealer to the room or slab, the traffic and the finish you want.
Compare sealersSee AcquaTint™ projects
Real floors, patios and walkways colored and sealed with AcquaTint™.
View the galleryWatch before you start
Real water-based floors
Customer projects, with the colors they used.
Know before the first coat
Coverage, times and temperatures on this page come from each product's technical data sheet: ColorWave® TDS and AcquaTint™ TDS. Every slab takes color differently, so test a small area first.
What is a water-based concrete stain?
ColorWave® is a water-based stain whose fine pigments soak into the concrete's pores, so your slab's own character shows through instead of being covered like paint. It's translucent, and a sealer locks the color in.
How is it different from acid stain?
Acid stain reacts with the concrete to create permanent, variegated color. ColorWave® needs no reaction (its pigments settle into the pores and the sealer holds them), and AcquaTint™ colors and seals in one product, so both give even color on new concrete that may not take an acid stain.
Which one for indoor floors or outdoor slabs?
Indoors, choose ColorWave® sealed with AcquaSeal™, or AcquaTint™ finished with ProWax Polish™ (the Interior Seal & Polish System has both). Outdoors both work: ColorWave® under EasySeal™ Satin or AcquaSeal™ Satin, or AcquaTint™ on its own for patios and walkways.
Do I need to seal it?
ColorWave®, yes: sealing locks the color in and brings it to full richness, with AcquaSeal™, HydroCryl™ or EasySeal™. AcquaTint™ is already a sealer, so two coats finish most patios and walkways; indoors, a ProWax Polish™ top coat is recommended.
How much does a gallon cover?
About 200 sq ft at two coats, for both ColorWave® and AcquaTint™. Porous, broomed or older concrete soaks up more, so it covers less.
How do I know my concrete is ready?
Pour a little water on clean concrete and wait 3 to 5 minutes: if it soaks in, you're ready. If it sits on top, open the surface with CitrusEtch™ first, and give new concrete at least 28 days to cure.
Can it go over sealed or painted concrete?
No: both need clean, bare concrete, so remove any sealer, paint or coating first with Destiny™ Stripper. ColorWave® can't soak into a sealed surface, and AcquaTint™ has to bond directly to the concrete.
How long before I can walk on it?
AcquaTint™ takes foot traffic after 6 to 12 hours and is fully cured at 24 hours. With ColorWave®, the sealer sets the time: about 24 hours with AcquaSeal™, 16 to 24 hours with EasySeal™.
