A Retaining Wall’s Transformation: Acid Staining Made Simple
by Justin Richardson
Are you eyeing that bland retaining wall in your backyard? The one you’ve always wished could blend with the surrounding natural beauty or perhaps act as an accent piece in your landscape design? Well, the perfect solution could be at your fingertips. Enter acid staining, a method that can help transform your concrete retaining wall into an artistic masterpiece. In this blog, we will walk you through an easy DIY process of acid staining your retaining wall using DecoGel Acid Stain.
What is DecoGel Acid Stain? DecoGel Acid Stain is a gel-based concrete stain that’s perfect for vertical applications such as retaining walls. This gel formula eliminates drips and runs, resulting in an even and richly colored surface. The gel allows you to apply the stain precisely, giving you more control over the final look of your project.
How to Acid Stain your Retaining Wall using DecoGel Acid Stain
For your DIY project, you need DecoGel Acid Stain, a cheap sprayer, long-handled foam roller, a scrub brush, ProClean Degreaser™, ProClean Neutralizer™, and EasySeal™ Solvent-Based Acrylic Sealer.
Below is a simplified step-by-step guide:
- Preparation
- Cover areas that may be affected by over-spray with a plastic drop cloth.
- Let new concrete cure for at least 30 days before application.
- For existing concrete, remove paint, adhesives, oils, dirt, and debris. This can be achieved using Soy Gel Stripper, Bean-E-Doo® Mastic Remover, and a scrub brush with ProClean Degreaser™.
- Verify absorption by spraying water in various areas. If it’s not absorbed within five minutes, etch the surface with CitrusEtch™, then neutralize the surface with ProClean Neutralizer™ and rinse thoroughly.
- Allow the concrete to thoroughly dry before application.
- Application
- Apply a generous coat of DecoGel™ using a foam brush or paint brush. The stain should be about 1/16” thick.
- Allow the stain to react and develop color over 4-6 hours. Richer colors may take more time.
- Once the desired color is achieved, neutralize the stain with ProClean Neutralizer™.
- Remove excess dried DecoGel™ using a scrub brush.
- Spray ProClean Neutralizer™ on the surface and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the surface with water until clear of residue.
- Let the concrete dry for at least eight hours before applying sealer. The color may appear chalky or faded as it dries, but it will “pop” once the sealer is applied.
- Seal & Protect Finish
- Apply two thin coats of EasySeal™ Solvent-Based Acrylic Sealer.
For a thorough cleanup, neutralize your tools with ProClean Neutralizer™ and then wash them with ProClean Degreaser™ and warm water.
Once you have sealed your newly stained retaining wall, it’s time to enjoy your new look. Acid-stained concrete retaining walls can transform an otherwise dull landscape feature into an attractive, sophisticated piece of art. Your wall will not only serve a practical purpose but also become an aesthetic feature of your garden or yard.
Remember to maintain the sealer as recommended to protect the stain and prolong the life of your retaining wall.
The DIY community is all about trying new things and learning from the process. By staining your concrete retaining wall, you’ll gain a new skill and increase your DIY know-how, and have a beautiful wall to show for your efforts. The possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your retaining walls with acid stain.
DIY SPOTLIGHT: THE GREAT WALL OF GLENOMA
“We bought a few acres of property, which is a south face and nice view, but is on a bit of a slope. We decided we needed to cut into a bank and needed a retaining wall. We found a company that made 300-lb. ecology blocks nearby, so we decided to make the retaining wall out of them.
We used about 160 blocks — 4′ x 2.5′ x 2′ — to make the wall. When it was finished, it looked good, but we decided if we could color the wall, it would not look so commercial.
We looked into different staining methods and decided on the acid stain for longevity and virtually no maintenance. We talked to different companies and had very good luck with Direct Colors. Justin was very helpful on the phone on how to apply the stains and had a very good price.”
Larry and Tina had just purchased some new property, but needed to build a retaining wall. Once the wall was built, they thought it would look better if they colored it somehow. Here’s their acid staining concrete retaining walls story in their own words:
“We went with the Cola color Deco Gel Acid Stain with the solvent-based, satin finish acrylic sealer.
We let the blocks cure for three months and then pressure-washed them to make sure they were clean. Three days later, we stained the blocks with the gelled acid stain.
We used a cheap sprayer and long-handled foam roller. My wife and I were able to apply all the acid stain in two hours. We then let it set for another two hours, and then applied baking soda water with the sprayer to neutralize the acid.”
“We had a nice hot day, so the next day I sprayed the sealer, which was very easy. I did both applications in the morning when it was cool, so when the day warmed up, the drying was very fast.
We are absolutely satisfied with our acid staining concrete retaining walls result and get many compliments. We call our work the Great Wall of Glenoma for the little town it is located in. The wall now blends in with the hillside and doesn’t look commercial.”
Thank you. Larry and Tina
DIY SPOTLIGHT: RETAINING WALL ACID STAINED STENCIL
Julie had a retaining wall on her property that was a bright white eyesore. She decided that gel acid staining concrete retaining wall would be for the better. Julie used Coffee Brown, Black, English Red Deco Gel and solvent based, satin finish acrylic concrete sealer to complete her retaining wall project.
“I used Direct Colors Deco Gel concrete acid stain two years ago to stain a 120 foot white concrete retaining wall. The wall now looks great and I get a lot of compliments.”
“The wall was a regular poured concrete wall in a brick pattern form. I took a clean broom to wipe the concrete wall from any debris. I applied the Deco Gel with a paint brush. I spot stained occasional orange bricks then did the rest with coffee brown (not black). Then I used a sprayer with water and baking soda to neutralize the stain after it remained on the wall for many hours.” -Julie J.
Julie was able to completely cover the white concrete with our Deco Gel Acid Stains and achieve a beautifully stained concrete retaining wall. This will not only add value to the property, but also enhance the atmosphere in her backyard.
DecoGel is the perfect choice for vertical surfaces like retaining walls. Because the stain is in gel form, there are no drips or runs allowing Julie to create individual bricks in different colors and create the realistic look she was going for.
Stamped Concrete Wall
Acid-staining your concrete retaining wall is a straightforward, cost-effective way to significantly upgrade the look of your outdoor space. With a little time, effort, and the right materials, you can transform your retaining wall from bland and practical to a stunning focal point. Whether you opt for the rustic look of Cola DecoGel or the rich depth of Coffee Brown, your DIY acid-stained retaining wall will be the envy of your neighborhood.
Finally, don’t forget to share your story, pictures, and experiences with other DIY enthusiasts. You might inspire others to tackle their own DIY acid stain retaining wall projects!
Happy DIYing!
