ColorWave® Stain: DIY Stained Concrete Transformations
Explore our gallery of before-and-after photos featuring DIY concrete staining projects. From living rooms to patios, see how ColorWave® Stain makes a difference.
By Justin Richardson
Tri-Room Remodel with ColorWave® Stain
This project highlights a transformative remodel of a kitchen, family, and laundry room, where everything was stripped down to the concrete and rejuvenated using ColorWave® Stain. Despite some challenges with the gloss application and a slight texture in the finish due to overgrinding, the result is a revitalized space with a pleasing new aesthetic.
Tip: Apply the stains in a wet-on-wet technique, similar to acid staining, and used multiple layers to achieve the desired effect.
Please be aware that each photo in this gallery showcases projects accomplished with our ColorWave® Water-based Stain and is provided by actual customers, serving as a source of inspiration. However, since ColorWave® is semi-transparent, the final appearance of your project will be influenced by the initial color and condition of your concrete surface, and thus, your final results might vary. For the best results, we strongly recommend performing a small test on your specific surface before applying the stain to the entire project to ensure the final look aligns with your expectations.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 7 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 500 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
Complete Kitchen, Family and Laundry Room remodel taking the rooms down to the studs including 2 layers of flooring to reveal the concrete. - Personal Tips:
I originally was drawn to the acid stain floors but chose ColorWave for the convenience but applied it somewhat like an acid stain with the wet on wet multiple colors. I started out with a white only (which I would skip were I to do it again). I did 3 layers of color, but two would have have worked well. I especially love the Silver which in certainly light a baby blue and reacts with the Iron Gray to be similar to a dark Navy.I used a first coat sealer of the EasySeal Satin and then topped it off with the EasySeal Gloss. The satin coverage was perfect, but the Gloss seemed to be soaking in too much in some areas and glossing better in others. I ended up putting 3 thin coats of the gloss for the best coverage. It is not fully glassy as I had hoped but has a slight texture which I believe is due to some overgrinding in areas. I finished with 2 coats of High Gloss Floor Wax. Due to the fumes in EasySeal Solvent Sealer, I would choose the water based sealer even though it is not as good for “re-sealing.” - Direct Colors Products Used:
ColorWave® Stain Trial Kit (Navy, Rust & Stone)
ColorWave® Stain Trial Kit (Black, Blue, Steel)
Patch-Rx™ Concrete Repair: Base Gray: 2.5 lbs
Patch-Rx™ Concrete Repair: Base White: 2.5 lbs
1 Gal. Silver ColorWave® Stain
3 x 1 Gal. White ColorWave® Stain
2 x 1 Gal. Stone ColorWave® Stain
1 Qt. Iron ColorWave® Stain
3 x 1 Gal. EasySeal™ Gloss
1 Gal. ProWax Polish™ Gloss - Other Products Used:
Angle Grinder with Diamond Blade, Rotating Sander, Simple Green Degreaser, Wet Dry Shop Vacuum.
From Basement Mess to Marble Elegance: A Concrete Stain Transformation
This project transformed a mastic-covered basement into a marbled masterpiece using White and Steel Gray ColorWave® stains. Despite initial tile ghosting, the application of sealer revealed a floor resembling a magnified marble slab, adding an extraordinary touch to an ordinary basement.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 7 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 420 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
I had a basement that was about 3/4 mastic that flooded about 5 years ago. When it flooded all of the 1970’s tile that was under the carpet lost its adhesion and came away. I was left with all the black asbestos mastic and a mess. Luckily I had already used Direct Colors for my countertops so I figured if there was one place that could solve my ugly basement this was the place. - Personal Tips:
BE PATIENT it is worth doing right and letting the product dry and/or cure for the correct time.Also, I had a lot better luck using one of the twist mops when applying the polish and just going over it lightly - Direct Colors Products Used:
1 Gal. Steel DIY ColorWave® & AcquaSeal™ Gloss Kit
2 x 1 Gal. White ColorWave® & AcquaSeal™ Gloss Kit
1 Gal. White ColorWave® Stain
1 Gal. ProWax Polish™ Gloss
1 Gal. CitrusEtch™ Concrete Etcher
1 Qt. ProClean Neutralizer™ Concentrate
1 Qt. ProClean Degreaser™ Concentrate
1 Gal. Bean-E-Doo Mastic Remover - Other Products Used:
Libman floor brush
Twist mops
Floor scraper
Spyder scraper blade attachment for saw all
DIY Marbled Concrete Floors: Achieving a Stunning Look With ColorWave® Water-Based Stain Using the Puddling Method
In this project, we breathed new life into the space using ColorWave’s Black, Stone Gray, and Iron Gray hues. Utilizing the “puddling method,” we achieved a unique texture and sealed it with AcquaSeal™ high gloss sealer, topped off by two coats of ProWax Polish™ Satin.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 430 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
We used Colorwave Black, Stone Gray and Iron gray, used the “puddling method” and finished it off with an acrylic water based high gloss sealer. We also put 2 coats of wax afterwards. - Direct Colors Products Used:
1 Gal. Black ColorWave® Stain
1 Gal. Iron ColorWave® Stain
1 Gal. Stone ColorWave® Stain
3 x 1 Gal. AcquaSeal™ Gloss
1 Gal. ProWax Polish™ Satin - Other Products Used:
Wet Dry Shop Vacuum.
Industrial Basement Transformation: Crafting a Modern Home Office
Explore the transformation of an unfinished basement into a sleek, industrial home office. A homeowner overcame paint overspray and etching marks by using stain samples and a buffing technique to achieve a distinct stone-like look. Dive into this inspiring project to learn how to craft your own floor makeover.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 4 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 210 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
Our project is to make our basement into some usable bonus space. We aren’t completely finishing out the space but going for a polished industrial type of look. This space will be a future work from home office space. - Personal Tips:
We had a lot of paint overspray and learned that vinegar works great to pull that up and on stubborn areas my steam shot cleaner worked great. Don’t skimp on the prep, it was so much work but definitely necessary.We etched our floors and after the first coat of stain, we could see all of our scrub brush strokes from etching, it looks really bad. When the brush marks didn’t dry away we were left to problem-solve. We took out black and silver samples and tried to hide the worst areas. We left that to dry a bit and it didn’t look quite right so we actually took our bissell spinwave mop and swirled/buffed the stain. This worked great! It hid the etching marks and made a really nice stone type of look with the three colors. It was a rollar coaster but I love how it turned out. - Direct Colors Products Used:
ColorWave® Stain Trial Kit ( Black, Silver & Stone)
2 x 1 Gal. Steel ColorWave® Stain AcquaSeal™ Gloss Kit - Other Products Used:
Rust-Oleum Clean & Etch & ZEP Wet-Look Floor Polish
DIY Heated Concrete Driveway: Adding Color with ColorWave and Finishing with Wet Look Sealer
If you live in an area with harsh winter weather, a heated concrete driveway may be the solution you’ve been looking for. That’s exactly what one DIYer did, and the result is both functional and beautiful.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 15 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 360 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
New heated driveway approach - Direct Colors Products Used:
1 Gal. Almond ColorWave® Stain
1 Gal. Amber ColorWave® Stain
1 Gal. Olive ColorWave® Stain
2 x 1 Gal. AcquaSeal™ Gloss
DIY Concrete Floor Makeover: Achieving a Natural Stone Effect with ColorWave® White and Blue Stain
This project involved transforming the flooring of an entire home built on a slab on grade . The goal was to make the concrete floors resemble stone rather than plain concrete. White ColorWave® was applied throughout the home using a dry mop and hand-held pump sprayer, with blue added to the laundry and walk-in shower.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 2300 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
We have a slab on grade home that we chose to use those concrete floors as our flooring throughout the entire home. We wanted to add some color to them to make it look more like stone than just a plain concrete floor. We applied ColorWave white to the entire floor with a dry mop. We applied the white stain color using a hand held pump sprayer to the entire floor and then dry mopped it. We also added blue to the laundry and walk in shower. We power washed and wet vac on Friday. Vacuumed any leftover debris on Saturday morning applied the white and blue colors Saturday morning and put the first coat of sealer on Saturday afternoon. The second coat of high-gloss sealer went on Sunday afternoon. - Personal Tips:
We used the dry mop because we wanted more of a cloudy look than a sprayed on paint look. When rubbing the color in using the dry mop use circular motions rather than side to side. - Direct Colors Products Used:
ColorWave® Stain Trial Kit
5 Gal. White ColorWave® & EasySeal™ Gloss Kit
1 Gal. White ColorWave® Stain
1 Qt. Blue ColorWave® Stain
5 Gal. ProWax Polish™ Gloss - Other Products Used:
Wet Dry Shop Vacuum.
Mottled Makeover for a Pre-K Space
This Pre-K space was transformed with a mottled effect using ColorWave® Stain in Molasses and Mahogany. Two coats of EasySeal™ and a finish of ProWax Polish™ resulted in a lively and engaging environment for little learners.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 5 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 350 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
After concrete prep everything was easy the stain, sealer, and polish. Love the look and the finished product. - Personal Tip: Never put paint or adhesive on concrete. It’s hard to get off.
- Direct Colors Products Used:
1 Gal. Mahogany DIY ColorWave® & EasySeal™ Gloss Kit
1 Gal. Molasses ColorWave® & EasySeal™ Gloss Kit
5 Gal. ProWax Polish™ Gloss - Other Products Used:
Finish sander ( rented)
And a lot of mop water.
Custom Concrete Countertop by @cretewooddesigns
A custom concrete countertop created by @cretewooddesigns. The project involved working in layers and using water to blend colors, allowing for easy manipulation of the finish before sealing, resulting in a unique and much-appreciated final product.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 4 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 23 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
This was a custom concrete countertop project for our friends. They absolutely love it! ❤️ - Personal Tips:
Work in layers until you get the look you want. The product runs off easily before being sealed, so it’s easily manipulated to the finish you are wanting. Also, using water to help the colors come together well results in a unique look. - Direct Colors Products Used:
ColorWave® Stain Trial Kit (Iron, Molasses & Rust)
ColorWave® Stain Trial Kit (White, Steel & Stone)
1 Gal. Iron ColorWave® Stain - Other Products Used:
Trinic topical sealer
DIY Concrete Sunroom Makeover: Adding Character with ColorWave Gold Stain
If you’re looking to add some character to your outdoor space, a concrete patio makeover may be just the thing you need! That’s exactly what one DIYer did with their small 8×20 sunroom patio, and the result is stunning.
Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 5 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 160 sq. ft.
- Direct Colors Products Used:
1 Gal. Gold DIY ColorWave® & EasySeal™ Satin Kit
DIY Driveway Paver Re-Staining: Water Based Concrete Stains Before & After
Are your concrete pavers looking faded and dull? Give them a fresh new look with a DIY re-staining project! That’s exactly what one DIYer did, and the results are impressive.
This project took 15 days to complete, and the DIYer started by researching products to re-stain their faded pavers. They ultimately decided on a ColorWave trial kit from Direct Colors, and were pleased with the results. They then ordered more product and set to work, applying it according to the directions.
To add some color and interest to the pavers, the DIYer used Direct Colors’ Rust ColorWave concrete stain. They applied it using an old Wagner spray gun, which made the job easier and faster. Once the stain was dry, they applied a coat of acrylic sealer in high gloss water base for a durable and long-lasting finish.
The end result? The DIYer’s pavers were restored to their former glory, and their neighbors were in shock at the transformation. If you’re considering a DIY concrete paver re-staining project for your own home, we recommend following the directions carefully and using a spray gun for ease of application. And don’t forget to use Direct Colors’ ColorWave stain and acrylic sealer for professional results.
DIY Driveway Transformation with Water-Based Concrete Stain
Are you tired of looking at a faded and dull concrete driveway? With a little bit of elbow grease and the right materials, you can transform it into a beautiful, refreshed space. That’s exactly what one DIYer did, and the results are excellent.
This project took 5 days to complete, covering an estimated 1000 square feet. The DIYer started by thoroughly power washing the driveway and using an ecological based stripper to prepare the surface for the new stain and sealer. They then applied two coats of Tangerine ColorWave stain from Direct Colors, followed by two coats of EasySeal solvent based sealer.
The end result? A stunning, rejuvenated concrete driveway that looks as good as new!
A Tribute to Prince
