Charcoal Dye Concrete Staining Ideas

Discover Charcoal Vibrance Dye projects and uncover your potential with Direct Colors premium products, DIY guides & how to content. Browse today, begin tomorrow

Chill Zone, Courtesy Of Concrete Dye

Refinished Concrete Basement with Vibrance Dye — Refinished Concrete Basement with Stormy Gray, White & Charcoal Vibrance Dye Colors

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Industrial Chic Concrete Floor

Blend of Stormy Gray, White, and Charcoal Vibrance Dye to create a sleek, modern concrete floor

Sleek, modern concrete floor showcasing a blend of Stormy Gray, White, and Charcoal Vibrance Dye

Condo Makeover

Concrete bathroom floor dyed with a blend of Stormy Gray, Driftwood, and Charcoal Vibrance Dye — Concrete bathroom floor dyed with a blend of Stormy Gray and Driftwood Vibrance Dye

Concrete kitchen floor showcasing a modern mix of Stormy Gray, Driftwood, and Charcoal Vibrance Dye. — Concrete kitchen floor showcasing a modern mix of Stormy Gray and Driftwood Vibrance Dye

Living room concrete floor beautifully stained with Stormy Gray, Driftwood, and Charcoal Vibrance Dye — Living room concrete floor beautifully stained with Stormy Gray and Driftwood Vibrance Dye

Foyer featuring a concrete floor dyed with an elegant combination of Stormy Gray, Driftwood, and Charcoal Vibrance Dye — Foyer featuring a concrete floor dyed with an elegant combination of Stormy Gray and Driftwood Vibrance Dye

Unorthodox Project

vibrance-dye-stained-charcoal-stormy-gray-white-concrete-floors — Charcoal, stormy gray and white Vibrance dye

vibrance-dye-stained-charcoal-stormy-gray-white-concrete-floor — Charcoal, stormy gray and white Vibrance dye

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Info:
- Project Completed In: 5 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 1600 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
  Headache!!! I had an extremely unlevel floor. I had to grind down some areas 1 inch (about 400 sqft) and had to raise 300sqft 1 inch to get things overall with 1/2″. Then I had to pour 180 bags of the floor leveler and of course I was 16 bags short. This meant I was left with a cold joint for the final finish which I tried to accentuate and create a vein out of. Then I had to grind the surface to a 200 grit and blend the cold joint. Finally it was time to stain and stormy gray, white, and charcoal created one beautiful stained floor. This was a bit of an unorthodox project but I’m happy with it.I have more pictures also.
  
  I also plan to add a couple coats of direct colors floor wax when it arrives. I think that’ll really blend things out. I’ll know soon…
- Personal Tips:
  If possible to test your stain application and top coating method exactly as you plan to before hand, do it. My project turned out great from a stain aspect but the epoxy primer and urethane was only ok and I could have made that better but it’s alright for a first timer.Also, with the vibrance dye, don’t be dumb like me and step in it right after you spray it. I didn’t enjoy working those prints out.
  
  Finally, I may have applied too much stain but I found when applying my finish some dye would come up especially when brushing the edges. If possible, roll the edges when cutting in.
- Direct Colors Products Used:
  Stormy gray, white, and charcoal
Other Products Used:
VSEAL epoxy primer and urethane (3015 and 3321) industra-coat.

Garage Makeover

Stormy Gray, White & Charcoal Vibrance Dye on Concrete Basement Floor

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 400 sq. ft.
Project Description:
Basement Stormy Gray application.
Personal Tips:
I would suggest waiting the complete 6 hours for dye to cure. It’s better to be safe, and let it completely cure. Also, the stormy gray will come out a little darker at first. You will need to spray some in a bucket at first to get that out. Otherwise, it will look like a charcoal color.
Direct Colors Products Used:
Stormy Gray Vibrance Dye
Charcoal Gray Vibrance Dye
White Gray Vibrance Dye
Water-Based Acrylic Satin Sealer
Other Products Used:
3 gallon Acetone sprayer, Acetone, and a brush.

Move It or Lose It

Gray Tinted Satin Acrylic Sealer and Charcoal Concrete Dye — Charcoal Vibrance Dye and Gray EasyTint Commercial Concrete Floor

Quick Affordable Gray Concrete Flooring — Charcoal Vibrance Dye and Gray EasyTint Commercial Concrete Floor

Kiss the Frog

The finished patio, featuring a vibrant blend of Khaki, Goldenrod, and Charcoal dyes. — The finished patio, featuring a vibrant blend of Khaki, Goldenrod, and Charcoal Vibrance dyes

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 225 sq. ft.
Project Description:
I was basically tired of looking at my patio regular concrete it would appear dirty. I stumble upon your website and I liked several of the products, so I decided to give it a try. I wanted to keep the colors close to my home colors. I love the outcome.
Personal Tips:
Just do it and have fun you can’t go wrong!
Direct Colors Products Used:
Khaki Vibrance Dye
Goldenrod Vibrance Dye
Charcoal Vibrance Dye
5 Gal. Solvent Based Acrylic Satin Concrete Sealer and Paver Sealer
3 Gal. Acetone Dye Sprayer

Scored Concrete Design

Charcoal & Aztec Brown Scored Concrete Floor

Wall Stencil Design

Charcoal & White Stenciled Concrete Shower Wall

Shifting Sand Brown Acid Stain Photo Gallery

Shifting sand is a luscious brown color that brings simple sophistication to any concrete surface.

You can pair this medium brown concrete stain with a neutral color, or even a more earthy brown. Looking for a smidge of vivid color? Consider a blue or green acid stain combo!

Garage Floor Upgrade

Whoa. This default gray garage floor transformed into an acid stain dream! The shifting sand brown stain and coffee brown stain add depth and visual focus to the space.

Acid Stained Garage Floor — Malayan Buff, Shifting Sand & Coffee Brown EverStain acid stained garage floor

Acid stained concrete garage floor — Malayan Buff, Shifting Sand and Coffee Brown EverStain

Two Stall Boat Storage Garage

Our DC customer was intimidated by acid stain, even having been in construction for 28 years! They were surprised by how much less technical this boat garage storage project ended up being. We agree that this acid stained garage floor completes the look of the space. What a big, beautiful backdrop for that boat!

Concrete Garage Floor Boat Storage — Before

Shifting Sand & Malayan Buff EverStain acid stained garage turned boat storage

Cleaning and Removing Acid Stain Residue — Cleaning and removing acid stain residue

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 4 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 0.00900 sq. ft.
Project Description:
Two stall garage for boat storage with an office and reloading loft above the office. I’ve been in and around construction for 28 years, but have never been involved with an acid stain project. To be honest, I was a bit intimidated tackling this project by myself; however it was easier than installing the wood paneling and metal siding. Not as technical with measurements and fitting. The floor just finishes the space.
Personal Tips:
Watch as many YouTube videos as possible.Spend as much time as needed to ensure your prep work is complete. I sanded the entire floor area with 40 grit sandpaper for the mechanical etching process to ensure a uniform finish.Wash and clean floor at least 3 times to remove all dust from the etching process.I used carpet drying fans to aid in the drying process after the initial wash, neutralization wash and during the sealing process. Fans during the sealing process helped ventilate the room since I used an acrylic sealer.Use a high quality respiratory if you use an acrylic sealer.
Direct Colors Products Used:
Mayalayan buff and shifting sands
Acrylic sealer

Other Products Used:
Hitachi palm sander
Wet/dry vac
Floor squeegee
Carpet fans
Spray bottle
Garden sprayer

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Shifting Sand EverStain Swatch — EverStain™ Shifting Sand

Malayan Buff EverStain Swatch — EverStain™ Malayan Buff

Residential Floor Wax — Concrete Floor Wax - Satin

A dry azure blue and shifting sand stained concrete garage floor with a boat parked on top, showcasing the practicality and aesthetic appeal of the transformation. — With the floor dry and a boat comfortably parked, this transformed garage seamlessly combines function and style. The concrete stain, resembling a tranquil ocean, provides a striking backdrop for the vessel

Azure Blue and Shifting Sand EverStain Acid Stained Garage Concrete Floor

A wet azure blue stained concrete garage floor, fresh from sealer application, with hints of shifting sand accents creating an oceanic ambiance — The garage floor, freshly sealed and stained with Azure Blue and Shifting Sand acid stains, awaits drying. The vibrant colors imitate a serene ocean, transforming this boat storage area into a nautical masterpiece

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Azure Blue EverStain Swatch — EverStain™ Azure Blue

Tattoo Shop Floor Renovation

‘Til Death Tattoo in Springfield, Missouri understands the value of thorough prep work! After removing the carpet in this commercial space, this brand new tattoo shop got crackin’ on their first-ever DIY project.

It wasn’t easy, but by the end, they were pretty proud of their artistry skills – and the results! We love how they used two acid stain colors to create a marbled look with vintage vibes. The colored concrete floor brings so much charm and personality to the space!

Shifting Sand EverStain Heart on Concrete Floor — Shifting Sand EverStain Heart

Sealed and Waxed Malayan Buff and Shifting Sand EverStain

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Info:

Project Completed In: 14 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 1000 sq. ft.
Project Description:
This was our first DIY project; and all I have to say is be ready for your prep work! Coming into this we had no idea the amount of labor we were about to put into this project, but nonetheless we are extremely proud of what we created.This is the floor in the tattoo shop we’re opening (‘Til Death Tattoo, in Springfield, Missouri.) Originally the previous owners had carpet in the space. After ripping up the carpet, it appeared to have multiple layers of glue and other adhesives.We literally tried everything to remove this… acetone, adhesive remover pad on a buffer, goo gone… in the end a hand held razorblade scraper from harbor freight with lots of blades and elbow grease was the best removal. We used a diamabrush etching pad on a buffer we rented to open up the pores.After all that was completed, we moved to cleaning. Lots of plain hot water wetmopping, followed up by a good couple rounds of TSP mopping, and then more mopping until the bucket came back clear when we rung out the mop.After all this, it was smooth sailing. Simply follow the guidelines of DirectColors for application. You really can’t go wrong with the stain, this is where you can let your artistry shine. We set our darker tone the day before, and then followed with our light tone early next day and filled in patchy spots with a second coat of light tone a few hours later.Neutralized and cleaned, followed the sealing instructions, and let set for a few days before we came back and laid down the wax.Honestly, wish we had picked commercial high gloss when we did it, but the two gallons of residential got us about 8 coats in total and it turned out just fine!
Personal Tips:
Clean, clean, clean. And then clean again. Your work beforehand and your finishing after your project is sealed makes more of a difference than anything else you will do in the process.

Direct Colors Products Used:
Malaysian Bluff, Shifting Sands, Acid Neutralizer, Sealer, and Residential floor wax. All water based acrylic.

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A Pool House with Personality

Isn’t this slight pop of azure blue concrete stain lovely? Although this pool house floor has a blend of three colors, it’s the nice bit of blue acid stain that really stands out.

Stained Concrete Patio — Azure Blue, Malayan Buff & Shifting Sand EverStain and Light Charcoal EasyTint

Azure Blue, Malayan Buff & Shifting Sand EverStain and Light Charcoal EasyTint on Concrete Patio

Azure Blue, Malayan Buff & Shifting Sand EverStain and Light Charcoal EasyTint on Concrete Patio

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

- Project Completed In: 14 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 568 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
  New construction pool house.
- Personal Tips:
  Go for it!! I was so nervous but it’s really a fun project once you get started. The videos on the website are very informative.
- Direct Colors Products Used:
  Azure Blue, Malayan Buff, Shifting Sand, Light Charcoal EasyTint with regular sealer.
Other Products Used:
Miracle grow and a touch of glitter

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EasyTint Light Charcoal — EasyTint™ Lt. Charcoal

Revamped Garage Floor

It’s amazing how a stained concrete floor can take your space to the finish line in an instant. This garage definitely looks more complete with the addition of coffee concrete stain and shifting sand stain.

Shifting Sand & Coffee Brown EverStain on Concrete Floor

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 6 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 500 sq. ft.
Project Description:
I cleaned the surface well. Then I used the etch to open up the pores on the floor. Then I cleaned the floor with a mop twice. I then sprayed an even coat of shifting sands acid stain over the whole floor with a pump sprayer. I used approximately a gallon and a half of the shifting sands acid. I highlighted a few areas with 1 quart of coffee brown acid stain in a spray bottle mixed 1:1 with water. I then cleaned the floor 4-5 times with a scrub brush, water/baking soda mix, and a wet vac. Finally I applied two coats of sealer with a nap roller on a pole.
Personal Tips:
Get the floor as clean as possible after each step!When I rolled on the sealer it appeared like polka dots and I was scared I did something wrong but after giving the floor 2-4 hours to dry the dots dried to clear and resulted in what you see here.

Direct Colors Products Used:

Shifting Sands Acid Stain
Coffee Brown Acid Stain

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Coffee Brown EverStain Swatch — EverStain™ Coffee Brown

Pretty Barndominium Floor

Check out the cozy rustic look of this barndominium! The acid stained concrete floors produce a nice warmth with that earthy color combo.

Malayan Buff, Shifting Sand Stained Pole Barn Floor Acid Stained Pole Barn Floor — Malayan Buff, Shifting Sand acid stained pole barn floor

everstain-acid-stain-barndominium-concrete-floors-shifting-sand-malayan-buff (1)

Coffee Brown Acid Stained Pole Barn Countertop

Coffee Brown Acid Stained Pole Barn Bathroom Vanity

Coffee Brown Acid Stained Pole Barn Bathroom Countertop

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Beautiful Basement Floor

This DC customer had a very short window of time to get their basement floor stained – but it ended up working out! After taking the carpet out, they patched a crack in the floor and were pleasantly surprised how the acid stain added to the beauty of the crack.

Shifting Sand EverStain on Concrete Basement Floor

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 7 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 540 sq. ft.
Project Description:
We moved into a house that had a partially finished basement. The carpet was awful ! We had no idea what kind of shape the concrete was in underneath that carpet but it had to come out. We were on a tight budget so after looking into options very early on in the home purchasing process, I decided I would acid stain the floor! We did have an unexpected crack in the floor that we were able to patch but I think that it just adds to the beauty of the floor. We had a very short window of time to get the floor stained – a 10 day window on the closing of our home until we had to be out and moved into the new home. It all worked out! It took 7 days to complete and the staining was the most fun and the easiest part.
Personal Tips:
The videos on the Direct Colors website taught me how to acid stain and gave me the confidence that I could do it! The customer service team also took my calls and helped me so much! Know going into this that the prep work takes the very longest! One call to direct colors helped me a ton – the man I spoke with advised me to use a carpet cleaner to rinse the concrete floor for the rinsing phases. What a lifesaver that was! I am really happy with how the floor turned out! It is very easy to maintain and I receive a lot fo compliments on it – I then proudly say “I did that!!!”
Direct Colors Products Used:
We used the acid stain for interior floors kit – it had all that we needed to do the project!! I even ordered a scrub brush for the cleaning process and that worked out so well. The kit was called the EverStain complete Diy stain and seal kit in Shifting Sand. We also purchased the wax , the matte finish, and that is a wonderful product!

Other Products Used:
We did end up renting a concrete buffer that helped get the concrete to the correct porosity level. We also used a concrete patching product, Quickcrete

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Porch with Perfect Imperfections

The great thing about acid stain is that it enhances the imperfections in your concrete surface. This porch certainly was not perfect – yet the brown and amber acid stain somehow complement those imperfections!

Desert Amber & Shifting Sand EverStain Acid Stained Covered Concrete Patio

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Desert Amber EverStain Acid Stain — EverStain™ Desert Amber

Pooch Heaven

Easy to clean and pet friendly acid stained concrete floors

Coffee Brown, Malayan Buff and Shifting Sand EverStain acid stained concrete front porch

Coffee Brown, Malayan Buff and Shifting Sand EverStain acid stained concrete patio

Watercolor Look Patio

Many people fall in love with acid stain due to its notorious mottled look. On the contrary, this DC customer wanted more of a watercolor look for their concrete patio. Although they admittedly didn’t have time to order sample kits or hone their watercolor technique, we think this patio came out great!

Black. Seagrass & Shifting Sand EverStain on Concrete Patio

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Info:

Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 651 sq. ft.
Project Description:
We wanted to add a little color to a raw exterior patio which was poured in two different pours, between 6 & 8 years ago. The patio only looked good for a day or two after each cleaning. After research, we decided Acid staining was our best option and decided on Direct Colors to get the product.
Personal Tips:
Try to give yourself enough time to order color samples, we did not as we were on a tight timeline with a new hot tub coming and the black was much browner than we expected.I wish we would have had a chance to hone the technique on test pieces, we wanted more of a watercolor blend but did too much overlapping of the colors and the blues didn’t show through as much as we thought they would. We were really worried about getting a marble effect and not what we were looking for.Having a second person really helps with all steps of the processWe made some DIY spike shoes with 1/2″ tek screws into the bottom of old running shoes, these seemed to work much better than the spike shoes on offer as they fit our feet better and were easier to walk in.We had a pump sprayer for each color we were using so we could easily blend colors.
Direct Colors Products Used:
Acid Stain in 3 colors and sealer purchased in kits, order number 114542

Other Products Used:
Power washer
DIY and borrowed pair of spike shoes
Pump Sprayer x3
Scrub brushes
Squeegee
masking tape and plastic to protect the house
PPE – gloves & safety glasses
1/2″ Nap Roller

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Black Acid Stain Concrete Color — EverStain™ Black

Seagrass EverStain Swatch — EverStain™ Seagrass

Cola and Shifting Sand EverStains on Hand Troweled Concrete Patio — Cola and Shifting Sand EverStains on Concrete Patio

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Coverting Patios to Indoor Living Space — Shifting Sand EverStain on Concrete Sunroom Floor

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Staining Basement Floors with Colored Sealers

Staining Basement With Concrete Dye

Gray Stain and Sealer Combination for Indoor Projects

AcquaTint Colored Sealer - 1 gal — AcquaTint™ Colored Sealer

Vibrance Concrete Dye — Vibrance™ Concrete Dye

Acrylic Concrete Sealer Water Satin 1 gal — Satin, Water-Based Acrylic Sealer

Acrylic Sealer - Water Gloss 1 gal — Glossy, Water-Based Acrylic Sealer

Before and After Photos of Charcoal and Gray Interior Concrete Staining

Forget what you heard about gray being drab and dull! This neutral color is perfect for bringing balance to any concrete surface you choose. Discover all that you can do with our gray concrete stain customer photos.

It’s Like a Brand New Basement

Gray Stained Concrete Basement Floor — White, Stormy Gray and Charcoal Vibrance Dye

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

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White Vibrance Dye Color Swatch — Vibrance™ Dye White

Stormy Gray Vibrance Dye Color Swatch — Vibrance™ Stormy Gray

Charcoal Vibrance Dye Color Swatch — Vibrance™ Charcoal

Industrial Look Kitchen Floor

This concrete floor was done with a mottled technique in four different shades of gray concrete dye. The whole industrial look comes together with the help of those lights and stools!

Stormy Gray, White, Charcoal & Light Slate Concrete Dye Stained Kitchen Floor — Stormy Gray, White, Charcoal & Light Slate Vibrance Dye Stained Kitchen Floor

Stormy Gray, White, Charcoal & Light Slate Vibrance Dye Stained Kitchen Floor — Mottled technique used with Stormy Gray, White, Charcoal, Light Slate Vibrance concrete dye on concrete kitchen floor

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Light Slate Vibrance Dye Color Swatch — Vibrance™ Light Slate

Simple Sunroom Makeover With Concrete Dye

Say ‘goodbye’ to that dull concrete floor like our DC customer did! With the help of Vibrance concrete dye, they transformed their sunroom into a stylish space. Learn how to do the same to your space with our how to guide!

Sunroom concrete floor transformed with Stormy Gray Vibrance acetone dye stain — The Stormy Gray Vibrance acetone dye stain gave this sunroom's concrete floor a stylish and modern update

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

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Vibrance Dye Complete Makeover

Stormy Gray and Charcoal Vibrant Dye Sealed with Water-Based Acrylic Sealer and Floor Wax — Stormy Gray and Charcoal Vibrance Dye, AcquaSeal and ProWax Polish

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

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Ready to Wax

This DIYer found themselves dealing with a very unlevel concrete floor that required much preparation. Once that was taken care of, they used two colors of gray concrete dye to create this stained masterpiece. Now, all that’s left to do is finish it up with some concrete floor wax!

concrete dye stained leveled floor — Charcoal and Stormy Gray Vibrance Dye

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

- Project Completed In: 5 day(s)
- Estimate of Square Footage: 1600 sq. ft.
- Project Description:
  Headache!!! I had an extremely unlevel floor. I had to grind down some areas 1 inch (about 400 sqft) and had to raise 300sqft 1 inch to get things overall with 1/2″. Then I had to pour 180 bags of the floor leveler and of course I was 16 bags short. This meant I was left with a cold joint for the final finish which I tried to accentuate and create a vein out of. Then I had to grind the surface to a 200 grit and blend the cold joint. Finally it was time to stain and stormy gray, white, and charcoal created one beautiful stained floor. This was a bit of an unorthodox project but I’m happy with it.I have more pictures also.I also plan to add a couple coats of direct colors floor wax when it arrives. I think that’ll really blend things out. I’ll know soon…
- Personal Tips:
  If possible to test your stain application and top coating method exactly as you plan to before hand, do it. My project turned out great from a stain aspect but the epoxy primer and urethane was only ok and I could have made that better but it’s alright for a first timer.Also, with the vibrance dye, don’t be dumb like me and step in it right after you spray it. I didn’t enjoy working those prints out.Finally, I may have applied too much stain but I found when applying my finish some dye would come up especially when brushing the edges. If possible, roll the edges when cutting in.
- Direct Colors Products Used:
  Stormy gray, white, and charcoal
- Other Products Used:
  VSEAL epoxy primer and urethane (3015 and 3321) industra-coat.

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Clean & Modern

Have you ever seen a basement look so fresh and modern? Our customer used AcquaTint™ water based sealer to protect their basement floor while adding a little bit of color. We can’t get over how elegant and professional it looks!

Renovated basement room with a TV, showcasing the gleaming floor finish — Kick back and enjoy: A view of the revamped room, TV-ready with a shiny new floor

Fully transformed basement floor featuring the Charcoal AcquaTint™ sealer

Unfinished bathroom area with bare concrete floor — Before: a bathroom in need of a little TLC

Basement floor after the etching process in preparation for the application of Charcoal AcquaTint — Step 1: Etching - Prepping the floor to ensure our AcquaTint sticks and looks great

The same bathroom after applying Charcoal AcquaTint™, exhibiting a sophisticated and polished look — After: Bathroom upgrade complete with a sleek Charcoal AcquaTint™ finish

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

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Charcoal AcquaTint Swatch — AcquaTint™ Charcoal

Graffiti Art

Our DC customer is a professional artist, but this was their first time dealing with concrete stain and a large-scale project. When their stain sprayer wasn’t working quite as intended, they improvised – creating random graffiti-like splashes of charcoal. What a unique look!

AcquaTint - Basement Floor - Charcoal Application — Charcoal AcquaTint™ applied in random graffiti-like splashes

Used a roller to apply a lighter gray color over the splashed charcoal, creating a mottled, random look

Tinted Sealer Design on Concrete Basement — Charcoal and Gray AcquaTint™ with 3 coats of high gloss ProWax Polish™

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 6 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 1800 sq. ft.
Project Description:
I have an unfinished 1800sf basement. I wanted to keep the integrity and durability of the concrete floors.
The floors had been grinded before any work had started.
First was cleaning up drywall dust, mud and paint off floors. Some was scraped off and then washed with diluted pine sol and water and finally just with plain water. This took about 6 hours everytime, constantly dumping the dirtied water.
I am a professional artist but this was my first time with concrete stain and such a huge scale.
The sprayer I used spit and dripped out the paint so I had to change my original plan to random graffiti-like splashes of the charcoal color. Spraying the initial design took 4-5 hours and 2/3 of the 5 gal charcoal. I let that dry 24 hours before starting 2nd coat of lighter gray.
I used a 3/8″ 9″ roller to apply lighter gray over splashed charcoal. Because I was creating a mottled, random look, it was impossible to roll on in one direction as is suggested. It created lines I didn’t like. Rather, I went heavy in some areas and left the lightness of one coat in other areas, always careful to cover bare concrete. The lighter gray helped to soften the contrast of the lighter areas and the charcoal. This effect took about 2 of the 5 gal. container. Because of the sheer size of the floor, it took 6-7 hours.
After waiting 24 hours, I began 1st coat of wax with a 9″ Shurcoat paint pad. It was very had to tell where I covered because of the mottled nature of the colors. After 4-5 hrs. I applied a 2nd coat of wax, noticing some areas had a higher sheen to them. I wasn’t sure why this was happening but it helped create depth on the floor.
The next morning, I applied a 3rd coat of wax, a bit heavier to achieve the desired high gloss look. That was left to cure a full 24 hrs. I used 4 of the 5 gals. to do all 3 coats of wax. Each coat took about 4-5 hours to complete.

Personal Tips:
Aquatint settles very quickly and must be constantly stirred.
Enjoy the way the stain works when using more than one color.
Make sure you have very good lighting to apply both stain and wax.

Direct Colors Products Used:

- 5 gal Aquatint Charcoal
- 5 gal Aquatint Gray
- 5 gal high gloss wax

Other Products Used:

- 3/8″- 9″ roller
- 9″ Shurcoat paint pad -3, one for each coat of wax
- 2 gal Chapin premier sprayer

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Accentuating Concrete Swirls

There’s nothing like completing a tough DIY project yourself! This customer felt that adding sealer to their concrete was a “rewarding project”. They knew they wanted a concrete stain that was transparent yet durable, and AcquaTint was the product that ticked all the boxes.

Home interior before renovation with plain concrete floor

using a shop vac to clean the concrete floors before staining

Homeowner applying Charcoal AcquaTint™ using an 18" squeegee for a swirl finish

Finished and polished concrete floor with a transparent Charcoal AcquaTint™ finish

Close-up view showcasing the swirls and marbled effect on the finished floor

Close-up of the finished floor with a relaxed cat enjoying its new spot.

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 1500 sq. ft.
Project Description:
We are finally all moved in and getting around to showing you all our results! We knew we loved and wanted to accentuate the power trial swirls and marbling effect. We spent hours and many test products under where our cabinets would be, but look no further direct colors has the perfect product. We ended up choosing the tinted sealer. We knew we wanted a very transparent but durable stain.
Essentially all we did was thoroughly clean the dust and construction grime off the floors with degreasing soap and let that dry a few hours. We then came back and cleaned our floors THREE more times with the direct colors degreaser, two of which were rinses. This alone took a full day for 1500sqft. Once this dried we were ready to stain. We tried many methods (sprayers, sponges, rags) and the best we came across for a super transparent look was a 18” floor squeegee! It worked awesome. Like any paint project it is all in the prep work and the actual staining process was over before we knew it, maybe 1.5hrs. After this we let it dry for a day and covered in plastic to finish construction. Once we were ready to move in we washed it again, then immediately waxed the entire floor(last picture) as you can see the floor is almost a living feature of the house as it changes color and hue based on lighting effects. Overall this was a rewarding project that we are happy to have done ourselves! Have fun!

Personal Tips:
Clean clean clean, have all supplies organized and clean up (acetone, in our case) ready. Have an extra applicator (spray gun squeegee etc.) on hand in case yours fails/breaks

Direct Colors Products Used:

- 1 qt ProClean Degreaser
- 1 gal Aquatint Charcoal
- 1 gal Satin Acrylic Sealer
- 1 gal Satin Floor Wax

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Coffee N’ Crafts

The method used to apply tinted concrete sealer depends on the look you want to achieve. For Coffee N’ Crafts, a marbled, varied color was the mission for Brad Carlisle from William B. Carlisle Design. The best part about this renovation? They performed a complete space upgrade without having to rip up the concrete floor!

Coffee N' Crafts Concrete stained and sealed floor with tinted concrete sealer

Coffee N' Crafts concrete with pigment tables

Coffee N' Crafts Owned by Steiger & Kelsey Hart

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

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Silver Simplicity

This commercial space really looks spiffy after applying some silver colored concrete sealer. And hey, if you like what you see here, check out our handy how to guide for applying tinted sealer!

Cleaned Concrete Floor — Ready to begin staining

Silver Gray Stained Concrete Commercial Floor — After

Silver Gray Stained Concrete Floor — After Silver Gray AcquaTint Stained Concrete Floor

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

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Silver Gray AcquaTint Swatch — AcquaTint™ Silver Gray

Tinted Sealer for the Win

This commercial space used the same Silver Gray AcquaTint stain over a colored concrete floor. Check out our handy how to guide for applying tinted sealer!

After two coats of Silver Gray AcquaTint and ProWax Polish

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Keep the Grandkids Out When You DIY!

Our Direct Colors customer offered some valuable advice when working on your tinted sealer project: make sure you cover walls and doors! And keep grandkids out! Yes, these things are always important to remember! They used AquaTint and solvent based sealer for the concrete floors in their new home.

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Info:

Project Completed In: 5 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 1600 sq. ft.
Project Description:
We are building a barn house. It is semi finished. The walls are painted shiplap.
Personal Tips:
I was so afraid of messing up with the sprayer that my first coat was way too light. I applied 2 more coats and it looked great. I believe the aquatint is very forgiving when sprayed on. I followed up with 2 coats of the solvent based satin sealer. Make sure you can open up plenty of windows because this stuff STINKS! Even though my concrete is not perfect I love my floors.
Make sure you cover walls and doors! And keep grandkids out!

Direct Colors Tip: When sealing indoors, we recommend our water-based AcquaSeal sealers. They are low VOC, so you will not stink up your house.

Direct Colors Products Used:
AcquaTint in light charcoal. Acrylic sealer solvent based in satin.

Other Products Used:
No additional products except lots of elbow grease!

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Fun with Texture

While tinted concrete sealer won’t cover imperfections, it allows you to give your concrete floor character! That’s what this customer did. We think that the tinted sealer complements their textured floor so well.

AcquaTint Stained Concrete Floor — One Coat of AcquaTint on Concrete Floor

Two Coats of AcquaTint on Concrete Floor

Charcoal stained concrete basement floor — Charcoal AcquaTint

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Info:

Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 250 sq. ft.
Project Description:
We’re redoing our main bathroom and want stained textured concrete floors. The area includes the hallway, closets, bathroom area and water closet.We started by laying the concrete and then sanding. Then we used charcoal aquatint, applied using a roller. We followed the instructions completely and the application went very well.
Personal Tips:
The color deposits at the bottom of the bottle so the first few coats are somewhat lighter. We left about 10% tiny in the first bottle and mixed it in when starting the second bottle. It helped create a more even second application.
Direct Colors Products Used:
Aquatint charcoal and wax sealer.

Other Products Used:
Direct colors applied onto Henry feather finish concrete mix.

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No More Carpets!

After this DC customer’s basement flooded for the second time, they decided no more carpet! While coloring their concrete basement floor with tinted sealer was a challenging project to complete, they felt that the right products made it doable.

For Project Details & Tips CLICK HERE

Project Info:

Project Completed In: 21 day(s)
Estimate of Square Footage: 1000 sq. ft.
Project Description:
After my basement flooded for the second time I decided no more carpet. This was a challenging project but with the right products it can be done.
1.) first I rented a concrete grinder for the day and etched the floor. My basement was sealed when my house was built so it was a necessary step.
2.) I mopped the floor two times to remove any dust or residue.
3.) I applied two coats of AcquaTint™ Silver Gray Water Based Colored Sealer, waiting 24 hours in between each coat. I rolled the stain on with roller purchased through direct colors. I would strongly recommend that because it is a high quality roller.
4.) I used a dollar store sponge mop to apply three layers of direct colors Residential Concrete Floor Wax, waiting three hours in between each layer.
5.) I waited 24 hours before placing furniture on the floor.
Personal Tips:
Be careful when rolling on stain not to overlap because it can dry with lines.
Direct Colors Products Used: 5 Gal. Satin AcquaTint™ Silver Gray Water Based Colored Sealer
Concrete Floor Wax
Other Products Used:

Concrete grinder

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Light Charcoal Tinted Concrete Sealer — Light Charcoal Colored Concrete Sealer

Revamping A Basement Into A Comfortable Living Area

We were determined to transform our 100-year-old basement into a livable space, but we were discouraged by the high cost of hiring professionals to stain the concrete floor. So, we decided to take on the project ourselves with the help of Direct Colors.

The first step was to remove all the old stains, spray paint, and overspray from the floor. We rented a concrete grinder and used a handheld angle grinder with a surface grinding tool to get into the hard-to-reach areas. We also patched a few small hairline cracks with a basic cement mix from the hardware store.

Next, we cleaned up all the dust and mopped the floor three times – once with soapy water and twice with clean water. Once the floor was dry, we taped off the walls with plastic and sprayed a coat of solvent-based satin sealer. We waited about 12 hours for the sealer to dry before applying two coats of White Vibrance Dye, with the recommended drying time between each coat. We followed the same process with Stormy Grey Vibrance Dye and then added some dimension to the floor with Charcoal Grey Vibrance Dye. After the final coat of dye dried, we applied two coats of solvent-based satin sealer, waiting 12 hours between each coat.

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We were thrilled with the final result and couldn’t have done it without the guidance and products from Direct Colors. Our biggest issue was with sprayer malfunctions, but don’t let that deter you! With a little prep work and some patience, you can achieve beautiful, professional-looking results on your own. Some of our personal tips include testing your sprayer before starting, not skimping on prep work, and having a bucket and rag on hand to fix any drips or clogs. We also recommend waiting about an hour and a half for the dye to be ready before spraying and making sure to follow the recommended drying times.

Check out more detailed information about this concrete dye project.

Staining Concrete with Water-Based Tinted Sealer

If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your concrete flooring, water-based tinted sealer is a great option. Not only does it provide a beautiful finish, but it’s also easy to apply and maintain.

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For more detailed information about this project, check out this link.

Unfinished Basement Gets a Mottled, Graffiti-Inspired Makeover with Aquatint Charcoal and Gray

In this project, the customer transformed an unfinished 1800 sq ft basement floor using Aquatint Charcoal and Gray. The floors had previously been grinded and the customer spent 6 days on the project, including cleaning up drywall dust, mud, and paint from the surface. The customer used a sprayer to apply the initial design, which took 4-5 hours and used 2/3 of the 5 gallon container of charcoal. After letting the initial coat dry for 24 hours, the customer used a roller to apply a lighter gray color over the splashed charcoal, creating a mottled, random look. This took 6-7 hours and used 2 of the 5 gallon container.

After waiting another 24 hours, the customer applied three coats of wax using a paint pad, achieving a high gloss finish. Each coat took 4-5 hours to complete and used 4 of the 5 gallon container. The customer recommends stirring Aquatint constantly to prevent it from settling, enjoying the way the stain works when using multiple colors, and making sure to have good lighting when applying both the stain and wax.

Stained concrete basement floor with Charcoal & Gray AcquaTint

Stained concrete basement floor with colored concrete sealers

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For more detailed information about this project, check out this link.

Wheat Gold Concrete Stain Photo Gallery

Find inspiration for your next gold concrete stain project. Discover all the possibilities with Direct Colors DIY guides. Browse today, begin tomorrow.

A Touch of Gold

Colored Concrete Sealer on Commercial Floor — Toasted Wheat & Auburn tinted concrete sealer

Commercial concrete floor before staining — Before

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AcquaTint Wheat Swatch — AcquaTint Wheat

AcquaTint Auburn Swatch — AcquaTint Auburn

Acrylic Concrete Sealer Water Glossy 1 gal — High Gloss Sealer

Concrete Floor Wax - Commercial 1 gal — Concrete Floor Wax - High Gloss

Muted Tones

Concrete Pavers using paver stain — Portico Yukon Gold, Wheat, Russet, Light Charcoal, Auburn stained concrete pavers

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Stunning Stenciled Concrete

Driftwood, Cumin, Cafe Royale, Milano Red, Gray, Fern Green, Buff, Plum, Wheat concrete Antiquing Stain After Sealer — Driftwood, Cumin, Cafe Royale, Milano Red, Gray, Fern Green, Buff, Plum, Wheat Antiquing Stain after sealer

Antiquing Stain Before Concrete Sealer — Antiquing stain before sealer

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Driftwood, Cumin, Cafe Royal, Milano Red, Gray, Fern Green, Buff, Plum, Wheat before sealer application — Driftwood, Cumin, Cafe Royale, Milano Red, Gray, Fern Green, Buff, Plum, Wheat before concrete sealer

Driftwood, Cumin, Cafe Royal, Milano Red, Gray, Fern Green, Buff, Plum, Wheat After Sealer Application — Driftwood, Cumin, Cafe Royale, Milano Red, Gray, Fern Green, Buff, Plum, Wheat after sealer application

Before using Antiquing stain sample kit — Before using Antiquing trial kit

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Plum Concrete Stain Photo Gallery

Find inspiration for your next concrete stain project. Discover all the possibilities with Direct Colors DIY guides. Browse today, begin tomorrow.

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Bath towels soaked in concrete mixture finished with Driftwood, Charcoal, Cinnabar & Plum AcquaTint

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Concrete That Looks Like Wood Floors: A Guide to Creating a Faux Wood Grain Finish

by Justin Richardson

Faux Wood Stamped Concrete Driveway — Refinished driveway with a concrete overlay stained using several brown-tone Antiquing stains to mimic the look of wood. The stains have been applied to create a natural and realistic wood grain effect on the concrete surface. The result is a unique and charming driveway that stands out with its warm and inviting appearance.

If you’re looking to upgrade your floors with a unique and trendy look, consider stained concrete floors that look like wood! This technique is gaining popularity among our customers, and for good reason. With the right products, tools, and know-how, you can transform any concrete surface into a faux wood masterpiece.

So, can you make concrete look like wood floors? Absolutely! All it takes is some patience, basic technique, and concrete overlay. The cost for a DIY faux wood concrete floor design is typically around $2 – $4 per square foot, while hiring a professional contractor can cost around $8 – $10 per square foot.

Faux Wood Concrete Floor — This faux wood floor is created using Concrete Overlay stained with Khaki and Driftwood Antiquing Stains, and sealed with AcquaSeal satin acrylic sealer.

Transforming concrete floors into wood-looking masterpieces with concrete overlay and stain

To achieve the faux wood finish, follow these steps:

STEP 1: Clean the Concrete Surface

Start by cleaning the floor with a light concrete cleaner and degreaser solution. Thoroughly scrub and rinse all residues from the surface, then allow the floor to dry.

STEP 2: Mix Concrete Overlay

For bucket mixing, follow the following instructions:

Use a five-gallon pail and a drill mixer.
Pour one gallon of water into the pail.
Slowly add the contents of a 50-pound box of overlay while mixing continuously.
Thoroughly combine the water and overlay until the dry polymer is saturated and properly dispersed.
Use less water for a thicker consistency, and add water as needed to thin the overlay during the application.
Keep the water uniform for every box of overlay if using colored concrete pigment to avoid color discrepancies.
The pot life for the overlay is approximately 45 minutes, and you can extend it by 15 minutes by using ice-cold rather than room-temperature water.
The pot life will be affected by the ambient temperature, with cooler temperatures marginally extending and hotter shortening the expected pot life.
For spraying the overlay, add up to one gallon of additional water per box of smooth concrete overlay until the mixture resembles a thin pancake batter suitable for spraying at 25 psi.

STEP 3: Apply Concrete Overlay

To apply using a concrete stencil:

Select Concrete Overlay as a base coat for stenciling.
Follow the mixing instructions for spraying overlay.
Spray from a flat-work texture gun at 25 psi.
Hold the sprayer at least six inches from the surface during application to minimize rebound.
Mix one box at a time as needed, and allow drying for six hours before applying the stencil.
Affix the stencil and then carefully spray the top or color smooth texture overlay coat in the same manner.
Pull the stencil after 10 minutes of drying time.

To apply using a concrete stamp:

Stamped concrete overlay designed to look like wood planks

Select Concrete Overlay for stamping and apply at ¼ inch depth.
Choose stamps or texture mats intended for use with overlay.
Add one gallon of water per 40-pound box. Use ice water if stamping in hotter temperatures.
Use a gauge rake set to the desired depth on the surface.
Follow with a squeegee trowel to smooth out any rake marks or other imperfections.
Allow drying until the surface can be depressed without sticking.
Apply Concrete Liquid Release Agent to the stamps, tools, and overlay to prevent sticking.
Depending on the size of the job and the mats, use at least three stamps or texture mats along with one floppy for any project up to 100 square feet.
For 100-1500 square feet projects, use a set of five stamps or mats and floppy.
Time is limited so make the choice according to crew size and ability.
Assuming 75F and a 100 square feet project, allow for twenty minutes of stamping time – slightly more time if colder or less time in hotter temperatures.
If stamping a larger area, one person should be mixing overlay continually while others are applying and stamping.
If the work cannot be completed at one time, do not stop applying in the middle of a section or floor.
End at logical separation, such as an expansion joint, for the best overall finished appearance.

STEP 4: Create Faux Wood Grain

Create a “wood-like” texture by brushing the wet overlay in a continuous manner with a broom. Work in sections, as the approximate working time for overlay once applied is about 10 – 12 minutes. Ambient and surface temperature will affect working time, with cooler temperatures marginally extending and hotter shortening the expected working time.

Do not attempt to apply Concrete Overlay to surfaces below 40F or above 85F. Hot temperatures can be controlled by moistening the surface with water prior to application.

STEP 5: Apply Concrete Stain

Apply the Antiquing™ or ColorWave® concrete stain colors you chose or mix various brown tone stains and spray them onto the wet overlay. Darken random sections with EasyTint™ tinted sealer to provide more excellent color contrast across the floor.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to create a stunning stained concrete floor that looks like wood. To get even more detailed instructions on applying the stain, watch the video below. Get ready to impress your guests with a unique and stylish new floor!

How to Make a Concrete Countertop that Looks Like Wood

Concrete countertop stained to look like wood

Concrete vanity stained to look like wood

Concrete is not only the most durable countertop option available, but it’s also infinitely customizable too. Designers and DIYers can use concrete stain to match existing decor, as well as to build a stunning centerpiece. Learn more from these innovative concrete experts!

Direct Colors Sales & Promo Codes

Now is the perfect time to tackle those long-avoided home improvement projects. Take advantage of limited-time markdowns and other incredible deals.

*Due to the everyday unexpected changing business operation circumstances, we can only guarantee sale on purchases placed before 2:00PM CST and while supplies last.

Coffee Brown & Black Acid Stained Patio Before & After Picture

Acid Staining Outdoors in the Summer

Applying acid stain and sealer in the summer months can be challenging especially if you live in a hot temperature climate. Here are a few tips for outdoor concrete projects that will help DIYer’s get it right the first time.

Applying Black Acid Stain to Outdoor Concrete — Staining Concrete Border with Foam Applicator

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Concrete temperature and wind conditions often determine success or failure for an acid stain project. Hot, dry conditions can cause acid stain to prematurely dry before properly reacting with the concrete.

Sealing Outdoor Concrete in the Summer

Finding the right time of day to apply concrete sealer during the summer months can be a challenge. Sealers should be applied when the concrete is at its lowest temperature either early in the morning or late in the evening. East facing concrete should be sealed later in the day and west facing early in the morning. Colored concrete in direct sunlight, especially dark browns and black, could be several times hotter than the ambient temperature and just a few minutes of sunlight will raise the surface temperature very quickly. When the slab is hot, air passes through the concrete at a faster rate causing more air bubbles and the sealer resin often dries before the solvent or water can completely evaporate.

Concrete Sealer Application — Applying Concrete Sealer with Nap Roller

Applying Concrete Sealer with Foam Applicator

Summertime Sealing Tips:

Apply sealer in the early morning or early evening depending on the location of the concrete.
Avoid applying sealer to concrete in direct sun, especially countertops.
Do not apply sealer to concrete hotter than 85-90F.

Black and Coffee Acid Stained Concrete Patio

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Metallic Pearl Concrete Color Photo Gallery

Find Metallic Pearl inspiration for your next concrete stain project. Browse project galleries by color and discover all the possibilities with Direct Colors

White Pearl Metallic Epoxy Concrete Countertop — White Concrete Countertop with a Pearl Metallic Epoxy by Ken's Custom Designs

Ken Custom Designs - White Concrete Countertop with a Pearl Metallic Epoxy

Integrally Colored Concrete Conference Table - Pearl White Pigment, White Countertop Mix, Penetrating Concrete Sealer — White Conference Room Concrete Table

Overlay Metallic Epoxy Countertop — Rum and Pearl Metallic Epoxy on Concrete Overlay

Metallic Epoxy Kitchen Countertop — Rum and Pearl Metallic Epoxy on DCI Concrete Overlay

Metallic Epoxy Colors — Rum and Pearl Metallic Epoxy on Concrete Overlay

Metallic Epoxy Kitchen Countertop Remodel — Finish with the sealer of your choice for unbelievable results

Faux Marble Metallic Epoxy Countertop — Smooth White Concrete Overlay Sealed with Pearl and Whale Metallic Pigment in Epoxy Countertop Sealer

Blue Metallic Epoxy Countertop — Silvery Dove, Caribbean and Pearl Metallic Pigments in Epoxy Countertop Sealer

Metallic Epoxy Countertop Remodel — Smooth Gray Overlay sealed with Pearl, Dolphin and Whale metallic pigments in Epoxy Countertop Sealer

Kitchen Countertop Remodeling — Smooth White Concrete Overlay Sealed with Pearl and Whale Metallic Pigment in 100% Epoxy Countertop Sealer

Marble Metallic Epoxy Finish — Pearl and Whale Metallic Pigment in Epoxy on Smooth White Overlay

Marble Metallic Epoxy Countertop — Pearl and Whale Metallic Pigment in Epoxy on Smooth White Overlay

Marble Metallic Epoxy — Kitchen Countertop with Pearl and Whale Accents on White Base Color

Faux Marble Countertop Finish — Bathroom Vanity with Pearl and Whale Accents on a Gray Base Color

Metallic Epoxy Bathroom Vanity — Bathroom Vanity with Pearl and Whale Metallic Pigment Accents on a Gray Tinted Concrete Sealer Base Color

Blue Concrete Photo Gallery

Discover vivid blue concrete pigment possibilities in the Direct Colors project galleries. Get inspired, then get started with our DIY tutorials, videos and more

Blue Concrete Pigment Countertop Design — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment

Blue Concrete Table Design — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment

Blue High Gloss Countertop — 15.3 Concrete Pigment with High Gloss Sealer

Polyurethane Concrete Countertop — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment with Polyurethane Concrete Sealer

Bright blue concrete planters colored with Direct Colors Concrete Pigment.

Blue Concrete Tennis Table — 15.4 Premium Blue Concrete Pigment

Royal Blue Pigment Shower Colored Grout — Royal Blue Concrete Pigment Mixed with Shower Tile Grout

Blue Pigment Tile Grout — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment for Tile Grout

Blue Concrete Fire Pit — 15.4 Blue, 230 Black and 609 Brown Concrete Pigments

Blue Outdoor Countertop — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment

Blue Concrete Pigment Countertop — Midnight Blue (15.3-5lb.) Concrete Pigment

Blue Pigment Concrete Planters — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment in White Concrete

Integrally Colored Outdoor Countertop Design

Blue Outdoor Countertop Design — 75 Blue and 230 Black Concrete Pigments in White Concrete

Blue Gray Outdoor Countertop — 75 Blue and 230 Black Concrete Pigments in White Concrete

Marbled Blue Acid Stain — Azure Blue Acid Stain Sealed with Acrylic Concrete Sealer

Concrete Fire Pit — 15.4 Blue, 230 Black and 609 Brown Concrete Pigments

Concrete Pigment Art Project — DCI 15.4 Blue and Iron Oxide Pigments

Integrally Colored Wall Design — 15.4 Blue and 5376 Green Concrete Pigments

Blue Pigment Overlay — 15.4 Blue Pigment in Smooth Gray Overlay

Blue Concrete Pigment Tabletop — 15.4 Concrete Pigment

Blue Concrete Pigment Cross — 15.4 Concrete Pigment

Blue Concrete Pigment Table — 15.3 Concrete Pigment

Blue Outdoor Kitchen Countertop — Integrally Colored with Blue 1515, 15.4, 75 Premium Concrete Pigments and 1311 Gold Concrete Pigment sealed with High Gloss 500 Polyurethane Sealer

Final Blue Concrete Countertop Design — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment Countertop Finished Design

Blue Pigment Concrete Countertop Design Team — Concrete Institute Countertop Design Team

underlit glass aggregate countertop — 15.3 Blue Concrete Pigment with Underlit Glass Aggregates

Blue Pigment Crushed Granite Countetop — Blue Concrete Pigment in White Based Concrete

Concrete Pigment Fine Art — Blue and Other Concrete Pigment Pigment Colors in Concrete - William Hall Art

Blue Metallic Epoxy Kitchen Countertop — Ocean, Silvery Dove and Dolphin Metallic Pigments in Epoxy Countertop Sealer

DIY Concrete Countertops — Blue Concrete Pigment

The Direct Colors acid stains used were Coffee Brown, Malayan Buff, and Azure Blue.

Premium Blue Integral Concrete Pigment 1551, Concrete Pigment 1835, Concrete Pigment 1311, Ti02 Premium White concrete Pigment, Premium Green Concrete Pigment

Acid Stained Turquoise Floor — Wet on dry technique using Azure Blue 1:1 & Cola Full & Diluted 10:1. Matte Polyurethane Sealer

Tuquoise Acid Stained Floor — Smooth White Overlay, Azure Blue and Cola Acid Stains Sealed with Glossy Water Based Polyurethane

Primary Pigment Colors Countertop — Integrally Colored Blue, Green, Red and Yellow Concrete Bathroom Vanity

Close Up of Fish Backsplash with Integrally-Colored Grout — 15.4 Blue Concrete Pigment in Grout

Staining Stamped Faux Wood Concrete

Concrete is not only the most durable countertop option available, it’s infinitely customizable too. Designers and DIY’ers can use concrete stains to match pre-existing decor, as well as to build a stunning centerpiece. Learn more from these innovative concrete experts below!

DIY SPOTLIGHT: WILLIAM B. CARLISLE DESIGN

One of the finest faux-wood stained concrete countertops projects we have ever seen comes from William B. Carlisle Design. He’s created several wood grain concrete countertops that are truly spectacular and has agreed to share some of his secrets with us.

Can You Make Concrete Look Like Wood?

Yes, through a combination of concrete molds and intensive fabrication techniques, such as sand blasting, a natural wood finish may be achieved using concrete stains.

How To Stain Stamped Faux Wood Concrete

STEP 1: Reinforce cabinetry to bear the added countertop weight. The average concrete countertop can weight up to 900 lbs.

STEP 2: Make a countertop form with melamine or resawn lumber with biscuits and wood glue. Clamp until dry

STEP 3: Make silicone mold cast on edges of lumber for detailed edge grain.

STEP 4: In a 5 gallon pail, add 1 gallon of water. Pour 1/4 of a 50 lb box of Concrete Countertop Mix. and mix with a a hand mixer. Continue to add the mix slowly and blend for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Stamped Concrete stained to look like wood — Concrete Wood Grain Edge Created with Silicone Cast

Faux Wood Concrete Finish

How To Make Concrete Floors Look Like Wood

STEP 5: Spray a thin layer of Concrete Countertop Mix to completely cover mold thereby ensuring good coverage over the entire mold, which helps prevent pinholes.

STEP 6: Fill the rest of the mold with countertop mix and allow to cure.

STEP 7: Remove concrete countertop from mold sand blast concrete to bring out the wood grain.

STEP 8: Mist the concrete surface with water prior to applying acid stains.

How to Stain Concrete Countertops to Look Like Wood

STEP 9: Dilute acid stains 2:1 with water. For this look, Malayan Buff, Cola and Coffee Brown acid stain colors were used.

STEP 11: Sand any areas of high contrast to help to better blend the acid stain colors.

STEP 12: Once the stain has a “wood grain look” the top should be Neutralized and allowed to dry.

STEP 13: Seal with a high quality acrylic concrete sealer.

STEP 10: Using a regular paint brush and following the wood grain, apply acid stain beginning with Malayan Buff, followed by Cola and finally the Coffee Brown.

How to Make Faux Wood Concrete Floors

Creating a faux wood grain concrete finish for floors is becoming more and more popular with our customers. While this technique does take some skill to pull off, it can be done with the right products, tools and how to info!

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Concrete That Looks Like Wood Floors: A Guide to Creating a Faux Wood Grain Finish

STEP 1: Clean the Concrete Surface

STEP 2: Mix Concrete Overlay

STEP 3: Apply Concrete Overlay

STEP 4: Create Faux Wood Grain

STEP 5: Apply Concrete Stain

Direct Colors Sales & Promo Codes

Now is the perfect time to tackle those long-avoided home improvement projects. Take advantage of limited-time markdowns and other incredible deals.

Acid Staining Outdoors in the Summer

Sealing Outdoor Concrete in the Summer

Summertime Sealing Tips:

Metallic Pearl Concrete Color Photo Gallery

Blue Concrete Photo Gallery

Staining Stamped Faux Wood Concrete

Can You Make Concrete Look Like Wood?

How To Stain Stamped Faux Wood Concrete

Faux Wood Concrete Finish

How To Make Concrete Floors Look Like Wood

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