How To Stain Concrete Basement Floors

BEFORE

AFTER

Step 1 – Evaluate Your Concrete

Basements are often the smoothest rooms in a house. So smooth in fact that they cannot be successfully acid stained without pre-application of chemical or mechanical profiling that will help the stain take effect. Pour water on the concrete to see if it beads up for several seconds or instead readily absorbs into the concrete. Beading or poor absorption suggests the surface is too smooth to stain and will need profiling. Most slabs will be ready for acid staining after an application of Hard Troweled Floor Prep. Simply cut the product with water 1:1, spray from a garden sprayer and wash off with clear water after 15-20 minutes. Test again whether water beads on the surface. For excessively smooth concrete, apply the floor prep full strength for optimal results.

Step 2 – Check for Water Issues

Many basements experience water issues as a result of drainage changes, foundation cracks, and unexpectedly heavy rains. Moisture can seep into a basement or come up through the slab as hydrostatic pressure, and these factors ultimately dictate what sealer is best for your project. Inspect your basement thoroughly for seepage of any kind and address that before finishing the basement floor. If you believe you may have high humidity, test by affixing a small sheet of plastic directly to the floor using duct tape and leave for at least 48 hours. If condensation is present under the plastic, select a breathable sealer or cure and seal sealer that allows water vapor to pass through the coating.

Step 3 – Clean

Many basement floors have been covered with carpet or paint. All debris including glue, sealer, paint, and drywall mud must be completely removed before acid staining. Mastic Remover and Soy Gel Paint and Sealer Stripper are great low-order products suitable for basement use. Remember to clean the floor thoroughly of all cleanser residue using Concrete Cleaner & Degreaser and then to rinse well before staining.

Step 4 – Apply Acid Stain to Concrete Floor

All 10 Direct Colors Acid Stains may be used for a basement application. 

Keeping in mind that many basements aren’t well lit, we recommend selecting a lighter color and avoiding Coffee Brown and Black acid stains as they may make the room overly dark (these stains also have the strongest smell during application and require ventilation to the outside or a respirator to apply).

STAINED CONCRETE BASEMENT FLOOR COLORS

As with any acid stain application, testing to determine which colors and sealer finish combination works best in your basement is the best place to start. With our acid stain trial kit you can choose up to five colors and two sealer finishes to create you own custom stained concrete basement floor.

Step 5 – Neutralize and Remove Residue

Once the residue has dried and the stain has been given at least the recommended minimum time to react, the surface should be neutralized and all debris or excess stain removed in the following manner:

1. Prepare a baking soda and water solution using 1-2 tablespoons of soda per gallon of water. Thoroughly spread the solution across the slab, scrubbing with a soft nylon bristle scrub brush where needed to remove residue. A shop vacuum can also be used for indoor projects. 
2. Wash the surface carefully using clean water until nothing but clear water is visible. All residue and excess color must be removed from the floor BEFORE leaving to dry. For stubborn residue or porous surfaces, use a floor soap or Concrete Cleaner & Degreaser to aid in the removal. The clean, wet surface will be the approximate color of the final sealed surface.
3. Leave to dry. After the surface has completely dried, the floor should be ready to seal.

ACRYLIC SEALERS

Pros: No Primer Required & Easy Application

Cons: Wax Required

WAX & POLISH FOR ACRYLIC SEALED FLOORS

POLYURETHANE SEALERS

Pros: No-Wax Sealer

Cons: Primer Required ( Water-Based Acrylic Sealer)

PRIMER FOR POLYURETHANE SEALED FLOORS