Stained Concrete Floors for Homes

Staining adds color to concrete. The finished appearance also depends on the preparation and the protective treatment applied afterward.

A stained-and-sealed floor gets its protection and potentially its sheen from a surface coating. Colored polished concrete is mechanically ground and polished, with a compatible color treatment incorporated into the work. A glossy photograph alone does not tell you which system was used.

Our styles of stained concrete floors guide provides visual examples. The concrete stain color charts can help narrow your preferences before sampling.

Craftsman prepares a representative sample using the proposed preparation, color and protective finish. We review it with you before proceeding across the floor.

The sample shows how your concrete accepts the treatment and how repairs, patches and existing variations affect the appearance. A photograph or color chart helps communicate the look you want; the sample establishes the reference for your installation.

Mottled or more even-looking color

Acid stains produce a mottled appearance because the concrete does not react uniformly across the surface.

Pigmented stains vary in transparency and coverage. Some allow more of the concrete to show through; others provide greater coverage. We review those choices through the sample, including whether existing repairs remain visible.

Staining should not be treated as a way to make every slab uniform or hide every patch.

Previous coatings, sealers, adhesive residue and contamination can affect how concrete accepts a stain. Craftsman assesses the surface and determines the preparation needed for the selected system.

A previously sealed floor does not automatically need to be ruled out. Some systems permit application over certain prepared sealed surfaces, while others require removal. We test the proposed preparation and treatment before proceeding.

The color treatment and protective finish are selected together. The complete system determines how the floor is cleaned and when its protective treatment needs attention.

Craftsman provides care instructions for the installed floor as part of the closeout documentation. Follow those instructions when choosing cleaners or arranging maintenance.

If worn areas, dullness or damage develop, contact Craftsman before applying another sealer or coating. The maintenance approach needs to suit what is already on the floor.

Contact Craftsman Concrete with:

• Your project location and approximate floor area.
• Photographs of the appearance you want.
• Whether the concrete is new or existing.
• Photographs of any current coatings, damage or repairs.

We’ll review your project and recommend the next step.

If you are still comparing floor types, our residential concrete floors page outlines the options.