If you are thinking about staining your garage floor, then pay close attention. Staining concrete is a DIY project that has slowly become more popular than ever before. The first decision that has to be made, however, is what type of stain or dye is best for a garage floor. Well, Legacy Industrial has made that decision much easier with the arrival of their new DeltaDye water-based penetrating concrete stain.
Legacy Industrial contacted us and sent over a sample kit of their new DeltaDye concrete stain for us to review for ourselves. Before we discuss our impressive results and the benefits of DeltaDye as a garage floor stain, it’s first important to learn a little bit about concrete staining in general.
The process of color staining concrete is when fully cured bare concrete is treated with a liquid stain or dye to permanently change the color at the surface. It is usually applied to the concrete with a pump-up sprayer, a paintbrush, or a paint roller depending on the type of stain.
Once the staining process is complete, a clear topical coating is applied to the concrete. The clear topcoat is what seals and protects the stain (as well as the concrete). It makes the otherwise dull-looking colors “pop” with vibrancy.
There are multiple types of stains and dyes available. The number of stains available can seem daunting at first. However, a good number are specialty stains that are used for decorative concrete design in the home and business. They are not necessarily suitable for a garage environment or outdoors.
The most popular of stains that people are familiar with for a garage floor are acid stains. Here is one such example.
Acid stains are reactive. Once applied, they react with free lime on the concrete surface to produce beautiful and translucent earthy colors with nice patinas. Veining, variegation, and mottling are what they are most known for. It’s a popular look that people want in their garages.
OK, we see the question coming. Why would you want to use a water-based concrete stain such as DeltaDye instead of an acid stain for a garage floor then?
The reason has to do with the characteristics and requirements of acid staining. If you are not familiar with the acid staining process, some of these characteristics can cause poor results. They can also shy the inexperienced away from a DIY project once they learn the steps required.
The first characteristic is that you are dealing with acid. Safety precautions need to be taken before you begin the application process. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to achieve the look you want and forget that you are working with a dangerous chemical.
A lesser-known but far more important characteristic is that the amount of lime on the concrete surface will affect how well the stain performs.
Extremely old concrete, previously acid etched concrete, or concrete treated to grinding typically will not have sufficient enough lime available at the surface for the acid to react with. The result can be a poor stain outcome that looks faded and may even wash out during the required rinsing process.
Furthermore, because acid stains are reactive, you have less control over the final look. The stain can be darker or lighter than you may have anticipated. You are also limited with color selection. The organic nature of acid stain can only provide natural earth tones for color.
Finally, acid staining is more labor-intensive and takes longer to complete. The acid generally needs to remain on the concrete for a minimum of five hours or more in order for it to fully react properly. The surface then has to be neutralized to return the concrete back from an acid state to a basic state.
The concrete is then washed by scrubbing down in order to remove all unreacted stain and stain residue. It’s not uncommon to go through more than one scrubbing. If this step is not done properly, the remaining residue will cause problems with your protective clear coat.
Now that you know some of the characteristics of an acid stain, let’s look at why a water-based penetrating stain can have many advantages over an acid stain.
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Benefits of DeltaDye water-based concrete stain versus acid stain
Some water-based penetrating concrete stains can have distinct advantages over acid staining and DeltaDye is no exception. DeltaDye is available in 24 different colors and works by penetrating the pores of the concrete and creating a permanent stain that is vibrant in color with a variegated and translucent look.
Just like an acid stain, DeltaDye is U.V. resistant and will not fade. This makes it an excellent choice for garage floors exposed to sunlight as well as for patios and walkways. Some water-based penetrating stains, as well as chemical stains and dyes, are less U.V. resistant. They can fade over time if exposed to sunlight.
Water-based stains are also eco-friendly. They will not harm your skin, there are no toxic fumes or VOCs to worry about, and they are safe for vegetation. Water-based stains typically have a larger coverage rate than acid stains as well.
Additionally, unlike acid stain, which is reactive and has a somewhat undetermined outcome, you can control the coloring and design with a water-based stain. This is done by regulating the amount of stain you apply, the application method, as well as the ability to accent with other colors.
Water-based concrete stains do not require neutralizing or scrubbing either. Once the stain has dried on the surface it is ready for a clear coat application. This particular feature takes a lot of the labor out of the process and is a huge time saver. It can reduce the entire application process down to a single day depending on the clear coat you have chosen.
Concrete Surface Prep and application for DeltaDye
Concrete surface preparation for a stain is the same regardless of the product. The concrete needs to be clean. The surface has to be free of any paint, coatings, sealers, oils, waxes, dirt, or any other substance that would prevent the stain from penetrating the concrete. Any repairs that need to be made to the garage floor should be done at this time.
Concrete repairs should be done with a cementitious-based product. Resin-based concrete repair products such as epoxy or polyurea will repel it and not allow the stain to take.
If the surface repels water then light sanding, etching, or grinding will need to be performed before DeltaDye can be applied. If water will not penetrate, neither will the stain.
Our recommendation is to use a pump-up garden sprayer with a circular spray pattern. This type of application can provide a more variegated look. However, you can also apply DeltaDye with a paintbrush or roller.
If using a single color, the first thing you want to do is apply a single coat to the entire surface. Mottling will be achieved through the varying degrees of porosity in your concrete. You can darken the color or achieve “acid effects” by applying additional stain in random and irregular patterns.
If using more than one color, it is recommended to apply lighter colors first as a base color and then accent with the darker colors. You can also add water to colors to make them lighter.
The stain generally needs 30 minutes to 1 hour to dry. Once dry, you can apply additional coats and/or accents and colors. It really is up to your imagination how you want it to look.
Concrete stains need to be sealed with a topical clear coat
Once you stain your garage floor you will need to seal and protect it with a film-forming clear coat. The clear top coat protects the stain and wets it out to make the color pop and look vibrant. Most stains will look dull and sometimes even ugly until you get the clear coat applied.
For a garage floor, Legacy Industrial recommends their HD6600 MMA acrylic sealer, SEC Sealer (epoxy), or Nohr-S polyurea sealer.
If you don’t have a busy garage and want the easiest sealer to apply, then the HD6500 in a matte finish or HD6600 MMA would be a good choice. We did an article on HD6600 here a while back. This type of sealer does not require any other additional concrete prep other than what is required for DeltaDye. Once the stain dries, you can immediately begin applying the sealer.
For garage floors that will see medium to heavy-duty use, the epoxy SEC Sealer or Nohr-S would be a better choice. Examples of such use are car maintenance and repair, home improvement projects, workshops and etc. You can read about Nohr-S here. These types of coatings are extremely durable and will last for years.
If choosing a sealer other than HD66500 or HD6600, you will first need to acid etch or lightly grind your concrete before applying DeltaDye. The reason is that the higher performance coating such as epoxy and polyurea require a more porous concrete surface in order to achieve a good mechanical bond.
Unlike acid stains, this type of concrete preparation will not affect water-based stains such as DeltaDye. It may reduce the coverage rate of the stain though since there will be better penetration of the concrete surface.
Purchase DeltaDye water-based stain and kits
Legacy Industrial can’t make it much easier to purchase and apply DeltaDye stain to your garage floor, patio, walkways, or even the interior of your home. They include instructions, videos, tech sheets, and links to the various clear top coat sealers they recommend. They also have the option of purchasing DeltaDye in kit form.
If you are not sure about what color/s you want, then we highly recommend first purchasing the sample kit. You can test the colors in an inconspicuous area of the garage floor or other concrete to see how they look. You can even practice combining colors.
If you like the idea of stain but want something that is even easier to apply, then Legacy Industrial may have what you are looking for. It’s called DeltaDye OneStep Easy. This is a tinted sealer kit that adds a single color of DeltaDye to their HD6500 sealer.
Keep in mind that tinted sealers technically are not a stain or dye. They do not permanently stain the concrete since it’s the sealer that is colored. We have an article here that explains more. What they do is provide a more consistent-looking color that is somewhat translucent.
Our results with DeltaDye water-based stain
Legacy Industrial sent us a sample kit of DeltaDye that comes with four 4oz. pump sprayer bottles. You can choose up to four colors. The colors we received were Lead, Gold, Red, and Blue.
They also sent us their HD6600 sealer as well. We were excited to give DeltaDye a try and applied the samples to a small section of a garage floor to see how they would look.
The concrete we applied the stain to was older and had some surface imperfections and fine spider cracks. This type of surface only adds to the character of the stain and helps to create an effect that some people find desirable. Your results will vary depending on the condition of your concrete.
Because penetrating water-based stains and acid stains are translucent, concrete imperfections and repairs will show through and add to the character of the floor.
To illustrate, we purposely left a circular stain on the concrete that was made from a tire and wheel laying on the surface. You can see how it shows through in some of the images. It is a good example of why it’s important to get the concrete as clean as you can.
We also want to point out that the concrete had been treated to grinding a year previous. As you can see in the following images, the grinding of the concrete did not affect how well the concrete took the stain.
As we stated, this is one of the advantages of using a penetrating water-based concrete stain. An acid stain would not have worked well on this floor.
Lead and Blue were applied next to each other in one section and then Red and Gold were applied next to each other in another section. We did this in order to show some of the color contrasts. You also get an idea of what a stain looks like before it is sealed.
The small pump bottles create a fine spray and we felt that it wasn’t going on as heavy as it should, but we liked the results nonetheless. It just requires more pumping. In hindsight, we should have unscrewed the tops to sprinkle heavier applications on for some accenting.
The first thing we noticed right away is that the lighter-colored stains quickly took on a variegated look as it was absorbed differently by the concrete. The color also darkened in the fine spider cracks. The Blue stain in particular was stunning in this regard.
What was interesting is the color Lead. Because it was much darker, it did not show as much variegation as the lighter-colored stains. Two applications of each color were applied and we only had to wait about 25 minutes between coats.
We then did two separate sections of Blue and Gold. After these had dried, we sprayed a small amount of Lead stain over the Blue in a couple of areas and we did the same with the Red stain over the Gold. This helped to create a mottled look of different hues. We can see how you can get really creative this way with just two colors and your imagination.
After our samples had dried completely, we treated them with two thin coats of the HD6600 sealer. The sealer rolled on easily and provided a glossy look that made the color really stand out.
Taking a good picture proved challenging for us and the one we posted here doesn’t do the stain justice. The gloss of the sealer created an overpowering shine due to the overhead lights. We couldn’t take the picture in the dark or with a flash, so we finally had to edit it and take some of the gloss out. It would have been much easier if we were photographing an entire floor and not one small area.
Final Thoughts
We found that DeltaDye water-based penetrating concrete stain truly provides a stunning look and is very easy to apply. We really liked how the color intensity varied as it was absorbed by the concrete.
Admittedly, the older concrete with the fine spider cracks really made this stain pop with character. If you are applying it to fairly new concrete then you will not get quite the same look that the fine spider cracks provided.
If you are going to seal the stain with HD6600, then the entire process couldn’t get much easier. The hardest part of the job may be clearing out your garage floor and cleaning the concrete. This combination of stain and sealer can make for some fairly easy DIY decorative concrete projects in and around the home for the garage floor, walkways, patios, and pool decks.
If you are someone who is inclined towards automotive repairs and maintenance or other projects in your garage, then we would recommend that you use an epoxy or polyurea clear coat sealer instead. Remember that this will require that you properly prep the concrete for these types of sealers before you begin the staining process.
Do we think that DeltaDye water-based concrete stain provides the same results as an acid stain? No, not quite, but we feel that it’s close enough for most people who don’t want to deal with the acid staining process.
Though the colors of DeltaDye are definitely vibrant, acid staining can sometimes provide some stunning effects due to the lime-reacting process that is hard to replicate with other stain types.
Keep in mind, however, that DeltaDye provides a better color selection than acid stain and a more controlled outcome for the look you want to achieve.
In short, we highly recommend DeltaDye if you want an easy-to-use DIY concrete stain that will provide excellent results. It’s Eco-friendly, U.V. resistant, and provides a vibrant, translucent look that is similar to acid stain.
Aury says
I have an outdoor brazilian bbq made of cast concrete, unpainted, that has been there for a few months. I was wondering if I could use this product and whether it would be recommended to use on something that would get really hot. The stain would only be on the exterior portion, that doesn’t interact with the food. I would still need to seal it correct? Thanks!
Shea says
Hi Aury. Yes, you could use it, but keep in mind that it is not going to give you a solid color if that is what you are after. Due to the heat, you cannot apply a clear coating in order to make the colors pop with vibrancy.
Christal says
Hello, I just spent my entire weekend applying acid stain to my lower level and I hate the outcome. Is it possible to apply this water based stain over acid stain?
Shea says
Hi Christal. What is it about the outcome that you do not like? Many times acid stains can look dull and unattractive until it gets a clear coating. The coating makes the colors pop and come alive with vibrancy. Sometimes running a wet mop over a section will give you a better idea of what it will look like with a clear coat. To answer your question, yes, you can apply a water-based stain/dye over an acid stain. This is done all the time by decorative coating contractors that are trying to obtain a certain look. However, just keep in mind that stains are translucent in nature and that you cannot make a current stain lighter in color with a different stain.
Christal says
Thank you for your response. The result was very blotchy looking, almost like it had been rained on (the best way I can think to describe it) and just overall uneven and unattractive. I’m hoping to accomplish a more smooth/even look. Do you think applying a waterbased stain would help remedy this problem? Thanks again
Shea says
Did you check the floor for a sealer first before applying the stain, Christal? If an old sealer is present it will tend to reject the stain. Also, is the floor real old? Sometimes old concrete will not have enough of the free lime and minerals present that acid stain requires to react with. If the floor does not have a sealer present, then the water-based stain will help even it out, but it’s not going to provide a consistent solid look if that is what your ultimate goal is. I would suggest calling Legacy Industrial and ask for Scotty. He can provide more details on what to do and what colors to use based on the product and colors you have applied already.
Rhiannon says
Hello. I have a flagstone floor from my front door to the back door. I am wondering if this product would work much the same as it does for concrete. The floor is a light pinkish beige and we would like it to be a washed out darker version than what it is now. I want the variations and if I understand correctly, flagstone would be more porous and likely take on the stain better than concrete. What do you think? Has anyone used this on other surfaces than concrete?
Shea says
Hi Rhiannon. Yes, you can use this dye on flagstone. However, we recommend that you contact Legacy Industrial and ask for Scotty to get more guidance. Certain colors are going to look different based on the color of the flagstone. If you have any additional flagstone remaining somewhere, we would highly recommend purchasing some samples first to test for color.
Preston Hoebelheinrich says
Hello. We are looking for something to cover up our cut marks for our new patio! Yes we just got one put in our backyard and they messed up with the cuts! We would like to get that covered. Would this work for an exterior patio to cover up any cracks/lines made?
Shea says
Hi Preston. Are you referring to the saw cuts that make up the contraction joints? If so, there is no way to hide those unless they are properly filled and a special outdoor colored coating is used on the patio. Dyes and stains highlight cracks and other imperfections in concrete. It draws attention to it and is what gives the concrete the character that people like with that kind of look.
Gigi says
Will this work on an indoor concrete pool deck that once had carpet on it. There is glue residue on floor that has been removed as best possible. Concrete is about 30 years old and in pretty good condition.
Other concern is to not contaminate the pool water while cleaning and applying stain. Any thoughts or suggestions on doing this without having to drain water and refill pool.
Is the top coat slippery when it gets wet?
Shea says
Hello Gigi. It will work on the concrete pool deck providing there is no glue residue. The residue will act as a sealer and the stain will not take if any is present. The if you spill a little into the pool it will be OK. It will be diluted far too much to do anything. You can use a roller or if necessary around the edges. All coatings are slippery when wet. We recommend using an anti-slip additive/media in the final coat. Legacy Industrial has that available as well. They call it Soft Skid.
Scott Tringali says
What is the “primer” being used? I really like the look of the floor before the sealer is applied at 1:56.
Shea says
Hi Scott. It’s Nohr-S Prime by Legacy Industrial.
Nathaniel L. Basa says
I would like to try your product. Do you have your outlet or distributor here in the philippines. Thank you,
Shea says
Hi Nathaniel. We don’t sell this garage flooring products. Delta Dye is sold by Legacy Industrial which is located in Florida. You will need to contact them to see if they can ship to you.
Leila Orde says
I am wanting to use this product on my 30 year old basement floor, interior of houe. I have sanded off any adhesive left from carpeting. I am in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Shea says
Hello Leila. As long as you have removed any remaining adhesive, glues, sealers and etc., Delta Dye will work on the concrete.
Trish Phan says
My stamp concrete patio is 3 week old. The light grey color was mixed in the concrete & the contractor sprayed on the top with dark grey. I don’t like the color since it is too dark & not even. The concrete is not sealed yet. Since the color is mixed in concrete, how can I remove? Can I use this water-based stain over it? If I can’t remove the grey color, what water-based stain color I should use to lighter or change the color?
Shea says
Hello Trish. Unfortunately, you are in tough position in terms of what to do. The only way to remove the color in dyed concrete is to remove the layer of concrete that is dyed in order to expose the bare natural color. This typically involves grinding or heavy sand blasting. Also, you cannot stain or dye darker colors to make them lighter. You can only go from light to dark, not the other way around. In addition, traditional dyed and stained concrete does not produce an even color. The color and tones naturally vary due to the nature of concrete. This is what creates the character that people like about stained concrete. No one slab is perfect with consistent density and texture. If you are looking for a solid and consistent color throughout the slab, then staining is not the way to get that.
There are acrylic coatings that are colored to achieve that look. Most patio slabs that have been stained or dye are coated with clear acrylic to make the colors pop and protect the concrete. There are companies that color the clear acrylic and call them stains. Technically they are not a stain and we explain that here. However, these are popular to use outdoors on walkways and patios. Behr is one such example here. This may be what you need to fix your problem since the colored acrylic coating will cover the existing concrete color.
Trish Phan says
Thank you so much for the information. I don’t like the coating/paint. I don’t mind if the color is not even. I would do whatever to get rid of dark grey color. A new color can be dark (like dark brown, walnut), as long as NOT dark grey. Is it still possible to use water-based stain without removing layer concrete?
Shea says
Yes, Trish. Just as long as you know that it will only get darker, not lighter. Keep in mind that the clear that has to be applied over the dye/stain IS a coating. I suggest that you contact Legacy Industrial and order a sample kit to test. Scotty can advise you what colors will work best over the darker gray concrete.
Jay says
Hi, would this Delta Dye be suitable for an indoor open floor plan for the lower level of my property? I’m torn between Acid stain and this product. The floor will be newly layed concrete base. Is there an amount of time that the new concrete needs to sit before staining?
Cheers
Jay UK
Shea says
Hi Jay. Just about any concrete stain would be suitable for indoors. What you need to determine is your ultimate color goals and what type of clear coat you want to apply to protect the stain and the concrete. Water-based stains such as Delta Dye have a much broader color palette than acid stains since acid stains are organic in nature. An acid stain would not require concrete prep for a coating since the stain will actually etch the concrete for a coating. Water-based stains will not do this. If you want to apply a clear coating that is more durable than acrylic, you will need to etch or grind the concrete first before application of a water-based stain.
Hiedi Poulson-Halbasch says
Can this be done on pavers for a walkway and patio?
Shea says
Yes it can, Hiedi. We recommend giving Legacy Industrial a call for further information on correct application for pavers.
Stephanie says
I am trying to decide between acid staining and the water based stain for my garage floor. The house is 25 years old and the garage floor is that old as well. It is not sealed and is in decent shape, but you mentioned older concrete may not have enough lime to react with the acid stains. Do you think the water based stain would be a better idea for my garage floor? Thank you!
Shea says
Hi Stephanie. It can’t really be determined for sure without some testing. Most vendors that sell acid stain offer sample kits for color testing. The best way to know is to test an acid stain in an inconspicuous area to determine how well the color reacts and sets in.
Londa says
What type of stain do you recommend for a newly poured outdoor patio? The patio is less than a week old, unsealed with a broom finish.
Shea says
Hi Londa. It depends upon the look you want. Acid stains provide the most marbling effects and tend have very rich looking color after the clear sealer coating is applied. However, the color options are limited to earth tones due to their organic nature. Water-based stains such as Delta Dye provide a more consistent color look with somewhat less marbling and are available in a wider variety of colors. You will need to let the slab cure for a minimum of 2 weeks before staining and a total of 4 weeks before applying the proper clear coat sealer.
Leann says
Hello! The concrete we are interested in staining has some spalling and cracking I a few areas. Would Delta Dye work on the spalling concrete or does it have to be repaired first? Thank you
Shea says
Hi Leann. If there is no aggregate exposed, then a water-based stain such as Delta Dye will stain those areas to some extent. How much though we can’t say for sure. If you repair the area, it will need to be done with a polymer-modified concrete patch or overlay. Don’t use an epoxy repair though as that will not accept a stain.
Randy Slickers says
Want to stain an seal approximately 3500 sq.ft. less mechanical room, storage room, and theater room. It’s about 14yrs old and ground down with diamond pads and TSP rinsed and then radiant floor dried. Interested in dye vs acid. White to light grey base with accent black. Afterwards would a densifier with Ghost Shield sealer be doable and long lasting.
Shea says
Hello Randy. We don’t recommend using acid stain in this situation. The reason is that acid stains are reactionary. They work by reacting with the free lime and other minerals at the surface in order to create a permanent stain. The grinding has effectively removed most of this free lime and minerals at the surface. As a result, acid stains will not react well with concrete that has been treated to grinding. They tend to produce weak stains or will even get washed away in the neutralizing process because the concrete will not take the stain. Whenever grinding has been performed, a water-based stain or solvent dye is preferred.
What grit diamonds were used for the grinding? Penetrating sealers don’t work nearly as well will rougher grinds because the open pores at the surface are too large. They work better with finer finishing grinds. Assuming you can apply the GhostShield system, keep in mind that it will not make the colors pop and look vibrant like typical concrete stained floors you see. Those use a clear topical sealer that wets out the stain to create the vibrant colors. Penetrating sealers do not change the look of the concrete and the stain will have the same look as it did before the sealers were applied.
Randy Slickers says
120 grit for all the trowel marks, then the black scotchbrite pads with TSP water. There are some imprints in concrete that still have drywall PVA and spray texture from drywall crew not properly covering floors We would like more of a satin finish not a super slippery surface, especially with company and kiddos with spills.
Shea says
Hi Randy. You could get by with a densifier and GhostShield 8510 treatment with a 120 grit grind. The concrete would have the same texture and look after application as before since these are penetrating products. Just keep in mind that as good as penetrating sealers are, they are still susceptible to stains and liquid penetration if left to sit. One product you might want to consider is TS210 by Concrete Sealers USA. This is a very thin acrylic polyurethane with a matte finish. It’s easy to apply and much less slippery than typical coatings.
Brittney says
I have a 15×15 patio about 14 years old and nothing has ever been put on it. I’m wanting to stain it but don’t want a “paint” or something that will chip. I was thinking about the acid stain since it actually just changes the color but does the water-base stain do pretty much the same?
Shea says
Hello Brittney. Yes, water-based stains do the same as acid stains in terms of creating a stained surface. These products here are what you don’t want. They are tinted acrylic sealers that are sold as stains.
Kaitlyn says
What do you mix with this dye to spray? Is it water or acetone? Or neither… finding lots of conflicting research and trying to make the best decision!
Shea says
Hello Kaitlyn. Delta Dye is water-based and does not require pre mixing. It can be applied via sprayer, roller, or mopped. Some dyes are sold as a concentrate and do require mixing. Whether you add water or acetone is dependent upon the dye you purchase. Acetone dyes are not U.V. stable and water-based dyes typically are. What is it that you want to achieve with a dye and where do you want to apply it?
Antonio Espinoza says
Hi. I have those old concrete mexican tiles. They look pourous. They are blue whith white details. When we have painted the room and drops of paint fall on floor. We have to remove them imediately. They are almost impossible to remove. Where can i buy your product or samples of your product. Im in Barstow California or Los Angeles Ca.
Shea says
Hi Antonio. Delta Dye is not our product. As we state in the article, it’s available from Legacy Industrial. You can find it here.
Shaun says
Hello, I’m assuming this works well for basements and not just a garage? Would the process work the same way? Lastly I’m worried because I would like to mix a black and grey mix but since it’s a dark color if it comes out not how I expect it I’m kinda stuck?
Shea says
Hello Shaun. Yes, this will work for a basement as well. We recommend ordering a sample kit with the colors you are interested in. You can then test the colors in an inconspicuous area to see how you like them. Stain is permanent and would require heavy grinding to remove. If you have any questions, just give Legacy Industrial a call or email them.
Janna says
When I looked up the website, the color chart was completely different from what you have listed here? Have they changed their colors?
Shea says
Hi Janna. Yes, we contacted Legacy Industrial and they have updated their color chart. We will make the update ourselves shortly.
Summer dLR says
Hello,
Can this water based stain be used on concrete driveway? The driveway is 18 years old but in good shape and I’d like to stain it. If so which sealer would it need?
Shea says
Hi Summer. Yes, it can be used on a concrete driveway. You would need to use a commercial quality acrylic sealer coating to protect the stain and make the colors pop. Legacy Industrial has some very MMA acrylic sealers that would work well. Just keep in mind that coatings can get slippery when wet. We would recommend the use of anti-slip media for the last coat. Also, if you live in snow country a driveway like this is not recommended. The reason is that clearing snow off of the driveway and the used of studded snow tires can scratch up the finish. We recommend that you contact Legacy Industrial and talk to them about your planned project.
Summer dLR says
Thanks for the prompt reply. I’m in Texas so snow is not a concern. I will contact Legacy for more information on their sealers.
suzanne says
My question concerns the sealer. I am planning to etch my dirty, oil-stained concrete garage floor and apply stain then a sealer. Will this sealer hold up well with hot tires rolling on and off of the surface? In other words, does the sealer tend to ‘lift off’ ?
Shea says
Hi Suzanne. There are two types of clear sealers that you can apply. The first would be an MMA acrylic sealer like the one we used when testing the colors. These type of sealers usually will not require additional concrete prep. If the concrete will accept the stain without prep, it will accept an MMA acrylic. This type of sealer will not suffer hot tire pickup and does well if you mainly use the garage for parking the cars. However, it’s not going to be as thick or durable as a commercial quality resinous clear coating such as epoxy or polyurea. These type of clear coating sealers will require that you prep the concrete first with acid etching or grinding before you apply the stain.
Lyn says
We’re looking to dye our basement floor. The house is about 50 years old and I swear every single day of every year is on the floor.
After pulling up carpet that was installed after a fire, we found the tack strip had just been nailed into the concrete, so we have a lot of repair work to do.
Can you recommend a cement-based patch we can use for crack chasing? I contacted the Delta Dye folks and unfortunately they just told me to “use something concrete-based” so uh, that wasn’t very helpful.
Second question – the floor is old, lots of spider webby cracks, but also plenty of 1/8″-1/4″ cracks. Is it worth it to rent a concrete grinder to grind the surface entirely? The space is about 1000 sq feet but we’ll be doing it in spots. The floor is just honestly gross, and mastic remover, degreaser, and a scraper aren’t making much of a dent in it.
I’m really excited to try the dye, but I want to make sure the surface is actually prepped correctly before I waste a lot of time and money on it.
Shea says
Hi Lyn. Unfortunately, there is no easy way of handling a floor like that. From your description, it’s going to require some aggressive grinding to remove all the mastic and other surface contaminants in order to provide the proper surface to stain. In addition, because it’s a basement you want to make sure you have a good vacuum system attached to the grinder and make sure to wear a respirator. You don’t want a lot of concrete dust kicking up and floating in the air. A single or dual head Edco concrete grinder or similar would get the job done, but it most likely would take a solid day depending on the grinder. A good equipment rental company will generally have the required equipment. Standard epoxy and polyurea based crack fillers will not accept stains. What you will need to use is a polymer-modified concrete patch repair product. Here is an example by Quikrete. They will accept stains, but not to the same degree as the surrounding concrete. All the patched areas will be lighter in color. Stains create a mottled look anyways, so some people think it adds to the character of the floor.
Lyn says
Thank you SO much! Really appreciate your help. I think the patched spots will look fantastic. This floor could have a lot of character.
Lisa K says
I’m impressed by, and appreciative fir, your thorough replies to each question.
I’m considering acid stain or dye/stain for both a garage and lower level family room. I was surprised by your comment about grinding reducing likelihood of a successful outcome for acid stain due to lack of lime available at surface. A concrete guy suggested “buffing” the concrete. What’s the difference between buffing snd grinding? Is it just a matter of depth? Thanks!
Shea says
Hi Lisa. That is correct about acid stains. They react with all the free lime and other minerals at the surface. When you grind, it effectively removes much of that material and the acid stain will react poorly. Much of the color will wash away during the neutralizing process. I’m not sure what the concrete guy means by buffing. Buffing is a term used for adding shine or polishing up when referring to concrete. One nice thing about acid staining is that it actually etches the concrete – it’s an acid solution. Most of the time this etching will provide enough surface profile for a coating. What type of clear coat do you want to apply?
Julie says
Hi! We are purchasing a 53 yr old home. The basement floor is concrete obviously and it is dry and doesn’t appear to have ever been covered with anything. It doesn’t appear to have had one durations of wetness etc. We are a farm family and kids/teens will be primary occupants. Really there is even very little spider cracking from where I was checking. We are very experienced hands at all home improvement- I want the earthy brown tones but would the concrete age even without exposure be too old for that? Can you layer/spray/ swirl the direct dye stain enough to give a close approximation without the spottier look you had? Would the lighter top coat version be enough for foot traffic and kids? Thanks for your answers!
Shea says
Hi Julie. The age of the concrete will not be a factor when using a water-based stain. As an FYI, concrete does not take to stain like paint. Every slab will react differently and you can’t control how mottled, veiny, or even looking the stain will be. The concrete will determine that. Yes, the top coat we discuss would work fine for that.