It can be difficult to decide on a decorative finish for the concrete floor of a 700 ft² basement that will be used as a workshop and living space. It needs to look warm and inviting, yet be durable enough for a workshop and easy to clean. The materials used need to be low in VOC content as well. The ultimate solution? Apply a water-based stain (dye) in multiple colors and protect it with TS210 clear coat sealer in a matte finish.
This was the dilemma Dale from Washington State was struggling with before he decided upon the above solution. It wasn’t easy though to find the answer. He came across a couple of different roadblocks that ultimately led him to contact us for advice about clear coats.
Dale and his wife wanted to achieve the color and warmth of a satin-varnished fir floor. This would mean color staining the concrete and applying a satin clear coat to protect it. The problem, however, is that most clear coats that provide the required durability and stain resistance for a workshop floor are only available in a glossy finish. In addition, many have a high VOC content which is not good for enclosed spaces such as a basement.
Furthermore, most high-performing clear coat sealers require etching the concrete before they can be applied. He wanted to avoid introducing all the water into his basement that etching would entail if he could help it.
This led Dale to look specifically for a coating that may not require etching. Such a coating would allow him to apply a water-based concrete stain. One of the advantages of water-based stains over acid stains is that they do not require neutralizing and rinsing. The only condition is to let them fully dry before applying a clear coat. Plus, they are low in VOCs with no acid fumes to worry about.
Dale’s research ultimately led him to some reviews we wrote on All Garage Floors. One was for DuraGrade Concrete.
This is a high-performing resinous and decorative coating for concrete and garage floors that does not require etching in most cases. They even have a low VOC clear coat, though it’s still a glossy finish.
The other review was for TS210 by Concrete Sealers USA. TS210 is a highly durable acrylic-modified, aliphatic polyurethane coating and sealer.
Furthermore, it’s water-based and low in VOC content. Most important for Dale, is that TS210 is available in a matte finish! Was this the “Magic Bullet” he was looking for?
He then did something that not enough DIYers do. He contacted the manufacturer to ask questions. The answers he received prompted him to contact us.
The reason? In short, Concrete Sealers USA passively tried to talk Dale out of using TS210. This didn’t surprise us and is one of the reasons we trust and recommend them. They are always concerned about customer satisfaction. They would rather discourage a prospective customer from purchasing a product if they ultimately feel it won’t meet their required needs. So, what was the reason for their concern?
Dale’s concrete surface was steel troweled smooth. Furthermore, it would absorb water and not repel it. This is a requirement for TS210 to adhere properly. That wasn’t the issue though.
Concrete Sealers USA was concerned about the amount of colorant that water-based stains deposit into the concrete pores. They hadn’t tested it on concrete that was treated to acid staining or colored dyes. They felt it might inhibit the penetration of TS210 and affect how well it would adhere.
We knew from experience that acid stains and color dyes rarely create adhesion issues. If the concrete will properly accept a sealer or coating when bare, it will do the same after a colored stain is applied. We replied to Dale with this information.
Based on this knowledge, Dale did the next thing DIYers should do in this situation, particularly when using stains. He did some small testing.
A few different color test samples of water-based stains from two different manufacturers were purchased. He wasn’t sure if one brand of stain would look different or react differently to the concrete than another. In addition, he purchased one quart of DuraGrade Concrete Low VOC Clear and one quart of TS210 in the matte finish.
This allowed him to test the products in a small inconspicuous area. He could then determine which color combination and brand of stains to use. After that, he applied a small amount of DuraGrade Concrete and TS210 clear sealer to check for proper adhesion and to determine which finish he liked best.
Satisfied with the results, he found the color combination and clear coat that he liked.
We spoke with Concrete Sealers USA. They recommend doing a water drop test again after a stain or dye is applied before applying TS210 to ensure it will adhere.
Applying Concrete Color Stain and TS210 Concrete Sealer
Dale had decided to use three different colors of ColorWave Concrete Stain by Direct Colors. These were Sunset, Mahogany, and Gold. ColorWave is a water-based, semi-transparent concrete stain that is low in VOCs. Before he could apply it, there was some prep work with the basement floor that needed to be performed.
The concrete in his finished basement was only a year old. Ram Board was placed on it shortly after it was finished to keep it clean and needed to be removed. To Dale’s surprise, he found the concrete was a slightly different color tone where seam tape was used. It was more evident where some boxes were stored for a long period.
This difference in tone was most likely created as the concrete cured. Ram Board is a thick paper that will breathe and allow moisture vapor to transfer. However, seam tape does not breathe and the moisture vapor was slower to escape around the edges.
The boxes would slow down moisture transfer even more. As a result, the concrete is a slightly different color where it retained moisture longer during the curing process. Dale was fine with that and figured it would be another feature of the floor.
Next, he used RapidSet NewCrete which he happened to have around to fill the few contraction joints and make some needed crack repairs. He worked the product into the small cracks using a rag and then removed the excess around the cracks.
Typically, resinous repair and fill materials such as epoxy or polyurea should be used. However, such materials will repel decorative stains. Because RapidSet is a polymer-modified cement, it would absorb and accept the stain.
Once the RapidSet had cured, Dale began to apply the stains. He started by first spraying on Sunset with a pump-up garden sprayer with a cone tip. He then used a paint roller to evenly disperse it.
He waited approximately an hour and sprayed on Sunset again. This time he didn’t roll it and he did not spray it on evenly. This is a technique that is used to create random tones of color.
After waiting another hour or so, he sprayed on Mahogany. He covered most of the floor, but not all, and not evenly. After waiting the required time again, he sprayed Gold in short, broad diagonal stripes. He then waited overnight to make sure the concrete was completely dry before applying the TS210 clear coat.
Because the concrete was steel toweled very smooth, he followed Concrete Sealer USA’s recommendations to do a prime coat first. This requires thinning the completed mixture of TS210 at a ratio of 1 to 1 with water. He rolled it on using a quality 1/4″ nap roller.
After waiting five hours for the prime coat to become tack free, he applied a second coat at full concentration. He then waited overnight before applying the third and final coat.
Final Comments and Tips
Dale and his wife really like the results of the color stain combination and clear sealer. The full character of the concrete and all its imperfections is highlighted by the concrete stain. Plus, the matte finish creates a warm feel unlike a glossy sealer does.
He did state that there are some very small bubbles in some areas along with some roughness at the roller edges. He doesn’t remember that happening with his test.
Dale thinks he may have been working the roller too fast which can create bubbles. He also thought the roughness may have been from the roller loading up with material on the wet edge he was working. It was harder for him to see due to the long extension handle used for the roller.
Clear coats can be tricky to apply since it’s not always easy to see what you have and have not coated. This is particularly true for subsequent coats. It’s always a good idea to have a second set of eyes. A well-lit work area and occasionally leaning down close to the floor will reveal the wet sheen.
Regardless of these small issues, Dale says you need to look closely to see it. It does not bother him when it comes down to it. He recommends contacting Concrete Sealers USA to discuss how to avoid cosmetic application issues if this may be a concern.
Something else to consider is the advantages of using TS210 Concrete Sealer with a matte finish. One is that it does a good job of hiding dirt and debris on the surface. Though glossy clear coats can make the colors pop with depth and vibrancy, they also highlight every bit of dirt, dusty footprints, and scratches.
Additionally, TS210 has good anti-slip resistance when wet. Glossy sealers can get very slippery. An anti-slip media is always recommended for the final coat in glossy sealers if wet slip resistance is a concern.
Something else Dale mentioned is that the cracks and areas he filled with the RapidSet took the stains more strongly. If he had known this prior, he thought he may have tried creating wider veins of darker color by scrubbing in the patch material and then wiping it off. The premise is that any remnant of the repair material would appear darker.
One feature that we always try to make clear is that color staining concrete will bring out the character and highlight the various imperfections and discrepancies in concrete. This is evident with Dale’s basement floor.
If you look closely at the images, you can see the darker cracks he referred to as well as the outlines where seam tape held down the Ram Board. These are all features to be expected when color-staining concrete.
We think Dale did a great job. The color and finish of his basement floor look fantastic. It just goes to show how a little bit of research and DIY ingenuity can go a long way for a home project.
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