How to Etch Stain a Slab Basement

Etch stain a slab basement floor to add color to a basement area.

Acid-based concrete etching stains is a way of coloring concrete slab flooring. If you have a concrete slab floor in your basement, and would like to avoid installing flooring or carpeting over the concrete, you can achieve a more finished look simply by staining the existing concrete slab. Although etch staining does require the use of corrosive chemicals, this project can be safely and successfully completed if the right preparations and safety precautions are taken.

Things You'll Need

• Protective gloves
• Safety glasses
• Water
• Acid-etching concrete stain
• Circular-mouth plastic sprayer
• Concrete brush
• Scrubbing machine
• Detergent

Instructions

1. Dilute the acid-etching concrete stain with water before applying. Put on safety glasses and gloves, and mix one part stain with two parts water for the first treatment. If the stain is too light, increase the concentration of the stain in subsequent treatments.

2. Fill a circular-mouth plastic sprayer with the diluted stain. Only use a sprayer that is rated for use with acids.

3. Apply the stain with the sprayer from left to right, and then again from right to left. Have a friend standing by with a concrete brush to follow your sprayer as you work your way across the floor.

4. Work the stain into the floor with a concrete brush, keeping the brush closely behind the path of the sprayer. Brush the stain into the floor in a circular motion. To avoid etching the brush marks into the floor, pass over the brushed concrete with the acid spray right after brushing.

5. Allow the acid stain to dry completely, until a thin colored acidic residue forms on the floor. Remove this residue with a scrubbing machine loaded with detergent and water.

Tips & Warnings

• Never handle acid etching stains without safety glasses and protective gloves.

References

• Concrete Network: Guide to Concrete Staining