How to Stain Concrete Walkways
Stained concrete has been a growing trend these days, and many architects and home owners are beginning to use it more and more both in and outside of their homes. The colors that concrete staining can bring forth is amazing, and generally the look is very elegant. The more natural look regarding stains is to allow the concrete to have different shades or colors in it, rather than a flat color across the entire thing (similar to painting). The stains and colors that you can choose from are nearly endless and it is up to you what you end up going with. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Quality concrete stain
- Masking tape or painters tape
- Stripping agent
- Floor sander/buffer
- Stain sprayer
- Medium-bristle brush
Instructions
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1
Treat and clean the concrete first, especially if it isn't newly laid. The cleaning should start with tossing a little water onto the concrete. If the concrete doesn't absorb it, it needs a good cleaning because there is a protective layer on it.
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2
Apply the stripping agent to the concrete, diluting it according to the instructions on the bottle. Once this is done, you will want to use the floor sander with a screen-mesh sandpaper to go over the concrete. Make sure that there are no stains or marks left on the concrete.
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3
Vacuum up the stripping agent and clean the concrete with a mild detergent just to get the small stuff off of it. Dry the concrete again with the wet/dry vac.
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4
Cover and mask the edges of the walkway to ensure that you don't stain anything you don't want to.
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5
Using a sprayer that contains no metal parts and is warranted for chemical use, spray the stain onto the concrete. You will want to use large sweeping, constant sprays. You will also need someone following your sprays with the brush, working the stain into the concrete in circular motions.
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Apply one more smooth coat of stain with the sprayer to eliminate the brush marks. Allow it to dry before anyone walks on the concrete.
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Tips & Warnings
The stain is a chemical, so be sure that you are wearing protective gear. Also, if the concrete is new, the sooner after it is set that you apply stain, the more intense the colors will be. So you may want to wait 2 to 4 weeks before staining newly set concrete walkways.
