How to Stain Existing Concrete That Has Been Painted

Stained concrete can enhance the look of your patio, your basement or even the main living areas of your home. Stained concrete is gaining popularity because, just like other paints and stains, the possibilities are endless. Staining concrete is a relatively easy and inexpensive project.

The most important step in the staining project is surface preparation. Your stain and sealant coats will magnify any imperfections in the concrete, including paint. If your concrete surface is currently painted, remove the paint completely before staining.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Nonflammable chemical stripper
• Putty knife
• Hydrated lime
• Denatured alcohol
• Wet vac
• Mild all-purpose cleaner
• Long-handled brush
• Concrete stain
• Pump sprayer
• Concrete sealant

Instructions

1. Apply nonflammable chemical stripper to the surface of your painted concrete. Allow stripper to penetrate the paint per manufacturer's instructions, usually 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Use a putty knife or floor stripper to scrape as much paint as possible from the floor. Reapply paint stripper as needed for tougher spots.

3. Mix hydrated lime and denatured alcohol to the consistency of thin paste. Spread paste on any remaining paint spots. Once the paste is dry, use a stiff bristle brush to scrub off paint.

4. Clean the floors using a mild all-purpose cleaner. Rinse with water and a wet vac. Mopping will not remove the chemicals but instead will push them around the room. Allow floors to dry completely.

5. Mix stain per manufacturer's directions. A more concentrated mixture will result in a darker stain. Kemiko floor stains recommends filling a pump sprayer half way with water. Fill the rest of the way with stain.

6. Spray concrete floors with stain until wet but not puddling. Allow stain to dry and apply a second coat. Let second coat dry completely.

7. Clean stain residue with a mild all-purpose cleaner and a long-handled brush. Use a wet vac to vacuum liquid from the floor. Test to see if the floor is free of residue by wiping with a white towel. If there is residue on the towel, clean the floors again.

8. Seal the floors using sealant recommended by the stain manufacturer. Duckback products do not require sealing, while Kemiko recommends this step. There are many choices of sealant depending on how much traffic the floor will get, interior vs. exterior application and your desired finished appearance. Spray the sealant using a pump sprayer. Allow sealant to dry completely.

References

• Removing Paint
• Applying Stain

Resources

• Kemiko
• Duckback