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Hot Trends - Acid Etching Concrete Floors for Beauty and Low Cost

Move over, wood and ceramic tile.  Get lost, carpet.  Linoleum is out the door!  The hot new trend in flooring is acid etching.  In acid etching, a special acidic chemical is applied to a clean, bare concrete floor, allowing colored metallic salts to penetrate and stain the concrete.  Stains are available in a variety of colors, from greens and blues to browns and reds and many shades in between.  Most stains have an "earthy" color, and all react differently with compounds in the concrete to create variegated, marbleized, or stone-like effects.  No two stained floors look alike, so your floor can be as individual as you are.  In fact, the appeal of a stained concrete floor is its variability, and its use as a palette for almost endless design possibilities.

Installing an acid-etched concrete floor is remarkably easy.  Acid staining can be done to old floors and to new slabs.  An old concrete floor must be completely clean of dirt, dust, glue, paint, and other residues which could interfere with the ability of the stain to penetrate.  Recommendations vary on the length of time that a new concrete slab should be allowed to cure before staining, from 14 days to six weeks.  However, some contractors apply stain almost immediately to create more intense colors.  Contractors recommend applying a small amount of stain to a hidden area prior to staining the whole floor.  This precaution will allow you to ensure that you will be happy with the color and effect, and that all residues are completely removed from the concrete.  The stain may be brushed or sprayed on, and different colors may be used to create unique patterns.

After staining, floors may be scored or cut with saws, to create the appearance of tiles, or to create patterns in the concrete.  A border is often cut along walls.  Floors may also be stenciled or painted.  Sealing the floor enhances the depth of the color and provides a lasting finish. 

Concrete stained floors are very durable, retaining their beauty even in areas of heavy traffic and abrasive wear.  The cost to install an acid-etched floor is very reasonable.  Do-it-yourself-ers can install the floor for $0.25 per square foot to $1.00 per square foot, depending on the preparation required and materials used.

Sheepskin, wool rugs, hall-runners, and Persian rugs create areas of warmth and softness while enhancing the beauty of a stained concrete floor.  The cost of rugs should be included in estimates of the cost of flooring.

Learn More about Acid-Etched Concrete

How to Acid-Etch Your Floor

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