Acid Stain & Wash Concrete
Acid stain & wash concrete surfaces are not just colored surfaces; they are works of art. The craftsmanship that goes into every piece is truly amazing and will make you proud to own it.
Custom acid stain concrete surfaces are all the rave nowadays with their beautiful, glossy designs. But did you know that no two are the same? They're as unique and custom as any commissioned work of art on canvas.
Stain pros become artists as they create swirls, veins, clouds, and other interesting patterns on concrete. And while there is a degree of unpredictability with the outcome on acid stain surfaces, the overall result is planned and will always suit your desired look.
That's why our crew at Rochester Hills Concrete is always excited when we're contracted to do acid stain concrete surfaces. It's a chance to work on the fun and creative side of concrete contracting.
Why Acid Stain & Wash Concrete Surfaces?
There are many reasons why most clients choose acid wash concrete surfaces over natural stone types like granite, marble, or soapstone. Here are some of them:
- They don’t fade
One of the advantages of acid stain concrete surfaces is that they don’t wear out or discolor. You can even have it built outside since it’s UV-resistant. No matter what look or design you choose, you’re sure it’s going to last.
- Beautiful and unlimited design options
What is the look or theme that you envision for your space? How will the countertop complement this look? Rochester Hills Concrete will help you narrow down your choices since this is your chance to create a conversation piece that many won’t easily forget.
There’s absolutely no limit to the design possibilities of acid stain concrete surfaces. You can choose to have them look like wood, marble, snakeskin, psychedelic, rustic, opaque, abstract, mosaic, or anything else you can imagine. You can be as traditional or as out of the box as you want. Rochester Hills Concrete is ready to make you acid wash concrete surfaces that are so unique and stylish that onlookers won’t even know it’s concrete.
- You get the best-designed sinks
Having seamless sinks colored the same way as the countertop is a feature only concrete can have. With other stones, you’ll have to use a separate, pre-made sink usually built from cast-iron steel. That means they already have a finish and form that can’t be modified to your liking.
But with acid stain concrete surfaces, you can have a customized seamless sink with the precise size, features, and design you need and want. You can get above-counter, ramp, wavy, multi-basin, or any-which-way-molded sinks complete with an acid-stained design. And since it’s concrete, it’s more durable, too!
- Extremely tough to crack
We’ve heard over and over that concrete is durable. But it’s now even more so with GFRC or glass-fiber reinforced concrete technology that we use.
This type of concrete has a strength of about 12,000 psi or 3 to 4 times the strength of ordinary concrete at 3 to 4,000 psi. It’s the same type of technology that’s being used for high-rise buildings. So even if you chop that tough slab of t-bone steak or dance on it during a party, you’re confident that those acid stain surfaces won’t crack.
We contractors also know that more strength is needed to polishing concrete. That’s why the strength that GFRC provides creates a better canvas for high-polished designs.
- They’re classic yet trendy
Natural stones like granite and marble have been used so much in the years that they’ve become common and outdated. The easily recognizable look they have just don’t spark that excitability anymore.
If you want something extra special and one of a kind, acid stain concrete surfaces are the way to go.
- Easy to maintain
Cleaning concrete surfaces is easy. Spills are simply wiped off the surface with a clean cloth and then you’re good to go. Even when you haven’t had the surface re-sealed in so long, the colors won’t fade, and the spill won’t stain.
This is one of the reasons why our acid stain concrete surfaces are preferred not just by homeowners but by commercial establishments such as restaurants, cafes, and hotels as well.
- Friendly on the budget
Acid wash concrete surfaces cost a lot less than natural stone. Depending on the design you choose, acid stain surfaces cost 25 to 75% less than marble or soapstone. And with our skill in making them, you won’t need to have them replaced or repaired for a long, long time.
Get Your Free Acid Stain & Wash Quote Now!
Preparing and cleaning concrete surfaces is key to proper acid absorption. So, the Rochester Hills Concrete crew will take time to thoroughly clean (and sand if necessary) the countertop before applying the design.
At this point, we’d like to highlight how we as a company prioritize safety for everyone. Worker protection is part of our company’s procedure when handling substances like acid and bases. Before it is applied, our workers are prepared with masks, gloves, and goggles especially if they will be working in enclosed spaces.
Going back to making acid wash concrete surfaces, the science behind acid staining is simple. Concrete contains lime, a naturally occurring ingredient in cement, which chemically reacts with the mineral salts in acid. The longer the acid sits on the concrete, the more penetration and reaction— and therefore, more color— will be etched onto the concrete.
The way the acid is applied affects the final look of the countertop.
- Sprayed acid gives off a more diffused color
- Acid applied with a sponge gives off a mottled, antique look
- Brushing the stain makes that spot look darker than merely spraying it on.
Other special techniques may be used to achieve the design you want.
The acid is allowed to sit for 4 to 8 hours before a neutralizer is used to wash it off. A sealant is then applied to lock in the color and keep the concrete waterproof.
Over the years, sealing technology has vastly improved as well. We now have high-quality sealers that not only waterproof the surface of acid stain concrete surfaces but protects them from other substances like vinegar and bleach as well.
While some may argue that high-strength concrete is hard to seal, the introduction of hybrid or nano-particle sealers solves that issue. These sealers provide superb protection to your acid stain concrete surfaces by thoroughly penetrating the surface with nanoparticles.
Different kinds of sealers also affect the color stain, so this will be taken into account. For example, an epoxy sealer would darken the colors applied to the concrete surface, while a water-based aquapoxy such as SiAcryl 14 gives it a more natural finish.
What helps create such vivid or subtle colors is the amount of time the concrete was etched with acid. The colors are applied and left to sit for around 2 to 8 hours. It can be neutralized at any point when the level of color vibrancy is achieved.
However, if the previous contractor who did the concrete used a technique that washed away most of the lime in the concrete, there wouldn’t be much reaction. Hence, it would be particularly hard to etch color on the slab.
This also happens if the concrete has been treated with a waterproofing agent since this prevents the slab from absorbing the acid.
In these cases, Rochester Hills Concrete has a solution. That is, to use a water-based stain that doesn’t need a chemical reaction to color up the concrete. We can also use dyes. Our staining expert will make an observation and recommendation based on the existing concrete you have. This is part of our dedication to doing our best to achieve the colors you have in mind for your countertop.
When you’re looking for both durable and beautiful acid stain surfaces, Rochester Hills Concrete is the name to remember. We specialize in acid stain concrete surfaces done with the best possible strength and ability to take color.
We can bring to life your vision of the perfect countertop no matter how subtle or unconventional the design is.
We are concrete professionals. The mix of the concrete itself, our knowledge in proper curing, and our experience with creating designs are some of the things that give us a clear edge over DIYers. So don’t settle for anything less.
And we offer you more. We are also specialists in concrete flooring, patios, pool decks, barbecues, fire pits, and retaining walls. We also do concrete repairs such as leveling, resurfacing, foundations, and more. Our prices are very competitive.
Give us a call and take advantage of our expertise.
Talk To A Human
You're not going to hit a ridiculously long phone menu when you call us. Your email isn't going to the inbox abyss, never to be seen or heard from again. With Rochester Hills Concrete, we provide the exceptional service we'd want to experience ourselves!
Rochester Hills Concrete
(248) 609-1630
