The big boxes sell concrete stains that are just top coats so won t give you the same look or durability that an actual acid stain will.
Finished concrete flooring existing slab.
Acid staining can be a diy project.
The best practice when selecting flooring that is safe durable and won t trap allergens may be the interior concrete slab as the floor surface.
Concrete floors can be susceptible to settling and cracking over time and this is a more frequent problem when an existing structural slab has adapted to a finished residential flooring surface such as when a basement or loft condo has been converted to living space.
Many floor finishes including staining dyeing polishing and decorative coatings can be applied to existing concrete as well as new concrete.
The acid stains are mottled and add some visual texture to the floor so that imperfections in an existing slab don t stick out.
For a concrete floor with a basic finish you can expect to pay 2 to 12 per square foot if you have an existing concrete slab that s ready for staining polishing or application of a decorative coating or overlay most decorative concrete floor installations can be quite cost effective.
This gives you the ability to expose concrete floor slabs hidden by other floor coverings such as carpet or vinyl tile or add a finish to a concrete basement floor.