The appeal of acid stain is that it gives concrete a mottled, variegated, marble-like look. It creates beautiful colors on concrete, mostly earth-tone browns, reddish browns and greens.

Insight from John Reynolds, director of technical services at Solomon Colors on acid- and water-based stains, common problems, and applying stains to a slab.

Staining your patio can transform it from a ho-hum gray monolith to a multi-hued conversation piece. Here, we show you how to ...

GemTone Stain colors can be used alone or in layers over gray, integrally colored, acid-stained or color-hardened concrete. Apply to concrete before hardening/densifying with Consolideck LS, ...

With acid stains, after you've achieved your desired color, you have to neutralize the stain to stop the reaction. Mix one pound of baking soda with 5 gallons of water and spray on the concrete ...

Recently, wife Carol told us about an attractive floor finish that she had discovered in a new local eatery. She said the floor was rich looking and was something she ...

Acid-based stains chemically react with your concrete flooring, giving a natural appearance. The colors are earthy and nonuniform, so you won’t know exactly how your concrete floors will look ...

Concrete Etch: If you decide to use an acid stain, use a concrete etch and cleaner to get the surface ready. After using the etch, use clean water to rinse off any residue. 4.

Further information on acid-staining concrete can be found at such sites as ehow.com. If sealer is to be used, then Naber recommends that a breathable sealer such as Aquapel be applied to the surface.

Recently, wife Carol told us about an attractive floor finish that she had discovered in a new local eatery. She said the floor was rich looking and was something she ...