One of the most crucial yet neglected facets involves properly cleaning the residue between the staining and sealing phases. It’s no wonder this step is neglected. It isn’t detailed in many manufacturers’ literature. Their tech data sheets say to clean and neutralize the residue, but they don’t say how to do it properly. The way most literature reads, simply mopping the floor repeatedly with a neutralizing solution is adequate. According to the instructions, when the rinse water is clear, the floor is clean.
A well-cleaned and highly mottled acid-stained floor. Acid stain has been around for a long time, and most decorative concrete contractors have stained a floor at least once. The process seems so simple, in fact, that many homeowners tackle it as a do-it-yourself project. While the application itself is relatively simple, there’s a lot more to turning out a complete job than meets the eye. One of the most crucial yet neglected facets involves properly cleaning the residue between the staining and sealing phases.
The author speaks with both contractors and homeowners who’ve recently completed an acid stain job. Many say the stain didn’t come out as mottled and variegated as they had hoped. Some say the color turned out very differently from that shown on the color chart. An amber stain appeared more orange than yellow, for example.