Concrete Resurfacing St Louis

A highly popular concrete resurfacing method in the St Louis area is acid staining. This method is becoming more popular throughout North America, and can look great. Acid staining can be used on many surfaces such as garage floors, driveways, patios, pool decks and walkways.

Acid staining is a controlled chemical reaction which, when mixed with concrete, creates dynamic colouring. This process can be used indoors or outdoors, on new or existing concrete.
Why Use Acid Staining?

There are limitless colours that can be achieved through acid staining. You can even create your own shade! The colours and patterns may vary slightly between each surface, creating a very unique, marbled look. Acid staining is much more durable than paint, and usually doesn’t fade.

Acid staining is more cost-effective than using stone, brick or wood, and can last much longer. However, it does require care and maintenance. A sealer should be applied to protect the surface from wear and weather, and a re-sealant should be used approximately 12 months after the acid stain is completed.

Maintaining Acid Stained Surfaces

Acid stained surfaces can be regularly maintained by washing often, removing leaves, dirt, and dust. You may remove light stains with detergent, and heavier stains with a mild degreaser, making sure to rinse with water. Your decorative concrete contractor should give you all the information you need in regards to keeping your concrete surfaces looking good.

It doesn’t take much to keep your acid stained surfaces looking good. Whether you’re resurfacing your patio, driveway, garage or front walkway, concrete acid staining can make your home look fabulous.

At times, a concrete contractor might find there is a problem which they cannot fix. However, no matter the problem, a concrete contractor can offer concrete restoration once they understand the cause.  If there is curing compound on the surface, a concrete contractor can complete a concrete repair when they remove it using a chemical cleaner. Sometimes the surface will need to be sanded again. If a liquid hardener was applied, you need to sand or grind the surface to get beneath the hardener.

If the surface is hand-troweled, then you will need to create access to the calcium hydroxide which is located within the concrete. This can be done through sanding the surface or grinding the surface. If you find that the decorative concrete has low alkaline content, then you should consider the use of non-reactive stains or the use of a spray micro-topping for the surface. If the patches will not take the stain, there is really no manner in which to fix it. You should test the patch materials prior to using them because there are instances when the polymer contained in the patch materials will not allow the stain to penetrate. If you are covering the slab with materials which are non-absorptive such as cure paper, plywood, plastic, masonite, or drywall piles, you should prepare the owner and ensure that the covering is not allowed to stay on long, but only during the time when the mess is being created. The floors should be stained and sealed one day before other trades are allowed to work on them.

When you want to refurbish your existing concrete with a stamped concrete overlay or decorative concrete, there are many ways in which you can instantly add personality and charm to either the interior or exterior of your home or business. Concrete pavers offer a great alternative to natural concrete slabs. The popularity of integrating concrete pavers into the home and business has grown in recent years, with the durability, options, and styles offered increasing as well. Thanks to concrete pavers and stamped concrete overlay, you can enhance an outdoor hardscape, or improve the look of your exterior living space. Installing concrete pavers and using a stamped concrete overlay in your driveway is one of the fastest and easiest ways to add curb appeal to your home or business while also increasing the value of the property. Beauty and functionality are key components of concrete pavers in your driveway. Decorative concrete can now fashion itself to appear like any other natural stone you would find in the world, for a much cheaper cost. You can make the appearance of brick to add a colonial charm, or you can integrate white shells to the exterior driveway and flooring to complement a southern or beachfront home. Elegant finishes are nothing but standard with decorative concrete driveways. You can combine great elements of your concrete finishes to your walkway as well as your driveway. With a great stamped concrete walkway, visitors are drawn to the walkway and to the front door, leaving a great casual landscape. 

Your home might seem bland now, but spicing it up with acid stain can really make any room shine. Homeowners might hesitate at installing concrete floors in their homes, because they don’t want to be left with the bland grey floors which are cold in the winter. While concrete has earned a bad reputation for being boring and offering no creative outlets, in reality it deserves one of the best reputations. Concrete is much sturdier than any natural flooring and does not suffer as many injuries. The diverse options that concrete has to offer, especially with acid stain, makes it one of the most versatile and inexpensive options for any homeowner. The great thing about acid stain is that you can create the appearance of nearly any natural stone or wood. Acid stain creates a chemical reaction to the stain and the concrete which will turn out differently for each slab onto which the stain is applied. In this sense, homeowners have only some control over the outcome of their design, but can maintain the color options such as greens, reds, and browns. Whether the concrete is outside or inside, the application process is much the same; the concrete must be treated in preparation for the acid stain. This means stripping the initial layer and rectifying any cracks in the surface. After this has been completed, the acid stain is applied and left to dry. When all is finished, the results on your concrete floors are stunning and will leave friends and family with a great reminder of your creativity!