Stain or paint concrete? The answer is stain, heritage reactive concrete stain is superior to paint in every way. When looking to upgrade a concrete floor be it a patio or office or a basement floor a stained floor with a med to high gloss sealer on top can take any floor to the next level and beyond. contact surface koatings inc. to find a distributor in your area or just google acid stain near me.

WHY HERITAGE?

HERITAGE Reactive Concrete Acid Stains can forge varying marbled patterns of color on ready concrete. Created from chemical reactions with the minerals in the concrete, each concrete surface will behave with a unique design. After sealed with the appropriate clear sealer, your surface will ring true with an unmatched superb beauty.

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Is it hazardous?

Yes, acid stain is corrosive. It can burn your skin and eyes. Fumes may also cause breathing trouble. Always wear protective clothing, goggles and respirator. Acid stain can also rust metal surfaces and may unfavorably affect other surfaces. Use tape and plastic to protect surrounding areas that acid stain may contact.

Will it color areas or surfaces out side the concrete?

Yes, acid stain may stain surfaces such as brick, mortar, vinyl, aluminum siding, etc. Always protect surrounding areas with tape and plastic. 

How should I clean the floor prior to applying the acid stain?

Evaluate the surface for a current sealer. If sealer is present, remove it before progressing. When you are confident there is no sealer on the surface, use our Surf-Prep to clean and prep the floor.  see Surf-Prep

How do I apply the stain?

An acid resistant sprayer is recommended to apply the acid stain. Apply acid stain evenly as puddles will show up darker. Do not roll the stain on or pour it on the surface. 

How much acid stain do I apply to the surface?

The goal is to apply the stain in a consistent film wetting the surface and attempting not to puddle. Generally, acid stain is applied at a rate of 200 - 300 square feet per gallon.

Can I apply the acid stain on a wet surface?

It is not recommended to apply acid stain to a wet, damp or puddled surface. The water on the surface will dilute the acid stain and the wet areas may look different than the dry areas.

Will the finished color match the color chart?

The color chart is based on the acid stain applied according to our recommendations on actual concrete. Because all concrete is different, it is not uncommon for the acid stain to look just like the chart or shades different, lighter or darker. The makeup of the concrete and the volume of the acid stain applied to it will determine final color. It is always suggested to apply a test area on the same concrete surface to understand the resulting color. 

Do I seal the acid stain right after it dries?

No, the acid stain must first be neutralized, scrubbed, rinsed, and dried prior to sealing. Failing to do any of the steps could result in premature wear of the sealer.

Do I have to neutralize the acid stain?

Yes, acid stain must be neutralized after staining with a product like our Balance After staining, the pH of the concrete is low, the neutralizing process raises the pH to a neutral pH or closer to a pH of 7. TIP: While the surface is wet with the neutralizing solution you will get a good representation of the color when it is sealed. see Balance

What happens if I do not neutralize the acid stain?

If the concrete sealer is applied on a surface the has not been neutralized, the acid stain can start to degrade the concrete and the sealer will start to look white and hazy and begin to delaminate, or peel away, from the surface

How do I know if I have cleaned the concrete floor well enough after neutralizing?

Use a white rag or towel to wipe the wet floor, if there is color on the towel, it needs to be scrubbed and rinsed until the towel comes up with no color.

Can I apply two colors of acid stain on the concrete floor?

Yes, two or more colors can be applied to a concrete surface to create a unique color display. When applying multiple colors, always apply the lightest color first and transition to darker colors. It is recommended to neutralize and rinse each color separately to understand the developed color prior to applying the next color. It is always recommended to apply colors in test area to understand how they will work together to achieve the desired look.

Can I apply the same color on the concrete slab a second time to make it darker?

Yes, applying additional coats of the same color stain will darken the color. It is recommended to neutralize and rinse after each application and apply a test area to understand how another application will appear.

What if I do not like the resulting color from the acid stain application?

The application of a second darker color can change the color, do a test spot to determine the results. Mechanically removing the stain with shot blasting, diamond grinding, etc. will be the only way to completely remove the color. 

Do I have to use the product mixed 1:1 with water?  Can I adjust the dilution rate?

Heritage Reactive Concrete Acid Stain is a concentrated stain that will achieve colors close to our color chart on most concrete surfaces mixed at the 1:1 water to stain ratio. You should always do a color sample since all concrete surfaces are different and each slab’s reaction to the stain is different. You can take the stain and apply to one concrete surface and use the same stain and apply to a second concrete surface and you will get two different reactions. To get a lighter color you can add more water and to get a darker color you can add more stain. This is why color sampling is important. 

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How to Use

Refer to MSDS and technical data sheet prior to use. Always test the stain in an inconspicuous place on the actual concrete surface of final application. Allow to dry for 4-6 hours. Rinse the test area and observe the color while wet. This will approximate the sealed color.

Flush off the area with water. If there are any oily stains, remove with a degreaser, then prepare the surface with a wash of Surf-Prep diluted 1:2 with water. Rinse thoroughly and let concrete dry.

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1. Protect all areas not to be stained. Mask off all adjacent surfaces with painter’s tape or plastic duct tape. Use a plastic or coated cardboard as a spray shield. Plastic or polyethylene sprayers and buckets are recommended for application.

2. If using multiple colors, always start with the lightest color first as a base coat.

3. Mop, sponge, or spray the stain over the area being colored. Apply at a rate of up to 150-300 sq. ft. per gallon of stain (200 sq. ft. per gallon is average). Always use an acid resistant plastic sprayer.

4. Allow the stain to dry thoroughly, 4-6 hours, and rinse thoroughly by mop with a water and ammonia solution such as Balance to neutralize the surface and remove residue. Remove standing water with a wet vacuum.

5. Allow the area to dry 18-24 hours and seal with 1-2 of a low viscosity sealer such as Stamp Seal or a higher gloss sealer such as Stamp Seal “Gloss”. Please note that on interior floors, Cherry Surf-Wax may be used over the sealer for added protection. Water based sealers may be used as well.

Please note: Waterborne sealers may be used as well, however, they usually do not enhance the color of the acid stained floor quite as well as Solvent based sealers.

*Blue & green colors are recommended for interior use only as fading/discoloration may occur.

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