This article was updated on 01/21/19. Happy Martin Luther King Day!
Concrete floors are no longer dull, boring, plain and grey. They have evolved a lot in the recent years and the price has come down. They are now known as one of the best decorative elements in the home and office.
Decorative concrete is available everywhere these days. You can find it in homes, at public places, in manufacturing units, and entertainment venues.
Concrete flooring is considered one of the best flooring options and is trendy these days because it is beautiful, durable, versatile, and easy to maintain. It is considered as one of the most economical decision for many commercial spaces.
What are Concrete Acid Stains?
Acid stains consist of a solution of acid and water mixed with metallic salts that can be applied in a large variety of colors. Individuals who want to replicate the look of leather, marble, or natural stone to floors must choose this option for their flooring projects. On the other hand, if you are after the look of a tile floor, you would do better choosing stamped concrete.
Flooring contractors use acid stains for concrete floors because they morph drab, boring, traditional grey concrete into warm earth-tone floors.
Acid stains contain acids and are strong enough to harm a person. So proper care must be taken while applying them on floors. You may not want to consider this a DIY job. You can use them on your existing concrete floor or a new concrete floor.
Advantages of Using Acid Stains for Concrete Floors
Whether your objective is giving an impressive look to the drab look of your garage floor or giving a bold look to your commercial floor, you can use acid stains on any one of them to impart a distinctive look.
It is an inexpensive way to improve the quality of any kind of floor. People opt for this style because properly sealed and maintained stained concrete can last for many decades and they rarely require any type of repair.
Your floors will have a rich look if you apply this treatment to them. You can use any number of designs, colors, and patterns with this wonderful flooring option. The versatility of this process is phenomenal.
Before You Hire a Flooring Contractor
Sprucing up your floors is quite very with this process. There are a number of options your contractor can advise you on to give a distinctive look to your floor. Apart from choosing the right type of concrete for your floors, it is also important to choose a reliable flooring contractor for your flooring project. Look for:
Opinion Sources. Check with an independent third party like Angie’s List - where thousands of consumers share their ratings on the local contractors and service companies they hire.
Solid References. Before starting your flooring project, ask your family, friends, and co-workers about the contractors they recommend for your job. It’s true that word of mouth is the best (and least expensive) advertising.
Written Estimates. Once you have narrowed down your search to 5 or 6 concrete contractors, contact them personally to get estimates from them. Try choosing one who offers you good flooring services at an affordable price and watch out for hidden costs.
Get Everything in Writing. This can’t be emphasized strongly enough. You must be legally protected when it comes to your property and pocketbook.
Once you have made your mind to deal with a particular contractor, ask the professional to give you in writing of all the terms that he/she has agreed to with you. The contract will contain all the details of the work. If he is reluctant to provide this, that is a red flag.
Never Pay in Advance. Asking to be paid in advance is likely the sign of a fly-by-night operation. While it may be justified for the smallest of jobs by a handyman, a job like this is different.
Proof of Insurance. There are various types of contractor’s insurance and it pays to verify all of them.
If you are using acid-stains for your concrete floor as your flooring option for the first time, the above mentioned information will help you in the best possible manner. If you found this helpful helpful please pass the link along. Comments or ideas? Add them in the comment section below. Thanks for visiting.
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About the Webmaster:
Kelly R. Smith was a commercial carpenter for 20 years before returning to night school at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. After working at NASA for a few years, he went on to develop software for the transportation and financial and energy trading industries. He has been writing, in one capacity or another, since he could hold a pencil. As a freelance writer now, he specializes in producing articles and blog content for a variety of clients. His personal blog is at I Can Fix Up My Home Blog where he muses on many different topics.
Kelly R. Smith was a commercial carpenter for 20 years before returning to night school at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. After working at NASA for a few years, he went on to develop software for the transportation and financial and energy trading industries. He has been writing, in one capacity or another, since he could hold a pencil. As a freelance writer now, he specializes in producing articles and blog content for a variety of clients. His personal blog is at 
