They both add color to your concrete surfaces but with different effects.
Staining concrete block walls.
Whether it s an indoor area or a drab and dreary retaining wall that brings down the aesthetic a concrete block wall can be transformed with stain which requires less maintenance than paint.
Acid staining concrete retaining walls provides is a low maintenance easy to apply color option to help better blend concrete walls into its surroundings.
The stain has to penetrate and be absorbed by the concrete.
However most concentrates are around a 1 1 ration of concentrate to water.
A suitable spray pattern is the 15 degree tip held 12 inches from the surface.
Prep the concrete wall for staining.
A concrete wall is less likely to have contaminants than a floor but that doesn t mean that you don t have to prep the wall before staining.
A concrete dye penetrates the pores creating a solid color of your choice.
Use a commercial style pressure washer and at least 2500 psi.
If it is an outside wall a pressure washer is normally a good choice before staining concrete walls.
This is dependent upon the texture of the block wall.
Staining block requires an understanding of the stain itself to determine the exact ratio of stain to water.
Therefore the first step to correct any type of basement wall stain problem is to provide adequate foundation drainage in order to minimize the water infiltration.
If in doubt at all use the concrete etching solution to break up the first layer of the concrete and allow it to absorb the stain.
What s the difference between concrete dye or concrete stain.
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Step 1 clean the concrete.
Mix the etching solution as the manufacturer instructs and allow it to sit on the concrete for at least one hour.
If anything is on the surface of the concrete retaining wall the stain will not be able to do this and you will be left with a blotchy and uneven stain.
While concrete stain creates a textured natural wash of color to concrete surfaces.
Any remaining loose paint will need to be removed manually.
The first step when preparing concrete block walls is pressure washing.
The easiest way to clean off the concrete is to use a pressure washer.
The concrete block should readily absorb water and have a rough abraded surface.