On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 11:24:24 PM UTC-4, wg_2002 wrote:
On Wed, 03 Sep 2014 22:48:24 -0400, ng_reader wrote:



Question:

I applied a concrete stain to a large 8-year-old concrete patio in Reno,

Nevada--an area subject to somewhat extreme temperature variations. I

initially washed the patio with a mix of muriatic acid and water to

clean it. I hosed it off, waited a day or so, and applied the stain with

a sprayer, following the manufacturer's directions. Two years later, the

patio now has areas of peeling. I would like to re-stain the whole patio

again to make the color more uniform. I have heard that if you have

washed a patio with muriatic acid, you cannot acid stain it. I am trying

to find an expert who can tell me how to properly prep the surface,

apply the stain and protect it. The stain I initially used was an

acrylic.



Answer:

The product you used--a tinted acrylic stain--is not an acid-based

concrete stain. It is a translucent concrete paint and is topical, which

means it forms a colored coating on the surface of the concrete that

will wear over time if not maintained. The surface preparation for these

types of stains usually requires acid etching to open the surface to

allow the acrylic to adhere to the concrete. But once concrete has been

acid etched, the ability of a true acid stain to take is diminished. You

will need to do a test to see how the acid stain takes to get a true

indication of color and effect.



As far as your particular situation, you should strip off the remaining

acrylic stain and clean the surface with soap and water and a clean

water rinse. After the area dries, apply the stain, following the

directions provided by the stain manufacturer. If you're concerned an

acid stain won't take, you may want to reapply the same acrylic stain

after cleaning the surface. No matter the stain you use, protecting it

with a sealer and proper sealer maintenance will be key to keeping the

stain looking good. In your area, plan on resealing every 12 to 16

months.



Thanks ng for the response but I see this is for Nevada on an open patio.

My climate here in Illinois is much different than that and like I already

mentioned this is in an enclosed breeze way that connects the back door of

the house to the garage.

I'm wondering if the instructions you posted would apply to my situation?


I think the answer is more specific to what is currently on the steps?
Concrete can be stained when it's wet by mixing in coloring, then applying
more coloring on top, ie stamped concrete, or it can be stained with a
variety of products designed for cured concrete. Also, what some call "stain"
is actually more of a paint product, instead of being absorbed, it forms
a film.