Stained Concrete

Stained concrete is a finish that colors the concrete itself. We work an acid or water based stain into the slab, then seal it with two coats of clear sealer. The color soaks in, so it will not peel like paint or a thin coating. It is a warm, low cost way to finish a floor.

What is a stained concrete floor?

A stained concrete floor takes plain grey concrete and gives it warm, rich color. An acid stain reacts with the lime in the slab and makes natural, marble like tones. A water based stain works more like a dye, with a wider range of shades. Either way, the color lives inside the concrete, not in a layer on top.

That is why a good stain will not chip or flake off the way paint can. We finish every stain with a clear sealer. The sealer locks in the color and guards the surface against wear, spills and daily foot traffic.

How is stained concrete different from an epoxy coating?

The big difference is where the finish sits. A stain soaks into the concrete and colors it. An epoxy floor coating is a thick layer that bonds on top of the slab and builds a hard, plastic like shell.

Epoxy hides the concrete below. A stain keeps the natural look and shows off the texture of the slab. Epoxy is the tougher pick for a busy garage floor coating. Stain is the warmer, lower cost pick for a basement, a patio or an interior room.

Where do stained concrete floors work best?

Stained concrete shines in living spaces. It is a favorite for finished basements, kitchens, entryways and back patios. The finish feels warm underfoot and cleans up with a simple mop. It pairs well with rugs and furniture, so it fits a real home instead of a garage.

We also stain floors in shops and showrooms that want a decorative look without the price of a full metallic epoxy floor. If you want to see every finish side by side, browse our concrete floor coating options and we will help you choose.

Acid stain or water based stain: which is right for you?

Both stains have a place. Acid stain gives you a mottled, one of a kind look with earthy browns, tans and soft greens. No two acid stained floors are ever the same, and that is the whole charm of it.

Water based stain gives you more control and a bigger color range, including blues, greys and bolder tones. It can also blend more than one color. Frank looks at your slab in the free quote, talks through the look you want, then matches the stain to the room and the mood.

How do you stain and seal a concrete floor?

The work happens in clear steps. First we clean and prep the slab. We grind or etch the surface so the stain can soak in evenly. We patch big cracks and holes, though small cracks often add to the natural character. A clean, open surface is the whole game here.

Next we apply the stain and let it react and dry. For acid stain, we neutralize and rinse the floor so the color sets right. Last, we roll on two coats of clear sealer to protect the finish. Frank has hand worked concrete floors for 10 years, and that prep skill is what makes a stain look even instead of blotchy.

How long does a stained concrete floor last?

A stained concrete floor lasts a long time because the color is part of the slab. It cannot peel off. What does wear over time is the clear sealer on top. In a busy room, that sealer should be refreshed every few years to keep its shine and its protection.

So a stain is a low maintenance floor, not a no maintenance one. Be careful about warranty here. Our 25 year limited warranty is written for our coating systems. A stain and seal floor is backed by our satisfaction guarantee and is kept up by resealing over time, so we will always tell you straight what your finish needs.

Why does prep matter so much for a stain?

Prep decides how a stain looks. Stain shows everything under it. Old glue, paint, sealer or a dirty slab blocks the color and leaves blotches. That is why we grind or etch the concrete first and clean it fully before any color goes down.

On an old or stained slab, this step takes more time. But it is the only way to get an even, rich finish. Skipping prep is the main reason a cheap stain job looks patchy. If your slab is too far gone for a clean stain, a grind and seal finish may suit it better.

Is stained concrete a good choice for a cold Idaho basement?

Yes, it is a strong basement choice here. Eastern Idaho winters are long and cold, and many homes have bare grey concrete basement floors. A stain warms up the space and seals out the dust that a raw slab gives off. Because the color is soaked in, cold and damp will not make it peel.

Pair a stained floor with a rug and the room feels finished. For a garage that sees snow and salt all winter, we would still point you to a tougher garage floor system or a full epoxy system instead.

Best Stained Concrete in Blackfoot

Grove City Coatings is a family run floor company right here in Blackfoot, ID. Frank runs and works every job himself, so you deal with the owner, not a crew you never meet. We stain and seal floors across Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Ammon, Pocatello and out toward Twin Falls.

We are a newer company, and we back each floor with a satisfaction guarantee. Ask Grove City Coatings for a free quote and honest advice on your slab. If you are weighing more than one finish, we can compare a stain against the rest of our floor coating services.

Why choose Grove City Coatings?

• Family-owned and local to Blackfoot.
• Fully licensed & insured for your protection.
• Upfront pricing you approve before any work starts.
• Serving Blackfoot and surrounding areas.

Related services

• Grind and Seal, Ground and sealed concrete floors for garages, basements, and shops across eastern Idaho. A tough, low cost finish that keeps the natural concrete look and wipes clean.
• Garage Floor Coatings, Flake and polyaspartic garage floor coatings for homes and shops across Blackfoot and eastern Idaho. Sealed against oil, road salt, and freeze-thaw, with a full diamond grind and a strong clear top coat that wipes clean.
• Epoxy Flooring, Epoxy flooring from Grove City Coatings turns basement, shop and interior concrete into a hard, sealed, easy-clean surface. Poured in bonded layers over ground concrete, it resists stains, water and wear across eastern Idaho.

Explore our full range of Concrete Floor Coatings, or head back to the Grove City Coatings home page.