Did you know that stained concrete can look great on a broom finished exterior porch or patio?
If you do a quick Google image search for ‘stained concrete’ almost every single photograph is of a nice shiny interior floor. Even manufacturer’s stained concrete brochures or websites hardly ever have any pictures of a stained patio or stained porch. For some reason, stained concrete is often overlooked for exterior surfaces.
We just finished a project at a Smith Mountain Lake home where we applied Increte’s Walnut stain and finished it with a high solids clear sealer. We think the final project turned out great and we wanted to post a few photos so that maybe more people will consider stained concrete as an alternative to covering up existing moldy concrete porches and patios.
The finished product does look beautiful! I’ve always been a fan of the tan brown colors for staining myself. Always gets a good review.
can you please give more information step by set and products you used . i would love to do this. also how does this wear with weather and sun?
Here is a step-by-step:
http://www.decorativeconcreteofvirginia.com/stained-concrete/how-its-done
We used a non-reactive water-based stain called Stone Essence by Increte.
The manufacturer says that its formulated for exterior conditions. I was just at this particular job (its 2.5 years old now) the other day to stain a new section of concrete and it still looked like it did when we first installed it.
We wanted to do this to our patio, but it has old worn paint on it, any ideas on how to remove the paint?
Franmar makes a nice product called Soy-gel that does a good job of removing paint. It works best if you apply it the night before, and let it sit overnight before you clean it off.
http://franmar.com
I just asked that question. Thanks for the reply. I am recovering (still and maybe forever) from breast cancer surgery. A lot of arm motion is kind of hard. Does this require a lot of scrubbing?
I don’t think it require a lot of scrubbing… but there is some hand work. I would recommend scraping up all of the paint that comes up with the stripper & then pressure wash the residue.
Does it get slick when it’s raining? I worry about it getting too slippery and people falling.
Broom finished concrete is not slick when its wet. If it is a smooth troweled surface, it may be slippery after you seal it. In this scenario, you can add a product called “shark grip” or “sure grip” to the sealer that will give the surface more traction. It basically makes the sealer feel like sand paper after it is sealed.
We live in Chatham On., Canada. Are there any experienced dealers here and what does it cost? IS this something that a person could do themselves?
Im not sure who would sell or install products in Canada. Some people choose to do it themselves… it depends on the size and scope of the job. Email me info about your project & Ill let you know what I think. Click here to contact me.
We have a large patio that has pea gravel or pebbled concrete pored. Can this go over it and do you have any before and after pics involving pea gravel patio?
You could go over the exposed aggregate surface but it won’t cover up the gravel. It will change the color tone of the patio though. I don’t have any photos of a project like this.
If you want your patio to look like the porch pictured on this page, then you probably need to install a concrete overlay before you stain it.
I have an area that have several long cracks from the weather. Is there a product I can put on those cracks first?
Unfortunately, there is no good way to repair cracks when you are staining the concrete. Usually the repair looks worse than the crack did in the first place.
My porch has glue and paint on it from ripping up ugly astro turf. Any advise on how to remove the glue?
We usually grind paint off with diamond grinders. You can also use Soy-gel which is linked above.
We recently moved back to the house I grew up in many, many years ago. We have a nice size concrete porch that has been painted gray! The paint is already peeling badly. How do I prep that to stain it? I assume I have to remove the paint somehow…isn’t there anything easier?
We usually grind paint off with diamond grinders. You can also use Soy-gel which is linked above.
what color was the stain that was used??
I believe it was Increte Rust Brown.
How many colors of stain did you use to create this effect?
Just one.
can this product be used on old concrete pavers?
Yes. It will work on any unsealed concrete surfaces.
Do you have a link where I can purchase the stain?? Also did you have to etche the concrete or just cleaned it extra good? And what type of sealer did you use?
Thanks
I would suggest visiting DIY Stained Concrete
I have tried to stain my back pain in the past but the stain came off pretty easily which makes me think the concrete was sealed after it was poured. Do you have any suggestions for making the stain adhere better?
You probably used a semi-transparent paint instead of an actual penetrating stain. Next time make sure you use a penetrating stain with a few coats of a topical sealer.
It can be confusing to figure out which product to use because paint manufacturers claim that their products penetrate the concrete… but the easiest way to tell if you are using the correct product is to check and see if a sealer is required. The semi-transparent paints always say that sealer is optional.
ive been trying paints and stains and nothing has lasted thru our Michigan winters , tried a stain paint thing last summer and it just bubbled right up, would this last on my walkway and patio thru scraping snow in winter?
Lowes & HD sell products that are called “stains” but are really only a topical sealer. It should hold up if you use a penetrating stain with a commercial solvent based sealer.
Love the color but how do I choose a color that will make my patio pop? I have a reddish brick house. I like the rust or mahogany colors but I don’t want to choose wrong. I need a DIY intervention. Lol
looks good. Increte? is that a water based or acetone based dye? Or is it acid?