Question about stained concrete floors

[ducknbuck1]

The wife and I are looking at a new house and the house we are looking at has stained concrete floors throughout the house. I have never had any experience with concrete floors. So excuse me if my question is a stupid one. But here it goes: We aren't 100% happy with the color of the floors in the house now. Can a stained concrete floor be sanded down and restained with a diff color? If so, does anybody have any suggestions on who to use for this? Thanks, Richard

[brandon327]

I don't think that can be done. Staining concrete is usually done the a stain that is a acid and it etches the concrete. I think the color would be too deep to sand off. Someone correct me if I am wrong. The stain I used on mine is the type that I was describing above. Even if you could it would probally cost about the same to put down some other type flooring because all the labor involved. By the way we like our concrete floors a lot. Especially if you have kids. They are easy to clean up messes on. Once the kids are grown we are gonna put down some wood floors and some brick floors.

[H20 Fowl]

Yes its possible. It's one of the biggest headaches I've ever faced. Very time consuming. Lows rents a machine to take the stain up. Be very careful and do a small room first to get the hang of it. It's similar to sanding hardwood floors.

[MRC Dream]

It will be cheaper to add something on top of it like carpet.

[MudHog]

or just paint the floor the color your wanting.


sounds like a perfect case to come in and put down the snaplock wood flooring.

[skywalker]

DO NOT DO IT!

[ducknbuck1]

Yeah that is what I figured it would be more trouble than its worth. If we go with this house, we might just put carpet down in the bedrooms and leave the floors in the rest of the house.

[teul2]

Can you not just stain it again over what is on there already there by changing the original color?
Just asking, I have no idea.

[ducknbuck1]

I have no idea myself. Maybe somebody that knows more about it than I do will chim in.

[jbs38654]

i have them throughout my house my mom and dad have them throughout there house.
I love them only because i have a dog that sheds.
To take the old stain off you have to spray some sort of reverse chemical that releases the original acid stain this is not a fun and easy DIY project. Ive seen it done. and to answer what joel said if you spray another stain over the original you can do that just make sure the wax is completely off not there is no way you are gonna know what color its gonna be you might can get close but its gonna be a trail and error. Staining just depends on the lime content and other chemicals that vary in concrete.

[jebster]

Beware that many concrete floors will crack. With carpet or other flooring, these cracks do not show.

[Deltaquack]

i have them throughout my house my mom and dad have them throughout there house.
I love them only because i have a dog that sheds.
To take the old stain off you have to spray some sort of reverse chemical that releases the original acid stain this is not a fun and easy DIY project. Ive seen it done. and to answer what joel said if you spray another stain over the original you can do that just make sure the wax is completely off not there is no way you are gonna know what color its gonna be you might can get close but its gonna be a trail and error. Staining just depends on the lime content and other chemicals that vary in concrete.

That's what i'm thinking. If you can get that sealer off you could stain again but there's no telling what you'll come out with.

Call these people......seem to know what they are talking about.

http://www.fabcrete.com

[duck_nutt]

want me to tile them for you?

[GILREATH]

I agree with what some others said regarding the time and labor it will take to re-stain; however......

If you are still wanting to do it, you will need to remove the sealer and wax seal that's currently on the floor. To do that, you will need to identify if the concrete has a smooth texture, or is relatively rought. That will tell you which method to use in removing the sealer:
a.) smooth concrete surface: use a thinner/stripper and you will have to apply it in small areas with mop and scrub it up with heavy pressure with a towel/rag.
b.) rough textured concrete: rent a sanding machine and sand all areas. This won't get all of it up, therefore, you will still need to use the stripping method as described above.

After you have removed the sealer and wax coat, mop all surfaces 2-3 times with plain old water to remove any dust and debris on the surface. Remember you will have to apply painters tape on all cabinets and your baseboard/door jambs so that the stain does not splatter on them. Then, mix up the stain in a pump up sprayer and shoot it down. But be warned, concrete staining is a process where the acid in the chemical you are putting down reacts with the chemicals in the concrete. In other words, you may not get the results you want because concrete can only "take in" so much color.
Last week, I stained the floors in the house i am building. It was my first time staining, but i feel like i learned a good deal in going through the process. After my initial app. of stain, my wife wasnt all the way pleased with the color. So, i had to go get a darker stain, then put it down. It did make her happy, but in my opinion the color did not change very much from what it originally looked like after the first app. I hope this helped.