Do you mean an acid stain or other type? I’ve DIY’ed acid stain … just wanted to see before I type out a long post that may not be relevant.

That’s a great question, I believe it will be acid stain but I’m not 100% sure on the different options at my disposal so if there are other options I’d love to learn about them!

Acid stain is the norm here. We chose it because it interacts with the concrete for a more unique look. It’s possibly more risky because of that, too. I’ve never used water based or other types, so will just give my experience.

Short version: hire a pro. :D

Long version:

We had acid stained concrete floors at our last house. We did it ourselves using Kemiko products.

Next time, I’d hire a pro. No question. The challenge in applying acid stain (we sprayed it on) is that the color doesn't show up at first, so it’s hard to see how it’s going. The sealer was more challenging, and if you mess up the sealer, game over. I actually took an intensive week-long class a rep from another stain company was putting on beforehand, and was still very intimidated by the sealing process.

Cloudiness can be a factor in the process, and is tough to fix. Prepping the floors before doing anything is a lot of work. Most mistakes don’t show up until after the sealer is on, and then it’s too late.

I liked the look and function very much, they were beautiful, but if you’re in a state with soil like mine (Texas), the probability of cracks showing in your slab are 99.99%. They didn’t bother me, they were hairline, and our style there was rustic. But it’s not a good look for certain other styles/colors. The other cons for some are how hard the flooring is underfoot, cold, etc. Again, not bothers to me.

Another important consideration is the age of the floors — newly poured foundation or existing. If existing, what was there before and what condition they’re in will very much be a factor. Unlike some other products, acid stain will highlight (usually darken) every imperfection. That can be a positive or negative, again, depending on your decor style.

We did our outdoor areas, too … much easier because we weren’t worried about them being perfect. But they still fade in the Texas sun, no matter how good the sealer is.

At the least get some quotes and consultations first, go from there. It can be a very involved and nail-biting project. If it turns out awful, you can of course do another type of flooring over it … but it could be an expensive and time-consuming mistake. If you were just experimenting in one room, I’d say go for it, DIY … but for a job this size, I’d hire it out, after very careful vetting. Check reviews, look at previous works done.

That said, I don’t know your skill level. If you’re a very competent DIY’er, handy with lots of experience doing tough projects, and research heavily (HEAVILY - watch every video you can find) … you may feel confident trying it.

Acid stains will not be a continuous solid color. If that’s the look you’re after, definitely research the other types. Hopefully others experienced with those will weigh in.

That was awesome feedback. Do you have any thoughts on the ongoing maintenance of the floors?

For cleaning, I just vacuumed/swept and mopped with organic cleaners (no ammonia, citrus, bleach, etc). Nothing abrasive.

We were only there for 5 yrs after doing the floors, and never ran into any sealer problems or anything. I do remember in the office, a chair scratched it a bit, but it wasn’t noticeable.

I’ve also worked in commercial buildings with acid stained floors, tons of foot traffic and abuse, and they held up well. It’s very popular here.

At one business, after about 15 yrs, we hired a company to refinish some areas.

I can’t believe I forgot to mention waxing after sealing, sorry. We used Kemiko and it’s not difficult to apply. It adds another layer of protection and can be redone periodically. Definitely don’t skip that step.

ETA: I didn’t list other steps (neutralizing, etching, etc) because of varying factors. That’s why I suggest extensive research for your specific circumstances if you go the DIY route with acid staining. Kemiko was a big help with questions (I'm sure other companies are, too). You’ll have way more internet resources now than we did back then!

Definitely appreciate your feedback on this. I think I’ll get a few quotes to see what it will look like cost wise.