Frequently asked questions

How durable are the floors?

Acid-stained floors have the strength and durability of concrete. High strength sealers and wax further protect the stained surfaces. While the surface can be damaged by dragging heavy and sharp objects across the surface, most scratches of this type can be repaired.

How do you treat cracks in the concrete?

Cracks in your existing concrete can be filled in with epoxy, or worked into a pattern. Non-moving, hairline cracks can usually be covered successfully. We can treat or conceal cracks, but we cannot repair faulty concrete with an overlayment.

Will the colour fade?

The systems we use are very resistant to fading and UV damage. With minimal maintenance, the colour will not fade for many years.

I just poured a new slab, when can I stain it?

Concrete requires a 30 day cure before it can be stained. As concrete cures, moisture dissipates from the slab. If it stained too soon, water vapor build up could change the colour of the stain.

At what point in the construction process should we schedule the floor staining?

Ideally, you would contact us prior to construction for a detailed list of steps you can take to dramatically improve the results of acid staining. Due to the difficulty of protecting a finished floor from the other trades, we prefer to work after the drywallers, plasterers, and painters but prior to the installation of the kitchen cabinets, islands, toilets, and baseboards.

How does weather affect the installation process?

Concrete can be engraved in any temperature. The concrete needs to be between 40 and 100 degrees for the staining and sealing processes.

Is this process available for interior and exterior?

Acid staining of existing concrete and overlays are ideally suited for both interior and exterior surfaces.

How slip resistant are these floors?

This depends upon the application. For acid-stained concrete, typically the floor will have the slip resistance of a hard wood floor. Different waxes can be applied to further reduce the slickness of the surface.

How do you maintain these floors or surfaces?

Interior floors are usually maintained with a good floor wax. Exterior applications are periodically pressure-washed to remove dirt, and re-sealed as needed.