[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Concrete - Acid Stain

[Lawrence Lile]

Timely post, I just started staining my floors today.  
 
I am using a variety of stains, partly because I like to experiment, partly because I have some different color schemes working in the house.  
 
In the main area of the house I am using a rust coloered floor, working off a formula described by Cathy Moore at her website here:
 
 http://www.cathy-moore.com/house/stain.html
 
The area I stained today was about 272 square feet.  I used a formula with this recipe:
 
1 quart water
4 oz by weight Ferrous Sulphate (aka Copperas, a garden chemical)
4 oz by volume strong coffee (organic, because that was what was laying about the house)
 
This works out to 1 Lb per gallon ratio of Iron Sulphate to water.  The coffee tones down the orange in the iron sulphate, lending a little more brown to the mix.  
 
All of the mix was passed through a few layers of cheesecloth before going into the garden sprayer.  The sprayer is new, never been used to spray chemicals.  
 
 
Previously I experimented on some brick pavers.  
 
I poured water on the area, then squeegeed it until it there was no standing water, then sprayed the solution on, finally scrubbing it into a pattern with a longhandled nylon brush.  
 
I'm not totally happy with the color yet, I find it a bit too strong in areas, but coverage was spotty.  The next coat I will try a very light mix, perhaps 4 oz by weight Ferrous Sulphate per gallon of water, and try to spread it more evenly.  
 
 
In other areas, I will use a colored sealer from Green Building Supply, which is relabeled from Envirosafe Manufacturing Co.  
 
 

________________________________

From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org on behalf of Scott Larsen
Sent: Fri 12/22/2006 2:19 PM
To: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [BULK] [Greenbuilding] Concrete - Acid Stain



Greenbuilders,
        I'm trying to find information about acid staining concrete slab
floors.  In the past, several "home brew" options have been discussed, most
involving conventional fertilizer.  In particular, I remember being directed
to a website of a woman who had done a beautiful job staining an exterior
patio.  Long story short, I've attempted searching the archives via Google
but the  archives only seem to go back to June of this year.  I'm guessing
that the discussion occurred before then, but then again, perhaps I'm just
not searching properly.  Thanks to anyone who can help.

Thanks,
Scott

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