Staining can improve the look of a concrete patio. Here’s how to go about it.
Staining a Concrete Surface:
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- Clean the Concrete: Start by cleaning the concrete thoroughly with a concrete etcher/degreaser, following the directions on the container. Be sure to wear protective clothing, rubber gloves, and goggles.
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- Stain the Concrete: When the surface is dry, apply a stain made especially for concrete using a brush for the edges and a roller for larger areas.
- Seal the Concrete: After the stain has dried the required period of time, apply a concrete sealer to give the surface a finished look and protect it from dirt and wear.
Watch this video to find out more.
Further Information
- How to Acid Stain Concrete (video)
- Painting a Concrete Garage Floor (video)
- Types of Sealers for Concrete Driveway (article)
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
You can add character to a plain concrete patio by staining it, but the first step is cleaning the surface to accept the stain. Use an etcher/degreaser to remove the grit and grime from the concrete before you apply the concrete stain.
Just like painting, the edges are done with a brush while the larger areas can be covered with a roller. When the stain has dried, apply a sealer to maintain the glossy finish and protect the surface from wear.
It looks like cleaning or staining a porch, or front step requires a few different tools that you would need on-hand to complete the task. I once helped my family stain our back porch, my goodness it was a lot of work. We worked from dawn till dusk for about a week until we had completed the task, leaving us the weekend to allow it drying time. Next time I need this done, I will probably hire a team to stain my porch for me.
Thank you for the help. I am helping my dad build a patio and he wants to have stained concrete. I did not realize that after staining the concrete it still needs to be sealed. How long does the top layer of sealant usually last?
Not sure why it took you so long for just a back porch. I cut 2″ squares in my concrete, prepped, stained and sealed about 1800 sqft of concrete flooring throughout the downstairs area of my house with only my dad and mom to help me (and minimal tooling) in 2.5 days. That was working from dusk till dawn….but includes drying time for stains and 2 coats of sealant and moving all furniture out and back in the house. I could do a porch in 1.5 days easy (and it’s only that long because of the drying time between coats). It was the first time any of us had ever done this project and we all found it to be very easy and loved the results!
You showed on a show adding shiny flacks to patio cement. Can this be done to old cement in the resurfacing process?
I’m staining the concrete around my pool and under the deck and am putting on two coats of opaque stain and waiting 24 hours in between coats. Is it necessary to wait 24 hours or can I apply the second coat once the first coat is dry. I am also applying two coats of sealer once the stain is dry.
Hi, Cindy,
Danny says, “All manufacturers’ drying times differ. I would suggest reading the recommendations on the label of your stain to ensure proper drying time. Sounds like it’s going to be a beautiful big change to your pool area.
Good luck!”
My golf cart leaves stains on the concrete car port area….. how do I get rid of the stains, or do I just cover them? The stains are from the batteries.
Hi, Beverlyn,
Here’s a great resource on that topic: https://www.energizer.com/about-batteries/what-is-battery-acid
Let us know how it works for you!