It boils down to one word: character. Concrete Overlay staining does more than simply add color.
Rather than produce a solid, opaque effect like paint or colored coatings, stains permeate the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep, translucent tones.
Depending on the color and application techniques used, the results can mimic everything from polished marble to tanned leather to natural stone or even stained wood.

Even when treated with the same staining product in the same shade, no two concrete Overlay floors, walls, or countertops will look alike due to factors such as the composition and age of the concrete, surface porosity, texture, and environmental conditions.

The cost of stained overlay Flooring will vary considerably depending on the complexity of the application, surface prep requirements, the size of the job, the type of sealer used, and your local market.

In general, though, a basic concrete overlay floor, stained and sealed with minimal surface prep will run about $4.50 to $7.00 per square foot. More elaborate stain projects incorporating faux finishing, multiple colors, and designs or borders created by sawcutting, sandblasting, or stenciling can run much higher (about $15 per square foot or more) due to the time and skill level involved.

When comparing the cost of stained concrete with alternative flooring materials, such as carpet, tile, or hardwood, don't forget to factor in longevity and replacement costs.

Properly sealed and maintained stained concrete will last for decades and rarely needs replacement. It's invulnerable to tearing, gouging, mold, or water damage.

Even if the stained surface wears after time, it can often be brought back to life with some touchup staining and reapplication of the protective coating.

Contractors will generally reduce their rates as the total square footage of the job increases.

Although they don't sound exciting, brown concrete floors are one of the most popular types of colored concrete floors.
Ranked in Concrete Network's photo gallery, concrete floors colored in warm, brown natural hues were the most often viewed images.

Click on a picture below to activate the Photo Gallery.

Of all the colorful options available with concrete coloring products, why would homeowners, business owners, designers, and builders choose brown to color their floors?
The top three reasons below probably won't surprise you. But regardless of why, it's probably best to look at the photos and see just how extravagant, inviting, and appealing a brown concrete floor can be.

Organic, Earth-Tone Surfaces:
Concrete can produce a natural, organic surface that is amplified when colored with earth-tones and warm, calm colors.

Hides Dirt:
Brown floors are popular in homes and offices because they make dirt, lint, and other particles look less apparent.
Because concrete is an easily maintainable surface, they're also simple to wipe clean.

Creates a Warm, Base Color for Rooms:
Brown concrete floors are a great neutral color for creating a warm base-tone and complementing with other accents such as more colorful furniture, artwork, etc.
Many designers select brown because it visually adds depth to a floor.





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Getting a Mottled Look with One Stain Color

For this beach-themed store, Matt Hine of Progressive Concrete Coatings sprayed turquoise acid stain.

"To get the mottled look," he explains, "I spray a little heavier than normal, creating a wet layer of stain.

The theme of the store revolved around the beach and ocean and includes a logo with a mermaid in a clean teal color. The stain will naturally puddle giving the floor a richer color in certain areas."

Because of this technique, Hine was able to use just the turquoise acid stain to create a variety of color tones on this project.


(2 of 5)
Getting a Faux-Finished Look with Color Enhancers


Glen Roman of Staintec Sierra solid color stain for the base color on this retail floor. Then he used enhancers. Spanish Clay, Buffalo Brown, and Terra Cotta.

Roman's technique is to create random splatters with multiple colors of the enhancers then using water to blend and fade the colors together.

"The client liked the wild color effect," he says.
"The enhancers are antiquing, translucent fluid. When you use the enhancers on a smooth floor, it's like faux finishing," he says.



(3 of 5)
Getting a Layered Look with Multiple Colors
   
One of the easiest ways to doll up an existing driveway is to cut decorative patterns into the concrete.
On this project, designer Scott Cohen of The Green Scene, sawcut borders and a square design, and then applied acid stains to instantly improve the curb appeal of this home.
"I like to use a variety of color," explains Scott Cohen of The Green Scene, "so on this driveway project, we used 3 or 4 varying shades of tans, browns, and charcoal stains."
Using a combination of stains, Cohen layered one coat after another of the multiple colors.

"The trick is to drench the concrete in color, first using mist bottles at ½ rate cut with water, then full rate," he explains.

"You want to cover the area with drops of one color, then layer the next color, etc. It's kind of like how they print newspapers with multiple drops of ink."   


(4 of 5)
Getting a Variegated Look with Stains and Dyes

On 4,700 square feet of floor, Shane Ober of Solid Rock Concrete Services used a Brick Red stain with a Caramel color.

"Then we came back over the floor to do some highlighting and some veining with a deep caramel," he explains.

He also used a black stain for parts of the floor design.
"We applied the color with an HVLP sprayer, and brushed it back in so it looks really neat," says Ober.
"To get the variegated look, we use construction paper on it to create a vein, then come back in and use the HVLP sprayer.
Then we put down another color."


(5 of 5)
Getting the Organic (or Natural) Look of Leather

Rick Metzler of Pizzazz Painting used a water-based stains for coloring this home's driveway. "It's a linear process with tri-color variation," he explains.

To begin the process, he first wet the driveway. "Then I hit the cracks with a dark, walnut color and some black. This accentuates them and darkens them up," he says. Before it completely dries, he adds a random coat of the lightest color, which on this project was yellow. "I covered the entire driveway randomly as a base with the yellow," he explains.
"It blends with the dark colors in the cracks so the cracks don't become the focal point." Then he sprays another coat in between with the medium hue, terra cotta.

The last coloring step is to spray full coverage with the walnut. "I'm able to get a nice variegated look this way. It looks very organic," he says.

Contact an iCoat Canada representative now for additional information about installing the best Stained concrete overlay resurfacing system in your home.