Beyond the Basics: Creating Special Effects with Concrete Stains

Concrete stain does more than simply add color. Unlike the opaque, uniform look of paint or colored coatings, stains soak into the concrete to accent its natural, organic characteristics. You'll get rich, deep, variegated tones that can mimic everything from polished marble to tanned leather, to natural stone or even stained wood. With a bit of creativity, you can use stain in conjunction with other decorative techniques, opening the door to endless possibilities for artistic expression. Popular techniques include:

• Applying multiple colors of stain, or layering stains with concrete dyes.
• Creating faux finishing effects by applying stain with implements such as spray bottles, sponges, rags, eyedroppers, torn paper, or even feathers.
• Combining staining with decorative effects such as scoring or engraving, sandblasting, etching, and stenciling.
• Polishing stained floors to a high-luster finish that resembles polished stone or marble.

For more information about these techniques, check out these resources on ConcreteNetwork.com:
Blending Acid Stain Colors
Concrete Dyes Expand the Color Palette of Concrete Stains
Decorative Concrete Scoring and Sawcutting
Polishing Concrete

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