A unpredictable
as they are beautiful, acid stains can transform an
ordinary slab of concrete into a breathtaking piece
of art. Contractors who have learned to successfully
use acid stains say no other products on the market
measure up to the stains' performance. The special
handling, prepping and extensive cleanup acid stains
require are worth it.
Acid stains are nothing new. They've has been around
since the 1920s, says Scott Thome, director of product
services for L.M. Scofield Co.
And even with nonacid stains gaining a foothold in
today's market, diehards maintain acid stains and their
prized visual effects aren't going away anytime soon.
"As more people clamor for Old World-looking
pieces, I think the market is going to drive more contractors
to offer acid staining," says Tom Ralston of Tom
Ralston Concrete, a company founded by his grandfather
in 1928 in Santa Cruz, Calif. "It looks antiqued,
weather-worn, anything but new." And, many think,
it's well worth its troubles because it rivals the
variegated stone creations of Mother Nature herself.
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