 |
On this floor, diluted Kemiko Malay Tan stain was covered
with Kemiko Clear Wax. |
 |
| On this floor, diluted Kemiko Malay Tan stain was covered
with Kemiko Clear Wax. |
A contractor's biggest mistake when it comes to acid staining,
he continues, is overapplying the product. "Overapplication
causes surface tension, and the stain sits on the surface rather
than penetrating it. In this case, less is more."
The rewards
People hooked on acid staining rave about its natural rather
than manmade-looking results. "Most dyes and pigments
cover up what's there, whereas acid stains accentuate the variation," Ellis
says.
"The colors you get from reactive stains are stone tones
or earthy colors, like rust, deep chocolate, copper patina,
amber and golden colors," says Rigsby. "I love acid
stains. They're tried and true. They embrace the natural characteristics
of concrete, resulting in a stonelike appearance that in and
of itself is artistic."
The Texas-based contractor points out that reactive stains
are UV-stable - "Most dyes are not," she says and
can be successfully used inside or outside.
When it comes to individuality, Brazie says, acid stains are
unbeatable. "You can create something that's very hard
to repeat. You can get close, but it wont be exact, because
there are so many different variables that come into play."
Butterfield Color's Boudart concedes that reactive stains
aren't the easiest material to work with. "But when it
comes to getting natural variegated looks, they pretty much
do the work for you. Acid stain gives you the best mottled,
Old World look out of all the products out there."
"I'm amazed at a lot of the new products on the market
and how they work, but there's no substitute for the old
standards," Ellis concludes. "A lot of new products
look like acid stains, but you won't get the longevity of
acid stain when it comes to fading or washing away. You're
not just adding a pigment, you're changing the surface. They
just don't compare." |
