Concrete Acid Stain

From subtle marbling to psychedelic tie-dyeing, some of the most artistic effects in decorative concrete are achieved by putting one color of acid stain on top of another.

There are many ways to go about layering acid stains, but a common approach is to cover the entire floor with a diluted color, then spot-stain sections with less diluted or undiluted colors, often using faux techniques such as ragging or sponging.

This approach reflects the rule of thumb that says lighter colors first, darker colors on top. If you do it the other way around, chances are the darker color will swallow up the lighter one.

There are exceptions, though. Some blue-green acid stains, for instance, stand out nicely on even the darkest underlying stain.