If you have concrete floors, you know how uninspiring they can be. Unless you have a heavily contemporary or minimalist look for your home, concrete won’t be the best option.
If you don’t want to remove your concrete floors, there are ways to warm them up. One of the best methods for this is to stain them to look like wood.
With a little bit of extra care and craftsmanship, you can create incredibly realistic looking wood patterns.
Not only will this give the room some extra warmth, it will also protect the floors. By taking the time to do it correctly, you can be sure your wood patterns will last for years.
Staining Concrete to Look Like Wood: Basic Idea
Staining concrete to look like wood is a relatively simple process. To do it correctly, you need to:
- Fill in the Concrete
- Install a Thin Concrete Layer
- Put in the Grain
- Stain and Polish the Concrete
Why Stain Concrete to Look Like Wood?
While concrete floors can be very durable and give your home a contemporary look, they’re not for everyone.
One of the issues with concrete floors is that they don’t feel very inviting. This is one of the main reasons people choose to go with hardwood or laminate.
Concrete floors are also incredibly difficult to remove once they have been laid.
If you want to remove them, you will need to jackhammer them, which can be a big upheaval. It will also be fairly expensive.
Fill in Joints and Cracks
The first thing you will want to do when staining concrete floors is to fill in the gaps.
When concrete is laid, it will often have joints or seams. It may also develop cracks after many years and these will need to be sealed up to get a cohesive look.
Apply the mixture using a squeeze bottle. Let it settle and then top it off to make it level with the floors.
Allow this mixture to dry overnight before you move onto the next step.
Lay a Thin Concrete Layer
Concrete is best stained when it is relatively wet. Because of this, you will have to lay a new, thin layer of concrete over your old one.
When doing this, don’t worry about making the surface too smooth.
Put in the Grain
Before the concrete dries, you will want to lay down your grain streaks.
Put a mixture of dark brown stain and water into a squeeze bottle. Mix it thoroughly and don’t let it separate.
Then, lay down stain lines in your thin concrete layer. Keep these stain lines one to two feet apart so they will mimic the look of actual wood grain.
Then, with a rounded trowel, scrape over your stain streaks. You will notice that they begin to look like the grain of wood and spread out over the concrete.
Stain and Seal the Floor
After the concrete has dried you can then stain it and seal it.
Find a concrete stain that suits your particular taste. Make sure you apply it to an inconspicuous area before moving onto the rest of the floor.
Apply the stain using a sprayer in long, even strokes. Allow it to dry for 48 hours before sealing the floor.
To seal, use a glossy epoxy on a roller. Apply two to three coats of the epoxy and let it dry thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you change the color of concrete?
You can change the color of dried concrete using concrete stain.
These stains are designed specially to cling to a smooth surface. They are also made to last for many years and won’t fade with time.
- Is it better to paint or stain concrete?
Staining concrete is always your best option. Paint will only sit on the surface of the concrete but will not seep into the pores.
Concrete stain will penetrate the surface and last for a lot longer.
- Do you have to sand concrete before staining?
You can sand concrete before staining it, but it is not a requirement.
If you want a smooth surface, sanding is your best bet. However, if you like the texture of your concrete, the stain will stick just fine.
Conclusion
Staining concrete in a wood pattern is a great way to keep your home looking and feeling inviting. If you have concrete floors, the good news is that you aren’t stuck with them and can make changes.
By following the above steps, you can get yourself the flooring you want with less expense and trouble.
