How to Make Concrete Stain Look Marbleized
- 1). Remove any sealants with a chemical stripper or a floor grinder equipped with a 60-grit stone. The concrete must be exposed in order to accept the concrete stain.
- 2). Power wash the concrete slab to be stained to remove all dirt and debris. If the concrete slab is inside, use a wet vac.
- 3). Create a 50 percent acid stain solution by mixing one-half acid stain and one-half water in a 2 gallon plastic bucket rated for acid. Pour the acid stain into the water to avoid a violent chemical reaction.
- 4). Brush the stain on the slab with a wide foam brush. Work in multiple directions.
- 5). Mist any apparent brush lines with water from a spray bottle. This will blur the lines but not remove them. The brush lines will add dimension to the marble effect.
- 6). Allow the stain to dry for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time.
- 7). Mix a 75 percent acid stain solution by mixing three-quarters acid stain with one-quarter water. Pour the acid stain into the water to avoid a violent chemical reaction.
- 8). Brush on the new solution in wet, uneven stokes in a 2-foot-by-2-foot square.
- 9). Blot the stain with wadded up plastic wrap or a plastic shopping bag. Continue blotting with the crumpled plastic until you have created a 4-foot-by-4-foot square.
- 10
Mist the area with water from a spray bottle to blur the lines. If you are satisfied with the intensity of the lines, this step is optional. - 11
Repeat Steps 8 through 10 on a fresh section of concrete. The acid stain will destroy the plastic wrap or shopping bag as you work, so you will have to replace it frequently. - 12
Allow the stain to dry for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time. - 13
Use the full strength acid stain sparingly to create areas of dark contrast. You can paint on thin lines of veining with a foam brush or use the blotting technique described in Steps 8 through 10 with thin layers of stain.
