Stained Concrete

Stained concrete changes the color of the slab itself rather than adding a layer on top of it, which is what gives it a depth and richness that paint or a surface coating can't match. At Elite Concrete Solutions, we design and install custom stained concrete for homes and businesses throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, from interior floors to patios, walkways, and pool decks.

Why Choose Stained Concrete

• Versatility and Aesthetics: Stains cover a wide color range, from earthy, natural tones to bold custom hues, and the mottled, variegated patterns staining produces can resemble natural stone, marble, or aged leather in a way a flat coating never will.
• Durability: Because the color is part of the slab and not a layer on top of it, stained concrete holds up to heavy foot traffic without the peeling or wearing-through that a surface coating eventually shows. Properly sealed, it stays looking the way it did on day one for years.
• Low Maintenance: There's no refinishing schedule to keep up with. Routine sweeping and occasional mopping is generally all a stained floor needs between resealing.
• A More Sustainable Choice: Staining works with the concrete that's already there instead of covering it with new material, which means less waste and no additional flooring to manufacture, ship, or eventually replace.

Acid-Based vs. Water-Based Stain

The two stain types produce genuinely different results, and picking the right one usually comes down to what look you're actually after. Acid stain reacts chemically with the lime in the concrete, and that reaction is what produces the natural, mottled, one-of-a-kind color variation acid-stained floors are known for. No two acid-stained slabs ever come out quite the same, which is exactly what gives it that stone-like, organic quality, but it does limit the palette to earthier tones: browns, tans, terracottas, and soft greens.

Water-based stain doesn't react chemically the way acid stain does, which trades away some of that natural variation for a much wider color range and more predictable, consistent results. It's the better fit when you're matching a specific design scheme, want a bolder or more modern color than acid stain can produce, or need the final result to be more predictable before work begins. Many projects actually use both, layering a water-based stain over an acid base for a custom, more controlled effect.

Indoor and Outdoor Applications

Staining works well both inside and out, but the two settings call for different considerations. Interior floors, kitchens, and open-concept living areas benefit from staining's ability to tie a large surface together without seams or grout lines, and a room with large windows or a lot of direct sun still needs a UV-resistant sealer even indoors to keep the color from fading over time.

Outdoor applications like patios, walkways, and pool decks need that same UV protection as a given, since direct Texas sun will fade an unprotected finish far faster than an interior floor ever sees. Pool decks and walkways also typically call for a slip-resistant additive in the sealer, since a smooth, wet stained surface can get slippery in a way that matters more around water. Outdoor surfaces generally need resealing more often than interior ones simply because they're exposed to the weather year-round instead of staying protected indoors.

Our Staining Process

1. Consultation and Design: We start by understanding your vision and preferences, then work with you to choose the colors, techniques, and finish that fit the space.
2. Surface Preparation: The concrete is thoroughly cleaned and prepared before anything is applied, since proper adhesion depends entirely on starting with a clean, receptive surface.
3. Staining: Stain is applied carefully, sometimes in multiple passes or combinations, to build the depth and color variation you're after.
4. Sealing: A protective sealer locks in the color, adds sheen, and protects the surface from stains and everyday wear.

Caring for Your Stained Concrete

Resealing is really the only maintenance a stained floor asks for. Interior surfaces out of direct sunlight typically go three to five years between resealing, while exterior surfaces, especially pool decks and patios that see full Texas sun, usually need it closer to every two to three years. You'll generally see the signs before it becomes a problem: water stops beading on the surface and starts soaking in instead, or the color looks a little duller than it used to.

Outside of resealing, care is minimal, routine sweeping and an occasional damp mop. A well-installed, properly maintained stained concrete surface can hold its color and finish for decades, which is part of why it's held up as a long-term flooring investment rather than something you plan to redo every few years.

If pattern or texture matters more to you than color, stamped concrete replicates stone, brick, or wood in a way staining can't. If your existing slab is cracked, damaged, or too worn to stain well, concrete overlays gives you a fresh surface to work with instead. And if a smooth, reflective finish appeals to you more than color variation, polished concrete is worth a look as well.

You can see examples of our stained concrete work in our photo gallery. Ready to talk through a project? Contact Elite Concrete Solutions at (817) 320-1523 or through our online form, and we'll help you figure out which stain type and finish fits your space.