Stains color the concrete instead of covering it, so the slab's own character shows through: mottled earth tones from acid stains, or consistent modern colors from water-based dyes. Sealed properly, it's a floor with the look of stone at a fraction of the price.
Staining is the finish for people who like concrete. Acid stains react chemically with the minerals in the slab to create mottled, translucent earth tones — every slab takes it a little differently, which is the appeal. Water-based stains and dyes give predictable, consistent color in a much wider range, including grays, blues and charcoals for a modern look.
We prep the slab by grinding lightly (a stain needs an open surface but not a heavy profile), fill cracks, apply the stain, neutralize and clean, then seal. Indoors we top with clear polyaspartic for durability and easy cleaning; outdoors we use a UV-stable sealer that won't yellow. Saw-cut score lines can turn a plain slab into a tile or flagstone pattern.
Staining works on sound concrete with an even surface. Heavily patched, pitted or previously coated slabs are better candidates for a flake or overlay system, and we'll tell you at the consultation.
Translucent color that shows the slab's own variation.
Earth tones from acid stains, clean grays and colors from water-based dyes.
Adds almost no thickness — great where door clearances are tight.
Less material than a coating system, especially on large floors.
Score lines and multi-color layouts turn a slab into a design.
A polyaspartic or penetrating sealer protects the color for years.
Every SwiftHand floor follows the same sequence. Skipping a step is how coatings fail, so we don't.
Measure the space, check the slab for moisture and old coatings, pick a finish. You get a written price — online in minutes or in person.
We grind the concrete with dust-controlled diamond grinders to open the pores. Never acid etching, which is why our floors don't peel.
Cracks, pits, spalls and control joints are filled with polyurea joint filler and mender, then ground flush. Moisture is tested before anything goes down.
A pigmented polyurea/polyaspartic base coat is rolled on and wets into the ground concrete for a mechanical bond.
Vinyl flake is broadcast to full rejection (or metallic, quartz or solid color applied), then scraped smooth once set.
A clear polyaspartic topcoat locks it all in — chemical, UV and hot-tire resistant. Walk on it that evening; park on it in about 48 hours.
Stained and sealed concrete typically runs $3–$7 per square foot depending on prep, the number of colors and whether scoring is involved. Outdoor stain-and-seal is toward the low end; multi-color indoor stain with a polyaspartic top toward the high end.
Financing: 0% APR for up to 12 months and $0 down through Wisetack on approved credit — a $3,000 floor is $250 a month, interest-free. Financing details.
Representative photos of the systems on this page. Photos of SwiftHand projects are added as jobs complete.
Acid stain is intentionally variegated — it's the look. Water-based stain is even and predictable. We'll sample both on your slab so you can choose.
You can, but stains don't protect against hot tires, salt and oil the way a coating does. For a garage we recommend a flake or solid system and save staining for living spaces and patios.
Indoors under polyaspartic, rarely. Outdoors with a penetrating or UV sealer, every three to five years.
No — it has to come off first, because stain needs to reach the concrete. Grinding removal is included in the quote if needed.
Answer a few questions about the space — size, condition, the finish you like — and our instant quote tool builds a written price on the spot. It takes four to five minutes, not sixty seconds, because an accurate number beats a fast one. Prefer a person? Book a free consultation and we'll measure in person.
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