Concrete stain can add an antique look to exterior hardscapes or artificial and water features. It definitely enhances any project that a Landscape Contractor may be working on.Because the penetrating stain is reactive and chemically combines with cured concrete to produce permanent color effects, there are some things to keep in mind when applying this stain. Concrete stain is corrosive and can cause severe eye irritation or blindness. It can also be fatal if swallowed and all that other stuff you are too smart not to do (you are smart enough no to drink concrete stain aren?EUR??,,????'???t you?). Preparation Before you apply the stain, you?EUR??,,????'???ll need to do some prep work. According to L.M. Scofield Company, when cleaning horizontal or vertical concrete, the pressure washer should be equipped with a fan tip and have a minimum pressure capability of 2000 psi. For transferring and scrubbing, brushes should be of professional quality, long handled, or hand held, with acid-resistant nylon bristles of medium stiffness that can hold liquids. Surrounding areas, landscaping, and adjacent surfaces should be protected. The work area should be roped off, and if necessary, appropriate areas should be closed to traffic. All dirt, oil, plaster, stains, oil and grease must be completely removed by cleaning. Coatings, water repellents, previously applied adhesives, and curing membranes must be removed by sandblasting, though small spots of paint can be removed with a paint stripper. Newly placed concrete should be sufficiently cured to allow the concrete to become reactive, a minimum of 14 days. In some instances, mechanical means to open the concrete surface such as light sandblasting or shotblasting may be needed to make the surface sufficiently penetrable for the chemical stain to react. Existing, older concrete must be cleaned so that the surface is completely penetrable before receiving the initial application of stain. According to Scofield, an indication of whether the concrete is penetrable can be obtained by spotting the surface with water. The water should immediately darken the substrate and be readily absorbed. If the water beads and does not penetrate or only penetrates in some areas, additional surface preparation and testing must be performed. The cleaning method to be used depends on the condition of the concrete. To remove dirt and other contaminants, detergents and other commercial cleaners should be considered and tested. After cleaning, the surface must be rinsed to remove any remaining residue. Rinsing should continue until the rinse water is completely clean. Application Now it?EUR??,,????'???s time to apply the stain. When it first goes on don?EUR??,,????'???t get worried. It?EUR??,,????'???s supposed to look transparent. Once the chemicals start reacting with the concrete, you?EUR??,,????'???ll see the color change, just have a little patience. Usually a minimum of two applications are required. The stain should be applied at full-strength, meaning not diluted. The coverage rate for Schofield?EUR??,,????'???s Chemstain is about 75-100-square-feet-per-gallon for two applications. It should be transferred to the surface by brush or spray and immediately scrubbed in. Whether transferred to the surface by brush or spray, the chemical solution must be scrubbed in by brush as soon as it touches the concrete, using a circular or figure eight motion. To avoid lap marks, reacted solution should not be spread to new work sections, but should be brushed back over the section just treated. New applications of stain should be overlapped with and worked into the edges of still wet, previously treated areas. A wet edge must be maintained. Reaction time will all depend on wind conditions, ambient temperature and humidity. It should be left alone for at least four hours no matter the weather. Once this is all said and done, you are ready o remove the residue from the area. All residue must be completely removed by wet scrubbing with a suitable, high-quality commercial deergent using a rotary floor machine or a stiff-bristle brush. The area must be totally rinsed and clean to avoid staining adjacent areas or harming plants with runoff. It is also advisable to get a sealer or coating to protect your stain job from the elements. There are some things to be on the look-out for, but using a concrete stain is another tool you can use to gain more customers and make those drab slabs of concrete look like something special. Oh yeah, remember not to drink the stain, it?EUR??,,????'???s only for the concrete.