Those of you with stained concrete floors...

[robbyreneeward]

Was the composition of your concrete any different before you poured? Is there anything special to do to make the concrete looks its best for staining?

[Atfulldraw]

just keep it clean.

[robbyreneeward]

So nothing special has to be done to the concrete prior to pouring or adding anything special to it?

[all3lemmons]

Try and keep the framers from dropping boards with nails in them. Also don't let anything sit on the floor. Any covered areas will cure differently and the stain will show the outline of it.

We had a 2x4 across a doorway for a week or so that wasn't supposed to be there. When stained you could see exactly where it was. The floor guy said that he had been in houses that had sheetrock delivered and stacked inside which caused outlines of every stack he had to try and hide.

[cattlelackranch]

Try and keep framers from nailing concrete nails for bracing if possible.
You can score cut any tile lines before framing. Some do some don't.

Like said before keep clean. No paint, plumbers primer/glue is the worst.

[Cabela]

Depends on the finish you want. Polished or not? I had them jitterbug my slab since I was staining the entire slab. Keep the framers from bracing to the floor. They will need to brace to the bottom plates. Also don't let them pop lines with red chaulk. Get them blue. Cover the floors with poly staple the poly to the bottom plates. Good luck.

[KR-oldmexico]

Tell your concrete man to burn, burn, burn and finish it good! Want it as smooth and slick as they can get it. Then cover it good during the construction process to keep from damaging it.

[clayton_10]

Yea.y concrete guy was aware that there is a better technique to finishing and mixing for stained floors. I think it was more ash in the mix and then a finish technique that still aloud minimal porosity for the slab to hold the stain better? It's been a few years but I know he mentioned doing it a little different.

[Dusty Britches]

Mine were stained after the framers were done but before any other work was done. Then they covered it. Something really weird happened in the next several weeks - the stain completely disappeared. The sub contractor who had been doing it for many years said he never saw anything like it, but another slab for a commercial building that was poured the same week as mine had the exact same problem. They had to re-stain it 4 times to get it to stick. Now, after 3 years, it is still beautiful.

Something a little creepy - in the master bath, the a concrete guy walked across the floor before it was set. Now, you can put your bare foot in the impression this guy left. Reminds me of wet foot prints in scary movies.

Oh, if you want to add some cool imprints, like dog feet, duck or deer prints, let your contractor know before they pour so you or they can put them in before the concrete dries. I still wish we had done that in the entry way or in small areas in the living room.