How to prepare a concrete floor for a color staining and sealing

1. Designing and preparing a new concrete floor

1. Define during the design sessions what type of flooring will be installed on the concrete surface.
2. Clearly specify in writing to the concrete installer the type of flooring that will be installed as a final finish floor.
3. I recommend inviting the company that is going to finish the floor to be involved when you are telling the concrete installers what the concrete surface expectations are.
4. Concrete installer should avoid applying any cure and seal or other type of coating when the concrete is installed.
5. The concrete when on grade or below grade should have a vapor barrier installed.
6. The floor needs to be installed as even as possible without bird baths, rough surfaces and any odd, finished surfaces. All this will reflect in the final floor finish.
7. The floor needs to be always protected. We recommend using. Ram board carboard To protect the floor From any spills, paint Or other chemicals used during the construction. We also recommend avoiding holes. Or chips the concrete or scratches.
8. Inform all other building trades that they need to be careful not to spill chemicals, get stain or paint on the floor, not to make unnecessary holes in the concrete, and the floor should be covered in its entirety with some type of “Ram Board” cardboard to protect the floor.
9. The framers, electricians or cabinet installers should avoid marking the floor with permanent liner or permanent chalk lines that cannot be removed later.
10. The floor covering should not be removed until all drywall, mudding, sanding, priming, and painting is done.
11. All floor moldings should be installed after the floor finishing is complete.
12. All floor trimming should be painted somewhere else before it is installed.

2. Designing and preparing an existing concrete floor

1. Define during the design sessions what type of flooring will be installed on the concrete surface.
2. Clearly specify in writing to the contractor/builder the type of flooring that will be installed as a final finish floor.
3. Avoid making too many cuts for bathroom drains, Electrical connections and other type of trenching that may be required to cut open the concrete and then patch.
4. I recommend inviting the company that is going to finish the floor to be involved when you are telling the contractor/installers what the concrete surface expectations are.
5. Concrete installer should avoid applying any cure and seal or other type of coating when the concrete is installed or patched.
6. When trenching the concrete, it's a good opportunity to check if the concrete has a vapor barrier or not. This will allow the floor finisher Two recommend A good solution. To reduce humidity transfer off the floor.
7. The floor needs to be installed as even as possible without bird baths, rough finish and any odd, finished surfaces. All this will reflect in the final floor finish.
8. The floor needs to be always protected. We recommend using. Ram board carboard To protect the floor From any spills, paint Or other chemicals used during the construction. We also recommend avoiding holes. Or chips the concrete or scratches.
9. Inform all other building trades that they need to be careful not to spill chemicals, get stain or paint on the floor, not to make unnecessary holes in the concrete, and the floor should be covered in its entirety with some type of “Ram Board” cardboard to protect the floor.
10. The framers, electricians or cabinet installers should avoid marking the floor with permanent liner or permanent chalk lines that cannot be removed later.
11. The floor covering should not be removed until all drywall, mudding, sanding, priming, and painting is done.
12. All floor moldings should be installed after the floor finishing is complete.
13. All floor trimming should be painted somewhere else before it is installed.