Generally, wood stain consists of the same ingredients as paints. So, wood stain is pretty convenient to use on other surfaces too. Painting concrete can be difficult sometimes because concrete is generally a composite material with different ingredients.
So, you might be confused about whether you can use wood stain on concrete or not. Well, you have to know about the wood stain’s property and features.
If the wood stain can stick to the concrete surface, you can use it. Otherwise, the stain will not be durable on the concrete surface.
Can you use wood stain on concrete?
You can use wood stain on concrete. Generally, when we want to stain on concrete, we get confused because all stains don’t stick to the concrete. But wood stain is suitable to stick to most surfaces. You can use any type of wood stain concrete. But you must prepare the concrete surface first.
Now, when you know that you can stain on concrete, you might want to know about different types of concrete. Because concrete also has different types. So, let’s see which concrete surface you can use wood stain on.
Concrete pavers:
You can use wood stain on concrete pavers. Generally, concrete pavers have a different texture than concrete floors.
But you can still stain the pavers with wood stain. But the final outcome of the color can change from the initial. So, you should decide first which shade of stain you want and which one you have to apply.
Concrete floor:
You can also stain the concrete floor with wood stain. Any type of wood stain is suitable to use on the concrete floor. But you need to apply a waterproof agent after staining the floor. Otherwise, the stain might chip off.
Concrete block:
You can also use wood stain on a concrete block to change its appearance. Generally, when you want to apply wood stain on concrete blocks, you need to prepare the surface well.
Moreover, you have to apply a water-resistant coating that will protect the stain.
Concrete countertops:
Generally, if you want to use stain on concrete countertops, you should use acid stain. Though wood stain is not the same as acid stain, the wood stain has similarities to acid stain.
But you should not use wood stain on concrete countertops. Because the countertops are not suitable to use wood stain. If you still want to use wood stain, you have to apply another agent coating that is waterproof.
Concrete hearth:
You can use wood stain on the concrete hearth. Generally, wood stain is pretty suitable to use on the concrete surface. But you need to prepare the surface so that the stain can stick to the surface.
What happens if you put wood stain on concrete?
Nothing will happen if you put the wood stain on concrete with appropriate preparation. Generally, wood stain is suitable to put on concrete to change color. If you put specific stain color on the concrete, the concrete will be on that color.
But the color will be smooth and suitable if you take essential preparation before staining. If you use wood stain on concrete without surface preparation or on the dirty surface, the stain will react with the surface. As a result, the stain’s actual color will be changed.
Otherwise, the wood stain will stick to the surface. If you want to make the stain more durable, you can use a waterproof agent on the stain.
Can you use these stains on the concrete?
Stains can be different types. So, the different stain has different reactions on concrete. Let’s see whether you can use these stains on the concrete or not.
Regular wood stain:
You can use regular wood stain on the concrete. Most types of wood stains are suitable for concrete. So, you can also use the regular one. But make sure the surface is clean before staining on the concrete.
Oil-based wood stain:
Oil-based wood stain is also the same as a regular wood stain because most wood stains are oil-based.
So, you can also use oil-based stain on the concrete. Generally, one coat is enough for staining the concrete. But if you want a darker shade, you have to apply multiple coats.
Minwax wood stain:
Minwax wood stain is also suitable to use on concrete. This wood stain is more perfect than other wood stains because this stain gets soaked into the concrete and the stain is exposed clearly.
So, the color will look good if you use Minwax wood stain on concrete.
How to stain concrete with wood stain?
Wood stain will not stick to the concrete surface if you don’t follow an appropriate way. So, here is a step-by-step process that you can follow to stain concrete with wood stain.
Clean surface:
You have to clean the concrete surface first. Remove dirt, dust, mud, and other sticky residues from the concrete surface.
Remove previous stain:
Then you have to remove any stain that is on the surface earlier. You can apply a water-based degreaser to remove grease from the concrete surface. Then you can scrub the stain to remove it.
Clean surface:
Then you have to clean the surface again so that all residues are removed.
Apply wood stain:
Next, you can apply a wood stain on the concrete surface. First, apply one layer of wood stain using an oil-based paintbrush.
Make sure not to use a latex paintbrush. If you want a darker shade of stain, you have to apply multiple layers of stain. But you have to stain another layer with a five hours gap.
Apply waterproof agent:
If you are using the concrete for pavers, you need to apply a waterproof agent so that the stain should not chip off. Finally, dry the concrete for at least 24 hours before using the surface.
Can you stain concrete to look like wood?
Yes, you can stain concrete to look like wood. For this, you can use wood stain on the concrete. Generally, most types of wood stains are suitable for use the on concrete surface. So, you can use either regular or oil-based wood stain on the concrete.
But you must prepare the surface first. Otherwise, the wood stain will react with the concrete and the final outcome will be different. So, preparing the surface is essential. Then you have to follow an appropriate way to stain the concrete.
You can also use other stains on the concrete and follow a tricky method to make the concrete look like wood. But using wood stain will be easier.
What is the difference between wood stain and concrete stain?
Wood stain and concrete stain are not the same things. Some differences make them different from each other. So, let’s see what the differences between wood stain and concrete stain are.
Generally, the concrete stain doesn’t make the concrete look like wood. But the wood stain will make the concrete look like wood.
Moreover, concrete stain is chemically different from wood stain. Because concrete stain will react with concrete and expose a color on the concrete. But the wood stain will not react with concrete.
What kind of stain can you use on concrete?
All stains are not suitable for concrete whereas some stains are perfect to use on concrete. Here is a list of stains that you can use on concrete.
Acid stain:
Acid stain is one of the best options for concrete. The acid stain will remain on the concrete surface permanently. Moreover, the acid stain will also stick to the old concrete.
Wood stain:
Wood stain is also good to use on concrete. This stain will stick to the concrete surface but needs appropriate surface preparation.
Concrete stain:
You can also use a concrete stain that is another perfect option. The concrete stain will remain on the surface permanently and is a true stain for the concrete surface.
How do you remove spilled wood stain from concrete?
If wood stain is spilled on the concrete, it will remain on the surface. So, you might want to remove the spilled wood stain from the concrete. Let’s see how you can remove it.
Clean the surface:
First, you have to clean the surface from dust, dirt, grease, and other residues.
Mix acid with water:
Then you can mix one portion of muriatic acid with 20 portions of water.
Clean the stain with acid mix:
Then you can clean the wood stain off with the mixture.
Repeat if needed:
The stain is supposed to go away. If the stain is still there, you can strengthen the mixture by one part (in 1/19 ratio of acid and water) and again apply it on the surface.
Final Thoughts
You can use any kind of wood stain on a concrete surface. Because wood stain will remain on the concrete surface. Even you can use wood stain on different types of concrete surfaces. For example, you can use wood stain on a concrete floor, block, paver, etc., surfaces to change the color.