How to Make Floor Stain

For All Stain Mixtures

• 1

  Put on rubber gloves and protective eyewear. The chemicals you are working with are quite caustic. Work in a well-ventilated area.

• 2

  Mix all ingredients in a tall, nonmetal container. A plastic bucket works well.

• 3

  Do not pour any of the chemicals down the sink or outside. Dispose of any leftover concrete stain and chemicals according to the hazardous materials guidelines for your area.

• 4

  Cover 10 square feet of concrete floor with a single batch of stain. If you need more, mix a second batch. Do not mix one large batch because as the fumes may be overwhelming.

Black/Dark Brown

• 5

  Mix together 1 tablespoon of potassium dichromate and ¼ cup of manganese carbonate in the plastic bucket.

• 6

  Slowly and carefully pour in ½ cup of muriatic acid. The mixture will foam so be sure that your bucket has tall sides.

• 7

  Add 2 more teaspoons of acid and stir the mixture thoroughly with a wooden paint stick.

Light-to-Medium Brown

• 8

  Combine ½ teaspoon potassium dichromate and 2 teaspoons manganese carbonate in the plastic bucket.

• 9

  Slowly and carefully pour in 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of muriatic acid. Stir the mixture with a wooden paint stick as you add the acid to prevent the foaming solution overflowing the container.

• 10

  Pour in ¼ cup water in a steady stream as you stir the mixture with the paint stick until it is well combined.

Bright Orange

• 11

  Heat 1 tablespoon potassium dichromate and 1 cup hot water over low heat in a nonmetallic pot until the potassium dichromate dissolves and the liquid is uniform throughout.

• 12

  Transfer the liquid to the plastic bucket once it cools a bit. Add 1 teaspoon hydrochloric acid, ¼ cup copper sulfate and ¼ cup of sodium chloride plain table salt, to the mixture.

• 13

  Stir the solution well with a wooden paint stick. It will look green or yellow-green but as it dries on the concrete, it will turn bright orange.

Blue-Green

• 14

  Pour ¼ cup of copper sulfate into the plastic bucket.

• 15

  Add 1 cup of very warm water to the bucket. Let the solution sit for two hours without stirring.

• 16

  Stir the solution with a wooden paint stick until all the copper sulfate is dissolved and the color of the stain is consistent throughout.

Green

• 17

  Mix together 1 cup of very warm water and ¼ cup of copper sulfate in the plastic bucket using a wooden paint stick.

• 18

  Add ¼ cup sodium chloride, plain table salt.

• 19

  Stir the mixture with the paint stick until it is well blended.

Ochre/Dark Orange

• 20

  Make this stain just before you plan to use it. Because it contains iron sulfate, this stain will create rust particles if it sits a long time.

• 21

  Combine 2/3 cup very warm water and ¼ cup iron sulfate in the plastic bucket.

• 22

  Stir the mixture well with a wooden paint stick.