How to Set Up the Time and Temperature for a Concrete Stain

Wait a minimum of 28 to 30 days after new concrete is poured. Concrete sets up and dries quickly, but it actually cures and hardens to its greatest strength over about a month's time. Concrete must be entirely cured to accept the stain into its porous cells.

Apply concrete stain to dry concrete in late morning or mid-day. Concrete's porous material allows water to enter into it from rain or dew early in the mornings. Lay a paper towel on the concrete and press it down. Let the paper towel sit for about a minute. If it absorbs any moisture, wait until later in the day and repeat the test. Moisture on the concrete will repel the stain and cause it to not work properly.

Use concrete stain in temperatures of 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface and air temperatures should be in this range for staining concrete. Application of concrete stain in lower temperatures will not allow the stain to penetrate the surface. Higher concrete temperatures make the concrete absorb the stain too quickly and lead to uneven color patterns.