Up until recently, architects and engineers have been at the mercy of rich, earth-toned color schemes to improve the appearance of concrete buildings. Luckily, though, new technology has enabled color experts to create professional concrete stains that cover pretty much every single color on the spectrum, therefore opening up a world of possibilities for property developers around the world. So, if you’d like to know more about the world of professional concrete staining, keep on reading

How does professional concrete staining work at Nawkaw?

The thing that’s special about Nawkaw’s concrete stains is that they’re scientifically formulated to support longevity. Mineral construction materials like concrete are open-pored, and a capillary effect allows some of the moisture to naturally penetrate the surface, which then escapes as water vapor. Sometimes, companies use film-forming coatings, but our stains work a bit differently. Our professional concrete stains allow buildings to retain their natural breathability which prevents cracking, spalling, and delamination of the building’s surface.

How to stain concrete

Before we start, it’s very important to remember that every concrete stain is different, and needs an individual approach. That’s why there’s no single way to stain concrete. But, to give you a better idea of how professional concrete stains actually work, we’re going to be using NawTone-K as an example.

Introduction: Just to give you a little bit more info about the product we’re going to be talking about, NawTone-K is a mineral stain. It uses silicate as its binding agent to form a permanent chemical bond with the surface. By adding lightfast, inorganic pigments, we’re able to produce a wide range of colors that are then used as a professional concrete stain.
Surface preparation: Before applying a professional concrete stain, it’s very important that the surface is dry, clean, and dust-free. Next, you have to make sure that you remove any unstable materials as a sound surface is required for all external stain applications. Also, make sure that you check for mold release residue. Next, all surfaces that have been treated with an acid or chemical wash must be neutralized before the professional concrete stain is applied. Alkali or efflorescence should also be treated with neutralizing compounds before the application process begins.
Application: There are a number of ways in which NawTone-K can be applied, which is by brush, roller, or spray. The application technique used really comes down to the look you’re aiming to achieve. For translucent finishes, NawTone-K can be customized depending on how translucent you want to go. When it’s diluted with NawThinz, it must be stirred constantly (and only diluted with the recommended diluting products). It’s also important to remember that a wet edge must be maintained at all times while working to a natural break line.
Limitations: Every professional concrete stain will have its own limitations, so be sure that you check this out before embarking on the staining process. NawTone-K, for example, is not suitable for surfaces such as silicone, urethane, epoxy or plastic. Plus, as it’s a hard finish, it shouldn’t be used on caulking joints.


How long does it take to stain concrete?

Luckily, professional concrete staining solutions have pretty quick drying times, so it’s really simple to incorporate these into your building schedule. Sticking with NawTone-K which we used as our example above, it takes 12 hours for it to cure when staining concrete, and 24 hours when dealing with masonry.

What concrete staining colors can I get?

If your curious about the looks you can achieve with professional concrete staining solutions, how about booking a consultation with one of our experts? We’ll be happy to go through the options available and help you find a color that really helps your project stand out.