BajaNomad - Concrete Color in Bullnose on Interior Steps

Concrete Color in Bullnose on Interior Steps

LRW - 4-1-2009 at 08:09 PM

While we were gone a year ago, our builder put black colorant in the concrete and did the bullnose on our interior steps. It matches nothing else in the house but I try to ignore it. However, I cannot ignore it constantly being dirty.

I've tried 409, Mr. Clean, all kinds of house cleaning products and it looks like the sand is just ground into the bullnose. Possibly no sealant was put over the concrete which is now a dark dirty stained grey. Anybody got any idea on what to use to clean this...and also could we put a sealant over it to keep it from looking so bad...?

Thanks
L--

Diver - 4-1-2009 at 08:16 PM

Wet the area and then apply a dilute Muriatic acid solution.
Scrub with a bristle brush and rinse well.
If the color comes off, you can re-color with a concrete stain or powdered stain mixed with water.
There are many clear sealers available for concrete.
Ones that require xylene for clean-up seem to last longer than others.
Consider sprinkling some silica onto the wet sealer for traction.

EnseNADAslim - 4-2-2009 at 10:44 AM

It would be messy, but yo could try a flat grinder, then seal it. It would actually maybe give you a very cool look when you were done, but It would be a big messy job.

DianaT - 4-2-2009 at 10:54 AM

I am scared to death of Muriatic acid---I know, Diver, I am a real wuss.

However, when I needed to clean dried cement off of tile, I ended up using white vinager. Since then I have used it for a number of things.

You might give it a try where it won't show---it is amazing stuff, won't kill you, and cheap.

Diane

Diver - 4-2-2009 at 11:27 AM

You are right Diane; vinegar is great stuff for cleaning.
A little vinegar in distilled water is a better glass cleaner than Windex !
Vinegar will remove water stains on glass, tile or stone without damage.
Who knows; it might work for this !? Easy enough to try.

DianaT - 4-2-2009 at 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
You are right Diane; vinegar is great stuff for cleaning.
A little vinegar in distilled water is a better glass cleaner than Windex !
Vinegar will remove water stains on glass, tile or stone without damage.
Who knows; it might work for this !? Easy enough to try.

Does that mean you don't think I am a wuss? :lol:

LRW
I hope you try it and report back if it works or not.

[Edited on 4-2-2009 by jdtrotter]

Diver - 4-2-2009 at 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter
Does that mean you don't think I am a wuss? :lol:

Only when it comes to eating raw fish ! :lol:

[Edited on 4-2-2009 by Diver]

dianaji - 4-2-2009 at 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
Wet the area and then apply a dilute Muriatic acid solution.
Scrub with a bristle brush and rinse well.
If the color comes off, you can re-color with a concrete stain or powdered stain mixed with water.
There are many clear sealers available for concrete.
Ones that require xylene for clean-up seem to last longer than others.
Consider sprinkling some silica onto the wet sealer for traction.

i've been wanting to stain some cement or flagstone to make it look old and not so new looking. can the muriatic acid do this? many years ago i saw the effect i wanted and have forgotten how to do this.

Diver - 4-2-2009 at 04:10 PM

Muriatic acid is only for cleaning the concrete; it is corrosive and overuse can damage tile grout and poor concrete.
If you are planning to apply a stain to an existing floor, it must be cleaned with dilute acid in order to allow the stain to flow into the material and bond.
I would consider semi-transparent liquid concrete stain. You can blend a few shades of off-white, terra cota, beige and brown if you want. Then seal with a clean sealer to protect the color.

DENNIS - 4-2-2009 at 04:16 PM

Some of many uses for White Vinegar:

http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

dianaji - 4-2-2009 at 04:33 PM

it's not for the floor, it's for outside pavement, etc., not the floor...what i saw way back it was so beautiful...so aged looking. i hate new looking stuff.

Diver - 4-2-2009 at 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dianaji
i hate new looking stuff.

Pour your excess coffee or tea on the flagstones.

dianaji - 4-2-2009 at 09:43 PM

Quote:

Pour your excess coffee or tea on the flagstones.

i just love the idea of using tea!!! it feels right. i must remember to take some with me tomorrow when i visit my new home.

Mexitron - 4-3-2009 at 04:18 AM

There are lots of acid staining chemicals on the market--Scofield for one:

http://www.scofield.com/decorativeconcrete.html

dianji--you can use these acid stains to make concrete look aged--very interesting to use.

dianaji - 4-3-2009 at 06:01 AM

Mexitron,

THANK YOU! perhaps they have something like that at Home Depot...

dianaji - 4-3-2009 at 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Some of many uses for White Vinegar:

http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

thank u, Dennis

Paulclark - 4-3-2009 at 06:44 AM

Home Depot does not carry concrete stain here. The only supplier I have found is Enrique Rodriguez -- 612-140-4859 the product web site is www.bomanite.com . He is in La Paz and speaks english. Anyone know of any other concrete chemical stain products available in BCS?

wilderone - 4-3-2009 at 09:34 AM

How about opaque paint? There is concrete step paint. Saltillo tile over it?

LRW - 4-3-2009 at 10:46 AM

I tried a strong solution of vinegar/water for the past 2 days... Wetting the steps, scrubbing, then rewetting and doing it a 2nd time. Helped but not much. Will give the acid a try. I would LOVE to get rid of this dark color anyways..

Regarding stained concrete. We had this done to our place in the States and it was great. However, we had our driveway and entire patio done here and it was a disaster. The color was fine, but the sealant they put over it cracked and blistered and flaked off. As I am writing, the contractor's guys have spent 4 days chipping and grinding it off. We are guessing it was too hot when they applied the sealer...but when isn't the concrete hot here? Make sure you find somebody who really knows what they are doing... That was probably part of the problem too--

L

DianaT - 4-3-2009 at 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LRW
I tried a strong solution of vinegar/water for the past 2 days... Wetting the steps, scrubbing, then rewetting and doing it a 2nd time. Helped but not much. Will give the acid a try. I would LOVE to get rid of this dark color anyways..

L

I used the white vinager full strength---maybe try that? And I also did leave it set for a while.

But at least if you are using acid, it sounds like it will be in an open area---good luck----

Diane

greta-inbaja - 4-4-2009 at 08:03 PM

Hello, I kind of have the same question so I just tagged on to the same thread. I had a cement counter built in the bathroom that was supposed to be done in the same color as the floor, kind of an earthy dark green, the floor is not sealed yet. Well....... the builder ran out of the color green and took it upon himself to just add more yellow instead. Need I say more. It is kind of a yellow, lime green with a slight sheen so I think he might have also sealed it? The sink is not in yet. I want to just fix it myself and not even attempt to have the original man fix it. Do you think the muriatic acid will work here??? I thought I might have to just grind it off or tile over it. But I would really just like to have it close to the color of the floor instead. I have never used that acid before if any of you have any hints for me I would appreciate it. I really wish he just bought more colorant and just charged me. Thanks,
Greta

Diver - 4-4-2009 at 08:59 PM

Greta
If the concrete has already been sealed, you will need to remove the sealer to change the color. You would either have yo find out what sealer was used and try an appropriate solvent or grind/scrape it off (hard job !).
If it hasn't been sealed, I would try an acid stain over the existng colors.
Good Luck !

greta-inbaja - 4-4-2009 at 09:07 PM

Thanks Diver,
So Iwill put water on it and if it doesn't sink in at all, it has been sealed. I will give solvent a try and a grinder. I bet the sealer penetrates a bit. I'm happy it is a small counter. If all fails, I will just tile it.