Stained Concrete in East Providence, RI

Old basements are the most common job

East Providence has a lot of older housing stock. Neighborhoods like Riverside, Rumford and Phillipsdale are full of homes built from the early 1900s through the 1950s. Their basement floors usually have a history: layers of gray porch paint, old tile glue, oil stains near where a furnace sat, and patches from plumbing work. Stain can make these floors look good, but only after that history is dealt with.

We grind or strip the paint and glue until the concrete is open and clean. Stain has to soak in, so any coating left behind shows up as a blotch. Patches and cracks stay visible after staining; many owners like that, since it fits an old house, but we make sure you expect it before we start.

Moisture comes first in a basement

Rhode Island basements are often damp, especially in spring and in the low-lying blocks near the Seekonk River and the Providence River shoreline. Water vapor moving up through a slab can push off a sealer and leave white mineral deposits, called efflorescence, on the surface. Before we stain a basement, we check for moisture and look for signs of water coming in at the walls. If there is an active water problem, it needs fixing first. On a slab that stays slightly damp, we use a breathable sealer that lets vapor through instead of trapping it.

Outdoor stain and New England winters

Stain can also give color to patios, walkways and pool surrounds. Outdoors, the hard part is not the stain but the winter. Freeze and thaw cycles, wet snow and road salt tracked in from Pawtucket Avenue or Route 114 all wear on concrete. A good penetrating or breathable sealer keeps water and salt from soaking in, which protects both the color and the slab. We recommend calcium magnesium acetate or sand over rock salt on stained surfaces.

Exterior sealers need renewing every couple of years. Plan for that, especially on south-facing patios that take the summer sun.

Picking a color

Acid stains produce earthy browns, tans, rust and muted greens, always with natural variation. Water-based stains offer grays, blacks and cooler shades with a more even look. In basements, warm browns and ambers hide dust and look cozy. On patios next to clapboard and shingle homes, grays and soft browns tend to look most natural. We test a sample spot on older slabs, because each one takes color differently.

How the work goes

1. A visit to see the slab, check moisture and talk about color.
2. Removal of paint, glue and old sealers by grinding or stripping.
3. Cleaning, then stain applied in one or more layers.
4. Neutralizing and rinsing for acid stain.
5. A sealer suited to the space, and wax or a topcoat for indoor floors if you want more shine.

A basement usually takes two to four days, depending on how much old paint or glue we have to remove.

New concrete and stain

If you are pouring a new patio or walk, it can be stained after it cures for about a month. We pour patios, walkways and slabs, and can plan the stain with the pour.

Where stain works well

• Basement family rooms and workshops where carpet would stay damp.
• Mudrooms and enclosed porches that see wet boots all winter.
• Patios and pool surrounds that look plain gray and dull.
• Small shops and studios in converted mill and commercial spaces near the Seekonk.

Caring for stained concrete

Indoors, dust mop and use a damp mop with a neutral cleaner. Avoid harsh acids and strong degreasers, which can dull the sealer. Outdoors, sweep often, rinse off salt in late winter, and reseal every two or three years. If the surface starts to look dull or patchy, a fresh coat of sealer usually brings the color back.

Questions

Can you stain a floor that has been painted?

Yes, but all the paint has to come off first, which takes grinding or stripping.

Will stain hide cracks?

No. Cracks and patches usually show. That is part of the look.

Where do you work?

Throughout East Providence and in Barrington, Seekonk, Pawtucket and the East Side of Providence.