Tru Tint WB | Water-Based Concrete Stain

Tru Tint Water-Based Concrete Stain

A fast, easy-to-apply partial penetrating water-based concrete stain; a solution for introducing color, a refreshed look, or even highlighting logos and patterns on your concrete surface of choice, Tru Tint WB works both indoors and out. This water-based formula can be applied with a sprayer, rolled on by hand, precision-applied with a brush, or sponged on to enhance mottling. It can also be layered or mixed to create a custom, finished look which will stand up to wear, tear, and UV exposure with ease. Unlike some other chemical concrete coloring solutions, this revolutionary product goes on without hassle and doesn’t require complicated permitting, cleanup, or ventilation procedures to use.

The translucent finished effect of a Tru Tint WB application makes it ideal for layering or adding a hint of color, rather than a fully opaque painted finish. Users appreciate the natural mottled effect it offers for applications like stamped concrete pathways and drives, vertical concrete walls, boulders, fountains, poolside edging, and more. Touted as the world’s easiest concrete stain, this translucent concrete dyeing product is available in both ready-to-use and concentrated formats (call to request) for maximum project versatility. Each one gallon container of ready-to-use stain covers up to 250 square feet, and once applied, it is designed to be finished with an appropriate concrete sealing product for maximum longevity.

Because water-based concrete stain is typically more predictable and does not use chemicals to produce color, their use has become increasingly popular. Water-based stains can produce very transparent to more opaque end results, making them more similar to wood stains.

In terms of water-based stains benefits, ease of use is one of the most significant advantages. Since water-based stains are non-reactive, they are safe to use, and they are easy to handle and apply. Because they are non-reactive, they show their colors in a predictable fashion. Additionally, water-based stains can be applied with a variety of methods, including sprayers, sponges, and brushes. Furthermore, water-based stains can be mixed and diluted to create colors and shades that are totally unique.

What Is Water-Based Stain?

Water based stain is very much like a paint except is has much less color and contains special resins to help bind the pigment to and just below the concrete surface. Unlike acid stains, water-based concrete stains have no chemical reactions that occur when they’re used.. Because water is used as the medium of the product, it is easier to clean up and dries fast. When the water absorbs into the concrete, pigments are trapped in the pores and are bonded to the concrete by the polymer.

Water-Based Stain Applications

When applying a water-based concrete stain, it’s ideal to start by making sure the concrete surface is clean. Any existing sealers or curing aids should be removed. This can often be down with a chemical stripper but in some cases it may require grinding the surface clean. It is important to note if the concrete quickly absorbs water into the surface. This tells you that it can accept the stain. Older concrete may require a good cleaning with a degreaser to remove old stains that can affect your staining outcome. Be sure to fully clean off any cleaning products before beginning. A pressure washer is perfect for this on an outdoor project. Next, move forward with shaking mixing up your water based concrete stain. This is done because pigments can settle to the bottom after some time and you want to be sure all the pigment is suspended before using it. Usually, you will apply the stain to the concrete using a sprayer in a circular pattern to give a mottled and varying color to the surface. You should overlap your circles, preventing hard lines.  What you want to avoid is using the stain like a paint. It is made to be semi-transparent, meaning you will see the concrete surface below. Too much stain will result in a surface that is too blocked up and will not let the sealer bond well, leading to sealer peeling in a short time. Keep in mind that these water-based concrete stains tend to be the very forgiving if you keep it simple. The application process should be fairly straightforward.

The most important aspect here is achieving the look you are after. Keep in mind it will look very different when it dries. The stains soak in and provide a nice natural look. Some will work in another color of stain while it is still wet. That allows the colors to blend a little bit. If you allow the stain to dry and then reapply another layer of stain, you will get more distinct separation of colors.t just depends on the project at hand.

As with any stain. it’s important that you add a sealant. A concrete sealant will help lock in the pigment and reduce fading over time from UV and abrasion. Sealers will usually enhance(darken)the areas that have been stained.

NOTE: These stains work best on textured concrete surfaces.  If you are going to use them on a hard troweled surface, you will likely need to grind the surface professionally to open it up so both the stain and later sealer have something to bind to. To avoid that we recommend using the Tru Tint DYE coloring instead for their deeper penetration on tighter surfaces.