Plain gray concrete gets the job done, but it rarely adds much to a home. A back patio, front walk, or basement floor can look a lot better with some color, and you don’t have to replace the slab to get there. Color can go on right over what’s already poured.
Concrete staining soaks color into the surface of the slab you already have. We clean and prep the concrete, test how it takes stain, then apply color in one shade or a blend for a more natural look. Reactive stains give a mottled, earthy finish, while water-based stains offer a wider range of colors. Every job gets sealed afterward, which protects the color from Fort Duchesne sun and winter weather and gives it a richer look.
We know how Fort Duchesne sun, dust, and snow treat colored concrete, and we help you pick shades and sealers that hold up.
Scrubbers, pressure washers, and pro sprayers let us prep the slab deep and lay down stain evenly from edge to edge.
Stain won't hide every flaw, and we'll be upfront about how patches, old stains, and weathered concrete will take the color.
We mask walls, siding, and plants, contain overspray and rinse water, and leave your patio or floor clean and ready to enjoy.
Picking a stain color is easier when you look around. Fort Duchesne started as an Army post in 1886, founded by Maj. Frederick Benteen with Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry, and the Army stayed until 1912. The high desert around town runs to tans, browns, and sage greens, and those tones still make sense for a slab today.
Earthy colors are a natural fit for concrete. Warm browns, tans, and soft terra cotta tones blend into the setting and hide dust and dirt better than bright or very dark shades. Many homeowners pick a base color close to the soil and add a second shade for depth. We’ll put down a test patch so you see the real color on your slab before we commit.
Reactive stains, sometimes called acid stains, react chemically with the minerals in the concrete. The result is a mottled, variegated finish with natural color shifts, almost like stone or leather. No two slabs come out exactly alike, which is part of the appeal, but the color range leans toward earth tones.
Water-based stains sit in the surface pores rather than reacting with them. They come in a much wider range of colors, give a more even, predictable look, and work well when you want a specific shade or a pattern with crisp lines. Some projects use both, with a reactive base for depth and water-based accents on borders or scored lines.
Stain is translucent, so it shows everything underneath. Old oil spots, sealer, paint drips, and patches all take color differently, and a slab that hasn’t been cleaned well will come out blotchy. That’s why most of the work in a staining job happens before any color goes down.
We scrub and wash the slab, strip off any old sealer, and treat stains that would bleed through. Cracks and chips get filled, and if there’s more serious damage, we’ll recommend concrete repair ahead of staining so you’re not putting fresh color over a problem. Patches won’t match perfectly, but a careful color blend can make them much less noticeable.
Staining works on most sound concrete, indoors and out. Here are some of the best candidates:
Driveways can be stained too, though tire traffic and ice melt wear on the color faster. For driveways, a darker tone and regular resealing keep things looking good longer.
Outdoor stained concrete faces two big enemies: sun and winter. At close to 5,000 feet, UV is strong enough to fade unprotected color over time, and snow, ice melt, and freeze cycles wear the surface during the cold months. A good sealer is what stands between your new color and both of those.
Every staining job gets sealed once the stain has dried and been rinsed or neutralized. We’ll recommend a product that suits the location, with more slip resistance outdoors and more sheen inside if you want it. Plan on concrete sealing to protect stained color every few years for outdoor slabs, since resealing is much easier than restaining.
Staining is one of a few ways to finish concrete, and it’s worth knowing how it stacks up. It’s a budget friendly way to add color, works outside as well as in, and keeps the natural texture of the slab. It doesn’t harden the surface or add a thick protective layer, though, so heavy use areas may need more.
For a shop or garage that sees oil, fuel, and heavy traffic, epoxy coating for garage floors may hold up better. Indoors, polishing can also be combined with stain or dye for a hard, colored floor with a high sheen. Tell us how you use the space, and we’ll help you sort out which finish gives you the color you want and the durability you need.
We look over the slab, check for sealers and damage, and talk through colors with samples and a test spot.
Your free quote covers prep, repairs, stain type, color plan, and sealer, so you know what's included before we start.
We clean and repair the concrete, apply stain in even coats or blends, then rinse, dry, and seal the surface.
We walk the finished slab together, review dry times, and share simple care tips to keep the color looking fresh.
