Surecrete Eco Stain Water-Based Stain for Concrete - 4 oz Tester - Titanium Gray

This review is for the Surecrete Eco Stain Titanium Gray stain. My patio stone (manufactured concrete) is in two variations, square, with the step edges being elongated. Over time, the longer stone became darkened and mottled. Cleaning them with concrete/paver detergent. and a scrub brush did not improve the looks much. I purchased a sample and tested a few patio blocks laying around and liked the look. I added one 32 oz bottle in a gallon plastic jug, filling the rest with water to make a gallon of stain solution. I then poured a small amount in a tray and used a sponge (about the size of my hand) to apply the stain to the block. I chose a sponge over a sprayer, roller, or brush as it gave me total control over where and how to apply the stain. The sponge proved the least messy technique for avoiding splatters and potential over-spray, and allowed me to 'cut' against the edges of the other stone, round underneath the lip, and get into any nooks and crannies for an even coat. This evened out the coloring of the block, and as a bonus visually highlighted the step down which makes it safer. I only needed one coat of stain, so a little goes a long way, making this economical. Bonus: Since this is a water based stain, cleaning up any accidental drips was super easy. I just kept a spare sprayer of clear water and a clean rag on standby. I sprayed any drips/drops of stain with the water and wiped it off the concrete/stone, which effectively removed the stain. Also, any stain that was accidentally smeared on to my white vinyl trim simply wiped off without any residue. This stain is really pretty forgiving. I then applied a concrete water repellent to all of the patio stone. This is an important step, as the water based stain will wash away/fade without some sort of sealant. I chose an eco-friendly water based sealant that is not "glossy", so it provides excellent water repellent without adding any "slickness" to the texture. I applied the water repellent with an inexpensive, disposable hand sprayer (from my local "big box" store) which performed beautifully. The whole process only took a day. As far as durability and longevity, only time will tell. But I have to say I learned a lot through this process and I'm pleased with the results. Literally anyone can do this if you: 1) prep the concrete first (clean, scrub, remove any spilled paint, oil stains, etc.., 2) sweep and make a final pass with a leaf blower to ensure there are no leaves, dirt, etc..., and 3) take your time applying the stain and water proofing. In my case, I saved thousands of dollars

If you are trying to get crisp lines, it does bleed a bit. We were trying to mark edges in our steps so that people could see (bright white concrete in the sun - people were tripping) This helped mark the edge and seems to hold up well, but as a stain, the lines of the painters tape were not enough to keep crisp lines.

Floor did not change a bit of color and I applied twice

Looked for a sealant with stain but was coming up short. This is a two step process. The first being this stain. I was able to give a heavier application to the areas that had faded so this was super helpful. It is concentrated so read the directions. I added a bit more stain to get it a bit darker. Finished the job with a Valspar high gloss sealant for concrete. Look at the before and after. Saved lots of money as I got high quotes for the job.

This stuff works very well. Great results from this stain

Did not work, did not penetrate, will not buy again for a job wasted my money.

I didn’t need a whole lot of stain, only enough for 2 4x8’ concrete countertops. These little sample products were great! I used three different colors to get he desired effect, the used a sealer. I’m very pleased with this product.

Tinted a wide cement grout line with excellent results.