Beside the Stream

Bob stained the concrete porch.  It was a lot of work. 

We started Monday evening at 5:30.  First we moved the furniture from the porch,  we swept it,

and then we scrubbed it with water.   At that point, I thought we had done a good amount of work and should do the next step tomorrow, so I made a nice chicken curry while Bob sprayed the concrete with acid, scrubbed it up and rinsed it down.   There can’t be any humans or dogs on the concrete until the process is completed, so I explain the new rules to the dog–not a single pawprint please. 

The next morning the concrete is glaringly clean. 

The stain is based on a chemical reaction that varies depending on the amount of limestone in the concrete.  You know sort of what color it’s going to be, but the exact shade depends on the concrete itself.  Bob sprays the stain on the concrete and lets it react for eight hours. 

Here is the stain when it has fully reacted,

and here it is after a light scrub and wash.  It is a horrible shade, don’t you think?  But have faith.  Bob rolls on a sealer, the floor turns a mottled mahogany and is done… except that the finish needs 48 hours to cure before we walk on it.

Once concrete is stained and sealed, you never have to touch it again.  It’s dead easy to clean. And it’s gorgeous.   

And (in case you didn’t notice) Jessie would like full credit for not putting a paw on the porch for the whole three days, which (she’d like to remind everyone) is a long time for an old dog to remember.  For the record.