Cultured stone is available in a broad range of styles and is used everywhere from around fireplaces to sauna interiors. Made primarily of concrete, the color of outdated cultured stone is alterable, using stains designed for concrete or masonry.
Things You Will Need
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Strip any sealer from the concrete to be re-colored. Lay a thick coat of low-toxicity, gel stripper, such as soy or citrus stripper, on all surfaces of the cultured stone, using a paintbrush. Use a sprayer for larger jobs. Allow the stripper to sit for several hours, then gently brush away the residue, using a wet broom, paintbrush, or scrub brush.
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Use a wet vacuum to remove the remaining residue while also washing and rinsing the cultured stone with fresh water.
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Etch the cultured stone if it has an extremely smooth surface or does not seem to absorb water very well. Coat all surfaces with a biodegradable concrete etching solution. Allow the etching solution to sit for a half-hour, then scrub the cultured stone with a scrub brush. Wash with neutralizing concrete cleaner to neutralize the etching solution.
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Vacuum the residue using the wet vacuum. Allow the cultured stone to fully dry.
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Open the can of concrete stain and stir thoroughly. Apply the stain to all surfaces you want to re-color, using a paintbrush. Use a sprayer for larger projects. Keep the painting area edge wet at all times while working to prevent lap marks from forming.
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Allow the stain to dry for approximately an hour and apply a second coat if the stain job appears blotchy or if the color is not rich enough.
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Paint the dry cultured stones with a new coat of concrete sealer.
The Drip Cap
- Cobblestone sidewalks, fieldstone walls and stacked slate hearths.
- Made primarily of concrete, the color of outdated cultured stone is alterable, using stains designed for concrete or masonry.
- Use a sprayer for larger jobs.
- Paint the dry cultured stones with a new coat of concrete sealer.