Concrete staining adds color to bare or polished concrete without the thickness or failure modes of a coating. Acid stains react chemically with the concrete to create warm, mottled, variegated tones that no two floors share. Water-based stains penetrate the surface for more consistent color in a wider range of shades. Either way, the color is in the concrete — it won't peel, chip, or wear off the way paint and coatings can. We stain concrete for patios, sunrooms, living rooms with exposed slabs, retail spaces, and commercial floors across Memphis.
When You Need Concrete Staining
Staining is the right call when you want color without a coating. Patios, pool decks, sunrooms, and screened porches benefit from staining because the outdoor conditions that eat coatings don't affect stained concrete. Interior spaces with exposed slabs — lofts, modern homes, open-concept designs — look great stained, especially with a sealer topcoat for wear protection. Commercial spaces that want character and warmth instead of clinical white or gray floors use staining in retail, restaurant dining areas, and office buildouts. Stained concrete is a good fit when the existing concrete has some age and character — the stain highlights texture variations, small cracks, and the natural patterns in the slab, turning imperfections into features. Not the right choice if the concrete has major damage that needs to be covered, or if you need a seamless finish.
Our Concrete Staining Options
Acid stains are the traditional option — chemical stains that react with calcium in the concrete to create warm, mottled tones in a limited palette (browns, reds, greens, blacks). Every acid stain is unique because the reaction depends on the concrete's composition, age, and surface condition. Results are organic and earthy. Water-based stains (sometimes called acrylic or penetrating stains) offer wider color ranges — you can get blues, grays, custom colors, and lighter tones that acid stains can't produce. Results are more consistent and predictable. We can also combine stains and polishing for stained polished concrete, which gives you color plus a polished finish in one system. Any stained floor needs a sealer over the top to protect it from wear — either a topical sealer for matte/satin looks or a clear coating for higher gloss and durability.
Concrete Staining Cost in Memphis
Concrete staining in Memphis runs $3 to $8 per square foot depending on stain type, color complexity, prep needs, and sealer. A basic acid-stained patio with a simple color lands at the low end; an interior stained polished floor with multiple colors and a high-gloss sealer is at the top. Typical patio staining of 400 square feet runs $1,400 to $2,800 fully finished. Free on-site quotes with fixed pricing including prep, stain, and sealer.
Why Choose Us
Staining is unpredictable if you don't understand how the chemistry works — acid stains in particular produce different results on different slabs, and bad technique gives you blotchy floors. We've been staining Memphis concrete long enough to predict results and plan for slab variation. We use manufacturer-recommended, professional-grade stains and sealers, free quotes, and fixed pricing.
See all our concrete services at Concrete Services.