Stained and Colored Concrete in Garland, TX
Garland Elite Concrete installs stained and colored concrete in Garland, Texas, for patios, walkways, driveways and interior floors, using acid stains, water-based stains or integral color mixed into the batch. A true acid stain is translucent: it soaks into the surface and leaves no film or coating.
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Acid and water-based concrete stains
How acid stains work
Most acid stains are a mix of water, hydrochloric acid and acid-soluble metallic salts. They soak into the surface and react chemically with the hydrated lime in the concrete, and they mostly come in subtle earth tones: tans, browns, terra cottas and soft blue-greens. Concrete is also a natural material, subject to mottling and color variation whether it is colored or not.
Water-based stains
Water-based stains, typically a blend of acrylic polymers and pigments, also soak in and give permanent color, but with no chemical reaction the color is more consistent. Most makers offer dozens of standard colors, including black, white and metallic tints. They need no neutralizing, and most are low in VOCs (solvent fumes).
Outside the city, Garland Elite Concrete also handles stained and decorative concrete in Highland Park.
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(945) 441-5958Colored and decorative concrete finishes
Integral color
Integral color is added to the fresh concrete at the batch plant or on site and colors the entire slab. Its range of shades is usually limited to earth tones and pastels.
Color hardener and stamped patterns
Color hardener is broadcast by hand onto the fresh surface, so its color is more intense than integral color, and it strengthens and densifies the top of the slab. For pattern as well as color, stamped concrete pairs color hardener with a release agent; about 70% to 80% of the release washes away, and what stays gives the darker accent in the texture.
Stained and dyed floors indoors
Interior stained floors are best protected with a good floor wax rather than an exterior sealer, and an interior concrete floor can last indefinitely when properly installed and sealed. Color can also be combined with polished concrete, where dyeing typically adds $1 to $3 per square foot.
- Control joint at least ¼ of the slab depth, 1 in. minimum (National Ready Mixed Concrete Association)
- Clear sealer over the stain outdoors; floor wax indoors
- Acid stain reacts with lime at the surface; integral color runs through the whole slab
- Subbase and base at least 4 in. in total
- Houston Black clay, high shrink-swell (USDA)
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(945) 441-5958How concrete staining is done
General practice, following Brickform's acid-stain data sheet and the American Society of Concrete Contractors; your estimate covers your slab.
Let new concrete cure
In warm, dry conditions especially, 10 days to 2 weeks of curing is typically enough before staining.
Open the surface
Stain simply washes away if the pores of the concrete are not opened first so it can penetrate. Brickform adds that dense, power-troweled slabs may need profiling.
Apply the stain
Brickform says to apply its acid stain when the air is between 50°F and 90°F, and that a gallon covers about 200 to 300 square feet.
Neutralize and rinse
Acid stain must be neutralized with water and baking soda, TSP or ammonia, then rinsed thoroughly. Brickform warns that leftover residue causes sealer adhesion and durability problems. Water-based stains skip this step.
Seal
Outdoor stained concrete gets a clear sealer. The American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) says not to seal when rain or condensation is expected within 12 hours.
Staining in Garland summers
July and August normal highs at DFW Airport, 95.6°F and 95.8°F over 1991-2020, run above the 90°F top of Brickform's application range. The ASCC sets the same ceiling for water-based sealers, which go on only when air and concrete are 45°F and rising but not above 90°F. We'll talk through timing for your job.
Clay soil and cracked slabs
Houston Black clay is the most common soil mapped inside Garland's city limits, and the Soil Science Society of America says construction on it is often plagued by cracking from its shrinking and swelling. On a worn surface, concrete resurfacing puts down a new overlay that can then be stained, though an overlay will not last long over concrete that is already damaged, cracked or shifting.
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(945) 441-5958Stained concrete cost
In 2026 Dallas-area figures, a stained concrete patio runs $8 to $25 per square foot, against $6 to $13 for a broom finish. For staining concrete that is already there, 2026 national figures give $3 to $15 per square foot including labor, with sealing, typically included with staining, at $1 to $3 per square foot.
These are published averages, not prices from Garland Elite Concrete. Your estimate is free and based on your slab.
- Single color and sealer
- $3–$5
- Two colors and sealer
- $5–$10
- Multiple colors and patterns
- $10–$15
- Complex stencil or scoring designs
- $15–$25
National averages, 2026. Not a quote.
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(945) 441-5958Stained concrete questions
Is staining concrete a good idea?
On sound concrete it can be. On properly prepared concrete, the color will not fade, chip or peel away. The limits are in the slab itself: Brickform warns that its acid stain will not hide existing discoloration, blemishes, cracks or other surface problems.
How long does staining concrete last?
The color is permanent; what wears is the sealer on top. A common guideline is to seal stained concrete every 1 to 3 years. The ASCC's rule of thumb is new sealer every 2-3 years for high-traffic, sun-exposed areas and every 4-5 years for lighter-traffic and interior areas, and a fresh coat of stain every 10+ years can keep a patio looking new.
Can you stain old concrete?
Yes. Nationally, a basic or intermediate stain on an existing concrete patio runs $3 to $10 per square foot, and a stained garage floor $5 to $25 per square foot. One caution: any patched or repaired area will stain a different color from the rest of the slab.
Does colored concrete cost more than plain concrete?
Integral color raises the price of the concrete itself: nationally, adding color costs $31 to $170 per cubic yard. Most high-quality pigments reach full color at about 5 or 6 pounds per sack of cement, well within the ASTM standard's 10 percent limit.
How soon can you walk on stained concrete?
Brickform's acid-stain sheet says an exterior job on a sunny, warm day may be ready for sealer in a couple of hours, while a cool basement may take as long as 24 hours. Once the surface is sealed, it says to keep foot traffic off for 24 hours and vehicles off for 5 days.
Free estimates for stained and colored concrete
Garland Elite Concrete answers calls and estimate requests 24/7 for stained, colored and decorative concrete in Garland and nearby towns. Tell us what the surface is now and the color you have in mind.