Homeowners love the mottled, rich tones of acid-stained concrete patios, basements, and living rooms. Yet the question we hear most at CountBricks is simple: “What does concrete acid stain cost?” This guide breaks down every factor so you can budget with confidence and generate a precise estimate in seconds using CountBricks voice AI.
National residential average: $3.50 – $8.00 per square foot when installed by a professional. DIY kits can drop material cost to as low as $0.50 per square foot, but labor, surface prep, and sealer still add up.
• Surface condition: Cracks or coatings that need grinding will add $1 – $3 per sq. ft.
• Color complexity: Multiple colors or intricate borders add 10% – 20% to material totals.
• Square footage: Projects under 300 sq. ft. often carry a minimum charge from contractors.
• Sealer choice: High-gloss urethane sealers protect better but cost up to $0.75 more per sq. ft.
1. Acid stain concentrate: $0.30 – $0.45 per sq. ft.
2. Neutralizer and rinse: $0.05 per sq. ft.
3. Sealer and wax: $0.40 – $1.00 per sq. ft.
Skilled applicators charge $2.00 – $4.00 per sq. ft. depending on prep, masking, and pattern work. With CountBricks.com/services, crews log time in real-time, keeping your client fully transparent on every hour worked.
Residential specialty finishes usually include 10% – 15% overhead. CountBricks users can set default mark-ups by trade, so your final quote automatically captures profit without manual math.
1. Open the app and start a voice session.
2. Say, “200 square feet acid stain, surface has minor cracks, two colors.”
3. CountBricks pulls local material prices, applies region-specific labor rates, and outputs a line-item estimate in seconds.
4. One tap produces a branded PDF for the homeowner.
• Choose a single stain color; use saw cuts for design without extra dye.
• Prep floors yourself—degreasing and light sanding can shave $1 per sq. ft.
• Schedule staining at new-build stage before trim installation to reduce masking time.
• Seal with a high-build acrylic instead of urethane for interior spaces.
• Use CountBricks takeoff tools to avoid ordering 20% extra stain “just in case.”
The homeowner requested deep walnut hues with a satin finish. CountBricks AI estimated $2,475 all-in. Final invoice closed at $2,430, a 98% accuracy rate. The client loved the transparency, and the contractor loved not spending a Saturday crunching numbers.
• Real-time material pricing sourced from major suppliers
• Automatic tax and waste calculations built into every line item
• AI blueprint takeoffs slash manual plan reading time by 70%
• Branded quote documents ready in under three minutes
Does indoor vs. outdoor change pricing? Outdoor slabs need UV-stable sealers, adding about $0.30 per sq. ft.
Can I stain old concrete? Yes, but heavy cleaning or micro-topping may be required, so budget extra prep dollars.
Ready to see exact numbers for your next project? Visit CountBricks.com/consultation, upload your blueprint, or chat live in the app. In minutes, you’ll know your true concrete acid stain cost—no guesswork, no spreadsheets.
Residential specialty finishes often carry slimmer margins than structural work, so controlling every penny counts. Here’s how savvy contractors leverage CountBricks to maximize profit without inflating the client’s concrete acid stain cost.
• CountBricks applies formula-based waste factors for stain, sealer, and cleaning supplies. No more blanket 10% allowances that eat into your margin.
• Labor inputs pull from your saved crew rates, updating quarterly. When wage increases hit, your estimates adjust automatically, keeping profitability intact.
• When a homeowner requests an extra color swirl mid-project, dictate the change in the app. CountBricks generates a standalone cost line, captures digital approval, and updates the invoice instantly.
Clients buy finishes with their eyes. Attach photos of past CountBricks acid-stain projects from your portfolio directly into the quote. Higher close rates, zero extra design time.
• Material costs move fast. CountBricks’ supplier API flags any 5%+ price change between quote and purchase order, allowing you to send a timely adjustment instead of absorbing the hit.
Concrete acid staining transforms dull slabs into showpieces, but profitability rides on precision. With CountBricks, you control every variable—from live material pricing to automated change orders—ensuring each stained floor shines on your balance sheet as brightly as it does in the homeowner’s foyer.
