Acid stain Acid stain is the oldest option when it comes to finishing concrete and is very durable. In fact, an acid stain is so durable that it is the most-often recommended concrete staining option for concrete that is outdoors because it can survive the harmful rays of the sun. Water-based stains A water-based stain will be able to provide you with the exact color finish you are looking for with your concrete. This type of stain is perfect for companies that want to have their logo with different colors in it added to the concrete floor. Even though these stains are right for the job, they should not be applied to concrete that is outside. Concrete dye Concrete dye is most often used to tint a polished concrete slab. These dyes are not safe from the UV rays of the sun, which means they cannot be used on concrete outdoors. When using a concrete dye you should install it with a high-quality concrete sealer so that it does not fade in areas with a lot of foot or vehicle traffic.