Online Forums & Resources:

Decorative Concrete Forums:  This is primarily a contractor resource, but it's closely moderated to keep it user friendly for homeowners. There are lots of repeat questions about acid staining so please check the archives before posting! The site has a number of forums for different decorative concrete floor applications, including acid stained concrete and concrete overlays.

Gaye Goodman:  This forum has a good mix of contractors and homeowners, but it is not well suited for basic questions, for which you may be advised to take Gaye's seminar or buy her video.  There aren't many regular users these days, as the site has been down for extended periods of time. But if you can be patient, this is the best place for advice about specific aspects of acid staining.

Stained Concrete Chicago - This is a great resource with to the point ideas, tips, and information about completing successful stained concrete projects in the Detroit & Chicago areas whether they be do-it-yourself projects or projects for hire.  This web site also includes helpful inside information about optimizing new concrete for staining. Find it here also:  Concrete Stain Chicago .

Trade Magazines & Resources:

Concrete Decor: A very attractive & professional monthly magazine that covers a broad range of decorative concrete issues and applications and contains lots of pertinent advertising. It is the leading industry trade magazine for the latest  information and trends in acid-stained concrete floors, stained concrete overlays, and other types of decorative concrete.

Michigan Concrete Association: An industry association established in 1952 that consists of ready mix concrete producers and suppliers, and has nearly 200 members today.  Their web site is an educational resource for consumers and concrete professionals that includes: concrete care tips; a concrete supplier membership directory; association certification programs; state legislative decisions that affect concrete and construction; and upcoming industry events.

Polyurea Development Association:  A trade association formed in 2000 by leading polyurea coatings  manufacturers to promote market awareness, development, technical knowhow, and the expansion & distribution of polyurea technology through educational programs, product standards, safety guidelines, and environmental use recommendations.

Coatings Pro:  This is a monthly magazine that focuses on commercial and industrial coatings technologies .  In addition to good technical information, it examines recent projects completed with these technologies.  It includes good advertising from most of the leading manufacturers of coatings and surface prep equipment, and also examines business issues facing coatings contractors. 

Concrete Contractor: This is a growing magazine issued monthly that touches on a range of issues involved in running a successful concrete contractor business, including in-depth coverage of acid-stained concrete and other decorative concrete flooring issues, as well as business-related issues, like marketing techniques.  It also contains great advertising information about new products.

Concrete Construction: An extremely informative monthly magazine about concrete in general, it regularly includes an educational section on decorative concrete issues, such as concrete staining and sealers for stained concrete floors.  It also covers common application problems and troubleshoots issues that readers submit.

Journal of Architectural Coatings:  Also a bimonthly magazine, it covers new and eco-friendly coating technologies for beautifying architectural surfaces, including acid stained concrete, concrete overlays, and other types of decorative concrete floors.

Jobsite Concrete:  A relatively concise monthly publication containing exclusively advertising about concrete surface prep, repair, and coatings.  It's a great resource for contractors because it doesn't take long to go through, and it doesn't miss much in terms of new products and technologies on the market.