Discolored stoop update and new question

Hello again! I’m back with a new question about my rebuilt stoop that is (still) made up of several unmatched colors, none of which are what we agreed with the contractor. The stucco is finished but we’re still waiting for the acid wash. In the meantime, I followed up on a rec from my last post and contacted Eagle concrete stains – they were very helpful and recommended 2 products : 1). an acid stain, which would be used instead of the contractor’s acid wash. It would leave the finish somewhat mottled and would require use of a penetrating sealer afterward; OR 2). a solid color sealer stain, which is basically a tinted concrete sealer.

We’ve tested both on a small sample and the colors are good (tho I’m not sure if the “mottling” of the acid stain will look as good on a large surface). So all things equal, I prefer the solid color, but I’m hesitant about using a sealer product.

I know there is a lot of debate re: whether or not masonry should be sealed – our stoop had been painted before we had it rebuilt, and I was told the paint was what caused all the deteriorat ion – water getting in thru hairline cracks and then having nowhere to go, etc. So I was hopeful that this new stucco would solve that problem, and I worry that putting a sealer on it already might just put us back in the same place we were before.

On the other hand, though, the guy at Eagle said these sealers are specifically made for concrete and the whole purpose of them is to protect concrete from water damage. Given that we already have pretty severe water stains in the new stucco, I tend to think we might be better off adding a sealer. Also, even the acid stain would require a sealer, though it’s a “penetrating sealer” that the rep said actually goes inside the concrete (rather than sitting on the surface as the solid color sealer would) and stops the concrete from absorbing the water.

The stoop contractor wants his $$ and is calling every day to come and finish up, but I want to figure out our next steps before we let him do that. Any thoughts on the above? Do we risk it and go with the solid color sealer, which we know will look lovely, or are we just opening a new can of worms?

Thanks in advance! 🙂