Rookie:
We're going through the same flooring issues. We have done both in our house, and have had it for 8 years. We have a dog Shep/Chow/Husky mix. The redo is because of the hurricane and flooding. The acid stain really got messed up - rather the wax job ontop of the stain. The stain is actually chipping in areas now. We had water throughout the house for about 24 hours. The epoxy peeled in one area because we painted over mastic and we really gouged it with the refrigerator.
Epoxy
This is an opaque product. We painted some bedrooms and the living room with Behr 2 part Epoxy paint. Ontop we used the 1 part Epoxy clear, which is waxy acrylic base. Apparently our Home Depot doesn't carry it anymore. Behr claims I should be able to order it, but I'm have laziness issues the the chic at the store.
I have seen some really cool epoxy coatings in Arizona with chips in them. Apparently they sell a bogus version of this at Lowes. My AZ buddy says not to bother with it because it will peel up. He was suppose to get back with me with contact info. This stuff is also opaque. It looks like terrazzo.
Acid Stain
Being a Texan you see plenty of this stuff around - Chilli's, Johnny Carrinos, malls. I first did it back in 1999. This was before the homeland security biohazard problems of shipping. I order a sampler color online from the Stamp Store. I liked the Red English and ordered 2 gallons. I did not use their sealer because at the time it was too expensive for me. I used the Behr's 1 part clear Epoxy.
The stuff at Lowes from quickrete looks the same. Basically you pour the concentrated acid stuff in a plastic 5 gallon bucket add water and use a string mop. Mop away - it make a noxious order so keep the windows open. There's a fizzing chemical reaction. I moped in circular motion for swirls. I threw down some baking soda and shop vaccumed and wet mopped. I made certain all the acid was up - think I let it sit a day (no reason) - and used a paint roller to apply the clear epoxy ontop.
Warning - the Behr epoxy clear coat -
1. I think I applied it with a nylon roller (can't remember).
2. Make certain that it shaken well or it will have a funky chemically reaction and mess up your acid.
3. When I used the epoxy with the home made acid stain, it turned a blue milky color which did go away within 1 week. The milkiness returned in the house after the flood - and the wax job is now ruined. It's dried and flaking off in spots.
Yes I even tried the homemade acid stain receipe from the internet. It did not turn out as well.
I'm attaching pictures of the floors after the hurricane. The before pictures are stored in an offsite location. We'll try to post them later.
Transitions
I never got around to installing transitions. No one ever tripped or commented. I have a picture from the white tile bathroom to the hallway and from another bathroom into the bedroom (tack strip pits not fixed).
Just do it! And let us know how it goes....