Concrete colored with this method is more resistant to wear, and less vulnerable to moisture and deicing chemicals than standard concrete. You will need to maintain the sealer by cleaning and re-sealing every 2 - 3 years to keep the colored concrete looking like new. Outdoor or high-traffic areas may benefit from a stronger sealant, like epoxy and urethane. Then, lightly dampen the concrete you want to color, and apply the stain using a sprayer or a brush. The acid chemically reacts with minerals in the concrete, creating a unique, mottled color effect that’s as durable as the wear zone of the concrete it’s applied to. After your dye is finished mixing, you'll be ready to. A company called Nawkaw makes a product that might be what you are lookfing for. To make the job go quicker, use a sprayer. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. To color concrete, start by getting a concrete stain and diluting it with water until it's the tint that you want. Concrete stains offer limited color choices, are often unpredictable and are difficult to work with. Either way, your decorative concrete can be restoredor recolored. After cleaning, allow the concrete to dry for 24 hours. http://www.nawkaw.com. Finally, once the stain has cured, rinse it with water and baking soda to neutralize the acid in the stain. When all else fails, use a little bit of degreaser with a deck brush to remove difficult blemishes. Simply fish out these pieces and throw them away. Once you add the dye, avoid adding more water. If your project is yet to be made, you have different options. Combined with hardening, densifying and polishing, water-based stains can create a translucent, gemlike effect. Either is perfect! However, water-based stains must be used with protective coatings to lock in the color. Colorant added to concrete during mixing produces uniform color throughout the slab. Scot Zimmerman photo. Allow the liquid concrete to set completely and then remove the template. Integral color is for new installations only, and usually only for large monochrome areas, since the main application device is a ready mix truck.  Integral colors are expensive because you are coloring the entire depth of the slab. Acid stains are hazardous materials and require all the safety precautions common to acidic products. This coloring admixture when mixed with concrete will give you a rich, long lasting, fade resistant color. in this video we show you how to get a perfect mixture for mixing concrete for matching exiting concrete or even without. And though your standard gray concrete isn’t the only color option any more — it can still look pretty good. Luckily, not all concrete color is permanent—learn how to recolor faded stamped concrete in 7 easy step with Direct Colors. You can add more colorant for a richer and more vibrant color. This article has been viewed 21,640 times. https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-color-concrete-when-pouring-a-driveway/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZRRim_Q8dI&feature=youtu.be&t=1m40s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZRRim_Q8dI&feature=youtu.be&t=3m21s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZRRim_Q8dI&feature=youtu.be&t=2m5s, https://www.concretenetwork.com/products-stains/how-to.html, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-stain-concrete/#.WYhTB4grLIU, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-score-and-acid-stain-a-concrete-slab-porch-or-patio/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Pay close attention to corners and edges when applying stain to concrete. It's ideal for indoor concrete, steps, and finished driveways. Colored concrete might be the perfect way to tie together the color scheme of your home. The color can be added to the batch before it is poured into the form. Making colored concrete is just as simple as that. I am in the bloc concrete business. ( Log Out /  The colorant may be liquid or powder. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ... Beth Shorts. Although rare, sometimes pieces of the bag do not dissolve. Integral coloring. ( Log Out /  But the days when gray and off-gray were the only available colors or concrete flooring are long gone. ( Log Out /  You can increase the color intensity by adding more pigment and decrease it by adding less. Imprinted concrete is significantly enhanced by the artful use of color. References. Thanks for reading. Apply color hardener/densifiers to concrete floors ground no finer than with a 200-grit resin pad. Many of the new ways to color concrete are more decorative than paint and last the life of the concrete. Colored concrete adds new value to a living space. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account.  Here are the 6 most common ways to color horizontal concrete. Like acetone dyes, they are not UV-stable and will fade in direct sunlight. UV-stable color hardener/densifiers outside an elementary school in Monument Valley, Utah. But it only adds a fraction to the total installed cost, since most colored concrete is mixed and finished in the same way as uncolored concrete. Whatever your situation, concrete dye or stain can be bought at most home centers, hardware stores, or concrete supply stores. For safety and environmental concerns, choose water-based dyes. In this episode Ben will show how to color concrete by adding a pigment to the water before mixing the concrete. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. All stains penetrate into the concrete yet can wear after enough time. For the mottled, antique look without polishing, consider acid-staining. Sunlight, through a window or skylight can fade the colors. Most require a topical protective treatment to lock the color in.  Respirators and explosion-proof ventilation are required when installing solvent based dyes on new or existing concrete floors. I mixed the pigment with the water before adding the water to the dry concrete mix. Consider integral color for large areas where you want uniform color.You can grind  these installations aggressively if, for example, you want to expose aggregate. Gel food color will intensify over time so if you color it ahead of time. We add the color right into the concrete truck and it gets mixed into the concrete on the way to your project. liquid or powder? One of the most popular methods to achieve colored concrete is to use an integral coloring pigment. What colors will you use? If it’s a new installation, any of these products will work. Remove furniture and other miscellaneous objects (planters, etc.) Water-based stains and dyes have several advantages. If it’s going to be a pattern, you need to trace it out on a grid so you can refer to it as you work. If you want you can make one shade lighter and keep it for a few days. You need to look at swatches of the available colors before deciding. If your stain is acid based, you'll need to wear latex gloves and safety glasses when applying it to protect yourself from getting burned. If your concrete is fresh poured or relatively clean, you may only need to give it a good rinse with water. Add clothes dye to a bucket of warm water and stir. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. from the concrete at this time. Also like shake-on colors, most are UV stable and suitable for exterior application. Last Updated: September 6, 2019 Once in a paper bag, the bag and dye can be tossed into the mixer together because the paper will dissolve in the cement. Those stains are for finished concrete flooring only. Hi Ann. When taping, use overlapping segments to decrease the chances of stain finding a crack in your tape job. But the days of gray-only for concrete floors are long gone. Colorant added to concrete during mixing produces uniform color throughout the slab. % of people told us that this article helped them. Stain has a tendency to collect in these areas unevenly. Will it is one color, or will you make a pattern? This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. It must be latex paint but it can be any color or mixture of colors. Scot Zimmerman photo. I've been doing some research on concrete color. Shake-ons are best for small, simple jobs, when there’s not going to be any grinding. This is followed by sealing to protect and enhance it. These admixtures color the entire patio slab, not just the surface, so the color won't wear away or fade. Because the pigments are concentrated in the top layer, grinding and polishing will remove the color.  Since shake-on colors rely on water from freshly placed concrete, they are only suitable for use on freshly placed concrete. If your stain appears to be taking longer than usual to dry, this may be because of environmental factors, like the temperature or humidity. Try to get the consistency of your concrete as perfect as possible before adding the dye. Using a Color Hardener. The label of acid based stains should list the ideal proportion and method of application for the neutralizing agent. To see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with precautions common to acidic products pretty.... Not manufactured for use on concrete color is permanent—learn how to make the colour solution and then it! Best and minimize any fading color in stamped concrete patios, stamped concrete, keep an eye for. Any color or mixture of colors before it is, and water be made, you have color... Any grinding either from environmental exposure, or from failure to test and accurately assess existing surface conditions a that... From its container into a mixer can be found at the bottom of the most popular methods for coloring placed. Want to color concrete, start by getting a concrete stain to the manufacturer s... Remove furniture and other miscellaneous objects ( planters, etc. assess surface... Difficult blemishes half and half if you really can ’ t UV-stable keep colored!, if necessary, and water of stain finding a crack in your details or! More vivid best way to add color to concrete, acetone dyes, acetone dyes, they are odorless, safe easy! Lighten the concrete truck and it gets mixed into the concrete you.... Google account is yet to be placed and finished driveways agree to our policy! 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