COLOR CONCRETE

With colored concrete, the creative options and color choices are endless, making it
possible to achieve the perfect look. Colored concrete can transform a room or patio
from plain to spectacular. Many manufacturers offer a broad palette of colors to choose
from, ranging from earth tones to vibrant hues.
Also, colored concrete can be used to simulate the look of brick, flagstone, pavers, or
tile. Not only is concrete coloring a beautiful design option, but it is also affordable and
compatible with both new and existing concrete. With the right products, techniques,
and a creative contractor you can produce results that will transform concrete into works
of art.
CONCRETE STAIN COLORS
Stains are a great way to add color to concrete both indoors and out. They are frequently
used on interior concrete flooring and outdoor patios and more to impart rich colors. Bob Harris
of the Decorative Concrete Institute describes stains as producing an organic look with a rich
patina and warm variegated color effects. Stains are best known for earthy colors, however in
recent years the palette has begun to expand.
Acid stains provide natural color and depth to concrete floors and other surfaces. Many
homeowners are attracted to the transparent, variegated finish that these stains impart. The
palette for acid stains is usually limited to earthy tones, such as tans, browns, terra cottas and
soft blue-greens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPSGQF_jaEU&ab_channel=KentEddington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8bThpcumjs&ab_channel=ConcreteStaining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSlzelQYEOU&ab_channel=DIYPETE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4kwm6DuTsU&ab_channel=ConcreteCoatings
INTEGRAL COLOR CONCRETE
One of the most popular methods for coloring newly placed concrete is integral coloring
admixtures. These admixtures infuse concrete with rich, long-lasting, fade-resistant color.
Stamped concrete contractors often use this coloring medium to produce a backdrop for
contrasting accent or antiquing colors, such as pigmented release agents and stains or dyes.
This layering of color is what enables them to so closely replicate the variegated, multi-tonal
appearance of natural stone
A concrete pigment is an iron oxide pigment used in integral concrete coloring. They can
come in either powder or liquid form. With integral coloring, there are a wide variety of concrete
color options available. Many manufacturers offer over 20 standard concrete color additives and
custom color matching services. Also, concrete pigments have a low likelihood of fading.
Since the introduction of the repulpable bag, which dissolves when tossed into the concrete
mix, using powdered integral coloring has never been easier. Ready Mix suppliers simply toss in
the entire bag of color, cutting down on work and mess.

ADVANTAGES OF INTEGRAL COLOR

With integrally colored concrete, the entire batch of concrete is colored all the way through,
similar to adding food coloring to cake icing. Integral colors are available in powdered, granular
and liquid forms. All types are generally a blend of synthetic or natural iron-oxide pigments that
are formulated to disperse evenly when mixed into fresh concrete, either at the ready-mix plant
or at the jobsite. The palette for integral pigments consists primarily of soft earth tones that
integrate well with most landscapes and architectural elements.

INTEGRAL COLOR LIMITATIONS

The main disadvantage of integral color is that the hues are subtle and less intense than what
you can achieve with color hardeners. Cost can be another drawback. Because you're coloring
the entire batch of concrete rather than just applying color to the surface, you may pay 10% to
30% more for integrally colored concrete than for plain concrete. But generally the cost for labor
won't be any higher, since integrally colored concrete is mixed and finished just like
conventional concrete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZRRim_Q8dI&t=24s&ab_channel=ConcreteNetwork
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8agUKkyaFE&ab_channel=Walttools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKvHGzY83E&ab_channel=OdellCompleteConcrete

Dry-Shake Color Hardener

CONCRETE COLOR HARDENER VS. INTEGRAL COLOR
Learn the differences between color hardener and integral pigments, plus how to apply
hardeners.
Dry-shake color hardeners come as a powder that is hand broadcast onto freshly placed
concrete and then worked into the surface with a float or trowel. Unlike integral pigments, which
color the entire concrete matrix, hardeners color only the top surface layer. Because the color is
concentrated at the surface, it tends to be more intense than integral color.
Most shake-on color hardeners are a blend of pigments, finely graded silica sand, wetting
agents, and portland cement. Coloring options come in a wider array of hues than integral
colors, including various shades of blue and green (see this page for color hardener suppliers).
As the name implies, they also densify the concrete surface because they contain hard mineral
aggregates and portland cement. The result is a surface that's stronger, more wear resistant,
and less permeable to moisture and deicing chemicals than standard concrete.
WHERE TO USE COLOR HARDENER
Decorative contractors often use dry shakes to color stamped concrete or concrete overlays
because the rich surface paste helps to produce sharper imprints. Hardeners also produce more
robust tones than possible with integral pigments and permit greater variability. For example,
contractors can apply one or more accent colors of hardener to achieve subtle tonal variations,
such as you would see in natural stone.
Because color hardeners improve the strength and density of the concrete surface, they are a
great choice for exterior slabs exposed to freeze-thaw cycles and deicing salts and for interior
floors exposed to heavy foot traffic and abrasion. However, on indoor projects, especially if the
concrete will be polished, concrete densifiers are a better choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwIxIffGE8s&ab_channel=MetalcreteIndustriesInc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__neYK8ineo&ab_channel=MyConcretExperience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aVS5-W3eEk&ab_channel=Concria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KBGcvGywA4&ab_channel=arsolutionswf

Concrete Dyes Color

WHAT IS CONCRETE DYE?
Concrete dyes are translucent, penetrating color solutions. Unlike acid-based stains, they do not
react chemically with concrete. Instead, they contain very fine coloring agents that penetrate
into the concrete surface.
Both water- and solvent-based dyes are available, with each type having unique qualities. Dyes
tend to produce tones that are more predictable and uniform than stains, but it's still possible to
achieve interesting color variations.
Dyes are popular for coloring concrete floors in both commercial and residential locations. Find
a concrete floor contractor near you that can help with your project.
CONCRETE DYE VS. STAIN
Dyes are nonreactive and impart color by penetrating concrete or other porous cementitious
surfaces. They are much smaller in particle size than chemical stains or acrylic stains, thus
allowing for easier penetration and color saturation while leaving less residue on the surface.
The small dye particles fill the pores of the concrete and are very hard to remove, making dyes
nearly as permanent as stains.
Dyes are available in water- or solvent-based formulations and produce looks ranging from
opaque to translucent, depending on their application. Water-based dyes produce more
marbling, while solvent-based dyes tend to be more uniform in color. Some water- and solvent-
based dyes can be combined to produce special color effects. Dyes are not UV stable, so they
are mostly recommended for indoor use.
Stains react chemically with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to impart color onto the
surface. Their semi-transparent colors are mostly limited to earth-tones, though some more
vibrant colors are available in water-based stains. Stains are UV stable, and can be used both
indoors and outdoors.
Les Davis, developer of BRICKFORM'S Pro-Dye Plus had this important comment about
concrete dyes: Translucent dyes penetrate the concrete drying in less than one minute in most
climates with minimal cleaning required following the application. Therefore, the applicator
completes the job about 60% faster than a typical acid stain due to reduced dry time and less
cleaning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LPWh59eRQks&ab_channel=DirectColorsDIYDecorativeConcrete
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnNI-HT4ehA&ab_channel=ConcreteNetwork

INTEGRAL COLOR VS DRY SHAKER COLOR HARDENER

Integral color
The market for integral has always been larger than for shake-on color. This is partly because a
portion of the integral color market is dedicated to nondecorative purposes, such as marking
buried power or plumbing lines.
Integral color is composed almost entirely of metallic oxide pigments that resist UV radiation.
Some manufacturers add water-reducing admixtures to their products, and liquid-dispensed
color includes additives to hold the color in suspension.
One major advantage of liquid-dispensed color is the large variety of colors instantly available.
Contractors can call a ready-mix producer and choose the color they want by its code number at
the same time they order the concrete for a job. In the past, it could take a month for
manufacturers to produce a special color and ship it to the contractor.
Integral colors provide very consistent color between truckloads of concrete, as long as all
the ingredients, including water, remain the same.
Shake-on color
Commonly referred to as dry shakes or color hardeners, shake-on colors are blends of portland
cement, silica sand, and the same metallic oxide pigments found in integral colors. Sometimes
they include water reducers to help them “wet out” better.
Shake-on color broadcast on fresh concrete can attain as much as 8000 psi. If you are using a
4000-psi concrete mix, shake-on color can add as much as 8000 psi to the surface. Strength
isn't the issue, however; it's the high durability of the finish and increased impermeability of the
surface.
Shake-on colors, unlike integral products, are not limited by the color of the portland cement,
pozzolans, admixtures, and the fine aggregate in the concrete. With shake-on color, you can
make the surface of the concrete a lighter shade than the base concrete.
https://www.concreteconstruction.net/products/decorative-concrete-surfaces/integral-or-shake-
on-color_o
CONCRETE DYE VS. STAIN: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?
Concrete dyes are the latest buzz in the decorative concrete community. Their ease of
use, extensive palette, and vibrancy of color (which can be more intense than chemical stains)
are creating a wave of popularity that is gaining momentum.
Buy Concrete Stains, or Concrete Dyes
 Unlike concrete stains, which react chemically with the calcium hydroxide in concrete, dyes
are nonreactive and impart color by penetrating concrete or other porous cementitious surfaces.
Dyes are much smaller in particle size than chemical stains or acrylic stains, thus allowing for
easier penetration and color saturation while leaving less residue on the surface. A good
analogy for comparing the color intensity and penetration of dyes to stains is that you can fit a
lot more marbles than bowling balls into the same size container. The small dye particles fill the
pores of the concrete and are very hard to remove, making dyes nearly as permanent as stains.
Because there is virtually no residue, minimal cleanup is required, greatly speeding the
application process.
Dyes are available in water- or solvent-based formulations and produce looks ranging from
monotone to translucent, depending on how they are applied. Water-based dyes typically
produce more marbling and variegation (similar to the look of a chemical stain), while solvent-
based dyes tend to be more monotone and uniform in color. Some manufacturers' water- and
solvent-based dyes can be combined to produce special color effects. The downside to dyes is
that they penetrate very fast, leaving little room for error during application. Also, they are not
UV stable, so most manufacturers recommend indoor use only.
I encourage you to try dyes and discover the unique effects you can achieve with this new
coloring technology.
To see how dyes and stains stack up against other options, check out this comparison chart
of concrete coloring products.
https://www.concretenetwork.com/fix-concrete-color/dyes-vs-stains.html
Concrete Stain Color Chart ( From Kemiko Concrete Products)

Integral Color ( Color Chart of Ready-Mix Pigments from Davis Colors)

Dry-Shake Color Hardener (Color Chart for Color Hardener from BRICKFORM)
Concrete Dyes Color (Chart for Solvent-Based Dye from DCI)