Coloring Concrete

Staining concrete is a very popular method for transforming standard gray concrete into decorative, attractive aesthetic concrete for homeowners and businesses. Often referred to as colored concrete, home and business owners are drawn to stained concrete because of the unique outcome achieved by combining application techniques and stain material on cement flooring and other substrates. The creativity and professional application of the various techniques employed are the only limitations for great results when it comes to stained concrete. At ACS, we use 3 different methods to create great results for our clients. Here's a quick review of how concrete stains work, and the benefits associated with the different processes.

Acid Stains

Acid stains contain phosphoric acid and or mild hydrochloric acid along with inorganic metallic salts. The acids work immediately to open pores in the concretes surface, and allow the salts to react with the chemicals in the concrete to produce the desired color. Depending on the age and porosity of your concrete, the salts are absorbed in varying degrees and produce different shades of the desired color. The finished concrete surface has a varied color that often looks similar to marble or natural stone. Since the exact chemical makeup of every concrete slab is different, no two floors ever come out exactly the same. This is appealing to many homeowners and business owners because it guarantees that every acid stained concrete floor is truly unique. After the floor is cleaned and stained, it needs to be washed with an ammonia solution to neutralize the chemical reaction and remove any acid residue. Once the floor has been cleaned, it may then sealed with a professional grade concrete sealer.

Water Based and Acetone Based (Dye) Stains

Dye stains are much more uniform and predictable in their results. Dye stains also don't rely on a chemical reaction to create the desired color. Instead, they are designed to deposit their pigment particles in the open pores by penetrating the cement surface. Dye stains have increased in popularity over the past few years mainly because they come in a much wider variety of colors than acid stains and they are easier and safer to apply. Concrete floors stained with non-reactive dye stains don't have as much of the varied, translucent coloring effect associated with acid stained floors. Dye stained floors are generally more opaque and much more uniform in color. These stains however are not fully UV stable and therefore cannot be used outdoors

Integral Color

Integral coloring admixtures are typically a blend of synthetic iron oxide pigments and surfactants that are mixed thoroughly into fresh concrete before placement to achieve uniform consistent color all the way through the slab. Integral colors are available in powdered, granular, or liquid forms. ACS generally uses integral color when a client wants new concrete placed outside and wants it to have a decorative look. Integrally colored concrete is the most durable out of all the coloring options because it is placed all the way through the slab so it can’t chip or wear off.