CONCRETE DYE - CHANGING THE COLOR OF CONCRETE

Colored Dyes For Concrete

Concrete acid stains usually receive much more attention for the way they can transform a concrete floor. A concrete dye can achieve vibrant tones like blue, yellow, and purple simply not possible with an acid stain.

The nice thing about concrete coloring dye is you can mix them right at the jobsite to obtain the desired color. When used together with acid stains, a wide range of colors and layering are possible, producing some very special effects.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE - DYE OR STAIN

A dye is used as a coloring agent, usually in concentrated form, that is diluted in water or a solvent to get the desired shade of color. The dye can be mixed on site, by itself or together with other colors.

The solvent, or water carrier, penetrates the concrete taking the dye with it, the final color effect is transparent so the concrete is still visible.

The dye is applied with a pump up sprayer, airless sprayer, sponge or brush depending on the desired effect and size of the area being covered.

Acid based concrete stains color the concrete very differently. The acid catalyzes a chemical reaction with the lime in the concrete, creating a variegated, mottled effect. The pigments in the stain release color. The color palette of acid stains is somewhat limited, they tend to mimic colors that occur naturally in stone.

One of the great things about dyes is they penetrate the concrete and dry very quickly. There is minimal cleanup after application so the job can be completed about 50% faster than the typical acid stain job. If you protect the surface with a concrete sealer or wax, you get a terrific looking very low maintenance floor that will last for years.

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