Want Coloured Concrete? Try These Different Methods
Concrete is an excellent material not just for your driveway or patio, but also for a sunroom or inside your home with the flooring and countertops. The problem is that the off-white natural colour of concrete isn't that fun to have inside your home. A better option is to colour it, which allows you to control the overall appearance and really make it your own. Here are some different methods to use for getting coloured concrete.
Stain
One of the more popular methods for colouring concrete is to stain it. You can use this for any type of concrete, whether it is going to be used inside or outside your home. Staining is done with acid stain, so you want to use this method if you are going for more of an earthy tone. This would be in a range of browns, tans, blues, and greens. It is perfect for your indoor concrete floors when you want them to blend in well with your home's décor, but get away from that natural concrete colour.
Pigments
You can also add colour to your concrete by adding pigments of colour. These pigments are made up of ground particles of colour that are added to the concrete during the mixing process. You will need to control the shade of colour based on how much concrete is being mixed, so generally a professional should be in charge of this. Pigments are great when you want to choose from a wider variety of colours than what staining offers you. You can still go with the earthy tones or go for other colours like orange, yellow, red, purple, and even black for a modern look.
Dyes
Concrete can be dyed with either acetone dyes or water-based dyes. Acetone dyes offer a lot of colour options and dry quickly, but there is also the risk of using flammable solvents with this method. You should not attempt to use an acetone dye on your own. For a DIY concrete dying project, water-based dyes are a better option. These are safe for you to use, tend to be easier to manage, and don't have any weird odours. They also dry quickly and have a lot of different patterns you can create.
Hardeners
Color hardeners can be added to the concrete after it has already been installed, so this is good when you are changing your mind about the overall look. They have a large colour selection and can also benefit you by making your concrete flooring a little more durable.