Concrete Dyes Enhancing The Natural Beauty Of Concrete

For many admirers of decorative concrete, the combination of chemical stains and concrete dyes is a perfect synergy. When applied to prepared concrete, polished concrete or overlays, concrete dyes will provide intense, translucent color effects, similar to stains, without creating a film or coating that can be worn away. These underrated dyes can achieve vibrant color tones simply not achievable with stains alone. They can also be easily mixed at the jobsite or dilute to obtain a multitude of other shades.

Maintenance of Concrete Dyes

Maintenance will depend on a number of factors such as volume and intensity of traffic, light exposure, geographic location and weather conditions. For instance,  commercial and municipal projects, requires more cleaning and maintenance than residential applications. In large interior commercial applications, an experienced floor maintenance contractor is recommended for routine cleaning.

The most amazing thing with dyes is that one can mix them at the jobsite to obtain the desired colors. Dyes are often used with polished concrete, but they can also be used as a base color or touch up for concrete that has received integral color, dry shake hardeners, acid stains or even as an overlay to itself. But, prior to starting your project, always apply the dye to a sample area at the actual site in order to confirm that the floor is receptive to the dye, and to establish the desired color. Some concrete contractors  sell small sample sizes of their products or test kits with samples of every color in their line to ensure the color and aesthetics are exactly what you are aiming for.

Unlike, acid-based stains, these dyes do not react chemically with concrete. Instead they contain very powerful and fine coloring agents that penetrate into the surface of the concrete.

Applications: One must know how to apply the dye in a consistent and overlapping circular motion. One must hold the wand approximately 12 inches above the surface. Following the initial dye application, wait for less than 5 minutes and wipe an area with a dry clean cloth to establish color acceptability. Should you require an  additional dye application to achieve the desired color, you may go for the second application. Once the first application is set dry, multiple light applications are recommended, instead of one big one. The floor will accept only a set amount of dye per application, and the excess will remain as residue that should be carefully removed.

Limitations: Like many chemical stains, dyes do have some sort of transparency attached to it. They will not disguise imperfections in an existing surface or hide an underlying color. If you are intending to use a dye for an external project, be sure to check its suitability for outdoor projects.

The amazing transformation of dyes will be well worth the investment. Many dyes also take well to polishing, and some are specifically formulated to impart vibrant rich color to polished concrete floors. As long as you are diligent about ongoing maintenance and do not permit the floor finish to wear down to the sealer, dyed and stained concrete surfaces will last indefinitely.