Concrete Dye is Flexible and Gives You OptionsConcrete dye is a penetrating color solution that does not react chemically with concrete, but rather contains fine coloring agents - smaller particles than in stains - that penetrate the surface of the concrete. The tools and materials you'll need to dye concrete include: * Concrete cleaner * Concrete dye * Bucket * Water, alcohol, or acetone * Pump sprayer, paintbrush, sponge, or airbrush * Gloves * Eye protection Water based dyes and solvent based dyes are available, and each has unique qualities. The water based dyes tend to produce soft pastels, while saturated blues, yellows, reds, greens, oranges, and purples are made with solvent based concrete dyes. Please note that water based dyes tend to produce more of a variegated or marbling effect, while solvent based dyes are more uniform in color. Dyes come in concentrated form, which allows some flexibility in the end result. Used full strength, they can achieve greater depth of color. Diluted, they can produce pale shades or washes of color. Concrete dyes can be mixed to produce custom colors as well. Because concrete dyes are easy to use, come in a huge range of colors, are flexible in terms of saturation, and can be custom mixed, they are generating plenty of buzz in the custom home interior market. Added bonuses include the lack of residue and minimal cleanup necessary after the process. The main drawback to dyeing concrete is that since dyes penetrate concrete quickly, there's not much room for error during the application process. Another drawback with dyeing concrete is that they are not stable in UV light and most manufacturers recommend use indoors only. Application of dyes to concrete can be done in many different ways. It all depends on the results you want and how big a job it is. Some concrete dye experts use high volume, low pressure (HVLP) sprayers. For some jobs they may use rollers or brushes. Before applying dye in any way, you need to test the concrete surface for how well it's going to accept the dye before you apply it. Penetration levels and the intensity of color will vary based on the following factors: * Application method * Age of the concrete * Porosity of the concrete * Cleanliness of the concrete Dense and non-porous concrete surfaces might not accept concrete dye at all, so pre-testing is extremely important to make sure you don't waste all that time and effort. Tape off a small, out of the way corner of the concrete and apply a small amount of dye. Let it sit overnight. If the color saturation is good after sitting overnight, then the concrete will accept the dye and you can proceed. However, if the color saturation has faded overnight, you will have to strip any sealers on the concrete and then sand it down so that the dye can penetrate. If this is the case, try the overnight dye test again after removing sealers and sanding. Basics of Dyeing Concrete: The surface must be clean and dry before applying the concrete dye. Some concrete dye artists who produce custom floors use dye as an underlayment, and then add stain on top for a more translucent effect. When choosing and purchasing your dye, you can find swatches at concrete showrooms and online. Be aware, however, that online color swatches can be affected by factors like the type of monitor you are viewing them on and various monitor settings. Applicators, safety supplies and concrete cleaner are available at most hardware and home improvement centers. To prep the surface, sweep off any debris, hose the concrete down if possible, apply the cleaner, then use a buffer to clean the surface of the concrete. Mix your dye in a five gallon bucket. Put the dye concentrate in first, then add water, alcohol, or acetone according to manufacturer's instructions to dilute the dye to the color you want. Using your paintbrush, pump sprayer, sponge, or airbrush, apply the dye to the concrete floor. For a smooth, one-color application, sprayers work best. For mixing colors or applying artistic effects, airbrushes, sponges, and paintbrushes are the tools you'll most likely use. When you have finished, allow the concrete to dry for at least 24 hours. After it is completely dry, apply sealant according to the package directions. Allow your concrete floor to dry for the recommended time before walking on it or putting furniture on it. If you need more of a functional application, you can also keep it simple by painting your concrete instead of using concrete dye. Meet-Mr-Concrete.com provides concrete construction advice at no charge and in good faith for consideration only. We do not warrant the implementation of its content and are to be held harmless when and if any advice or ideas provided are utilized. The risk from using it lies entirely with the user.
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