Adding Color to a Liquid Release
Question:
Can I tint a clear liquid release agent to add color when stamping concrete? If so, how is it done?
Answer:
You will be hard pressed to find any official written guidelines on tinting a liquid release, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Most manufacturers of liquid release don’t publish any guidelines because the process is more art than science, and each job will present different conditions and color requirements. Achieving success requires practice, experience, and some experimentation.
The most common tinting method is to add a colored release powder to the liquid release and then shake the mixture well to disperse the color. (A ratio that has worked well for me is 2 to 4 ounces of dry color for every 64 ounces of liquid release.) Although many applicators have had success with this method, it takes practice to know just the right amount of tinted release to apply to prevent the stamping tools from sticking to the concrete. Apply too much release, and you get a puckered, spongy mess. Apply too little, and you get pulling and tearing of the surface. Some applicators have better success stamping the surface first using a clear liquid release and then applying a tinted liquid release immediately afterwards to highlight the texture of the surface. This method tends to work better with more porous surfaces, like stampable overlays.
You can learn more about tinting a liquid release in Bob Harris’ Guide to Stamped Concrete (available at http://www.bobharrisguides.com/).
Can I tint a clear liquid release agent to add color when stamping concrete? If so, how is it done?
Answer:
You will be hard pressed to find any official written guidelines on tinting a liquid release, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Most manufacturers of liquid release don’t publish any guidelines because the process is more art than science, and each job will present different conditions and color requirements. Achieving success requires practice, experience, and some experimentation.
The most common tinting method is to add a colored release powder to the liquid release and then shake the mixture well to disperse the color. (A ratio that has worked well for me is 2 to 4 ounces of dry color for every 64 ounces of liquid release.) Although many applicators have had success with this method, it takes practice to know just the right amount of tinted release to apply to prevent the stamping tools from sticking to the concrete. Apply too much release, and you get a puckered, spongy mess. Apply too little, and you get pulling and tearing of the surface. Some applicators have better success stamping the surface first using a clear liquid release and then applying a tinted liquid release immediately afterwards to highlight the texture of the surface. This method tends to work better with more porous surfaces, like stampable overlays.
You can learn more about tinting a liquid release in Bob Harris’ Guide to Stamped Concrete (available at http://www.bobharrisguides.com/).
2 Comments:
Chris: We gave up powdered releases because of the clean up problem. Plus the crews hate the mess and masking of the walls.
Some tips we found by trial and error. First, you will not get the same type of antiquing you do with powder. We sell it as light antique and price it less than a full powdered release. Second, you absolutely need to have two pump sprayers on hand. It's guaranteed that one will clog. To limit the chance of clogging - use a paint strainer and strain the powder before you put it in the liquid. Try and put the powder in before the truck shows up. It gives bubble gum time to absorb the powder. We typically wash the tint just before sealing a month later. We have gone back at that time and added more color if needed. Last, if your pump sprayer sputters and leaves drips - handle it right then by spraying clear tint on or dab it up. It will dry that way.
Hope that helps
Tom Niemerow, Concrete FX
By Tom Niemerow, at 11:48 PM
Great points. Thanks for taking the time to share.
C
By Chris Sullivan, at 11:56 AM
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