Using Integral Pigments to Color Concrete

Question:
How can I use integral pigments to color concrete countertops, and what are some of the advantages of integral color?

Answer:
The use of integral pigments is a very common method of coloring concrete countertops. These very finely ground particles of inert colored material are mixed into the concrete to impart uniform, permanent color. Integral pigments come in both powder and liquid forms. They can be made of natural minerals, manufactured metal oxides or synthetic materials.

A chief advantage of integral pigments is the wide range of color options, spanning the entire spectrum from pure white and deep black, to warm earth tones, to vivid reds, yellows, blues, and purples. You can also blend different pigments to achieve a nearly infinite range of shades, just as when mixing paints.











The advantages of integral pigments include their vast color range and consistency.

Integral pigments also provide versatility and dependability, as long as careful batching, mixing and curing procedures are followed, with special attention to controlling the amount of mix water used. The resulting color consistency can be very high, making it easy to achieve the same color and the same look over and over again.

Because integral pigments are mixed into the concrete, the entire body of the concrete is colored. This means that significant quantities of pigment are required, and leads to perhaps the biggest downside of integral pigments: the cost. Pigment prices can range from $2 to over $60 a pound, depending on availability. While many of the standard iron oxide colors are widely available from a number of manufacturers, some of the more exotic colors are available from only a few small distributors, making them more expensive and harder to find. Some countertop craftsmen charge more for concrete colored with these pricier pigments.

Here are a few pictures of concrete colors achieved with integral pigments.











Integral colors can be subtle….











Or bright…











Or combined with other effects to create different looks. These two countertops use a bit of black pigment to create a dark gray concrete, but then use stone and glass in different ways to create very distinct looks.