Why Colored Concrete?

Video: Uses for Colored Concrete

Length: 01:43
Overview of options and benefits of coloring concrete.

With colored concrete, the creative options and color choices are endless, making it possible to achieve the perfect look. Colored concrete can transform a room or patio from plain to spectacular. Many manufacturers offer a broad palette of colors to choose from, ranging from earth tones to vibrant hues (color samples). Also, colored concrete can be used to simulate the look of brick, flagstone, pavers, or tile. Not only is concrete coloring a beautiful design option, but it is also affordable and compatible with both new and existing concrete. With the right products, techniques, and a creative contractor you can produce results that will transform concrete into works of art.

Finishing (Texturing) Techniques for Colored Concrete
Colored concrete can be paired with other concrete finishing techniques to create a striking affect. These techniques include broom finishing, sandblasting, exposing of aggregate and more. Broom finishing can create shadow effects, "swirl" and "fan" patterns on colored concrete. Sandblasting can be used to create designs, or to give the concrete a two-tone appearance by removing a layer of color. Exposing of aggregate gives the concrete a natural textured look by letting the stone or gravel in the concrete show through.

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Using Colored Concrete to Break up Large Areas
Multiple colors can be used side-by side to break up large areas. Also, color can be paired with other decorative techniques such as stamping (see patterns), sawcutting, brooming, or sandblasting to make the look even more personal. Another option for breaking up large areas of colored concrete is insetting materials such as granite, marble, tile or personal items.

Colored Concrete to Mimic Nature
Color schemes are often chosen to blend with each other and blend with nature. Sometimes concrete is colored and finished to look like a gravel path.

Often it is necessary to have the permanence of concrete (and the durability). But where plain concrete's gray color would draw attention to a drainage ditch or path, colored concrete can be used to avoid drawing attention to these features and help those features blend with the other landscape elements.

Hiding Future Stains by Using Colored Concrete
Most driveway, parking lots, and other parking areas are light gray concrete and soon become stained with oil and grease, tire marks, and dirt.

Many property owners will add a dark integral color to parking area concrete and then expose the aggregate in the concrete by sandblasting (medium to heavy) or by using a surface retarder. Roll curbs can be treated the same way. The lighter salt and pepper grays of the aggregate blend with the dark gray matrix of the cement paste.

Grease and oil stains will be much less apparent, lost in the different shades of gray. Tire marks also do not show as bad on exposed aggregate.

FAQs about Colored Concrete
Review these frequently asked questions about colored concrete from Davis Colors.

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