Coloring Concrete

Find a Contractor for Colored Concrete

Top Four Ways to Color Concrete

• Concrete Stains
• Integral Color
• Dry-Shake Color Hardener
• Concrete Dyes

Concrete Color Charts

Why Colored Concrete?

Tips for Getting the Best Results with Color

Maintaining Colored Concrete

Concrete Pigments in Integral Color

Curing Colored Concrete

Checklist for Integrally Colored Concrete Flatwork

Understanding Colored Concrete: Common Problems, Why They Occur, and How to Avoid and Fix Them

Creating Color and Texture with Stamped Concrete

Shop Smart Guide to Buying Concrete Stains and Dyes

Shop Smart Guide to Buying Integral Color and Color Hardener for Concrete

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Concrete Contractors: Find concrete coloring products and supplies

For many admirers of decorative concrete, the best attribute is that each installation is totally unique. Concrete can assume nearly any shape, design, pattern or texture. But the one characteristic that most distinguishes decorative concrete is color, whether used subtly to blend with nature or boldly to make a dramatic design statement.

Frankly, unless you're a purist and prefer concrete in its plain-gray state, there's no reason not to enhance it with color. The number of different products for coloring concrete has never been greater, and many manufacturers offer an extensive palette of shades to choose from for colored concrete . And although you'll pay more for colored concrete, the amazing transformation will be well worth the investment. In the hands of a creative contractor, these coloring mediums permit an endless array of decorative effects, from rustic earth-toned sidewalks and patios that harmonize with the surrounding landscape to vibrant multicolored floors that double as works of art.

To help you sort through your options, here's a roundup of the most common methods for coloring concrete and the applications they are best suited for. With the exception of integral color, all of these products can be used on new or existing concrete. However, not all coloring methods are suitable for all exposure conditions or types of projects, and some have limitations in terms of color availability and intensity. But when you choose appropriately (see "Tips for Getting the Best Results with Color"), you'll end up with rich, permanent color that will take your concrete from utilitarian to spectacular.