- Stamped Concrete Home
- Stamped Concrete Pictures
- Stamped Concrete Patterns: Create the look of stone, brick, and other popular designs
- Color Chart: Coloring options for imprinted concrete
- Stamped Concrete Design Ideas
- Stamped Concrete Applications
- Stamped Patios
- Stamped Driveways
- Stamped Pool Decks
- Stamped Concrete Walkways
- Price and Performance
- Stamped Concrete Costs
- Stamped Concrete Installation Process
- How to Clean Stamped Concrete
- Compare Stamped Concrete: The advantages of stamped concrete versus pavers, asphalt and stone
- Stamped Concrete vs. Pavers
- Related Information
- Stamped Concrete Overlays
- Concrete Products: Concrete Stamps
- Design Ideas: Stamped Concrete Info
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Concrete Stamps
A Guide to Stamped Concrete Colors
When you want your stamped patio, pool deck or driveway to look like stone, wood or other materials, you have to add natural-looking color. Just as there are many stamping patterns, there is also a wide array of stamped concrete colors available. Colors on your stamped concrete make the difference in bringing a realistic look to the feel of your stamped concrete.
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Here are some of the most popular colors:
Color chart provided by Brickform, a division of Solomon Colors, Inc.
HOW TO PICK STAMPED CONCRETE COLORS
Stamped concrete colors are often selected to blend with other architectural elements of the home or the natural surroundings (see Which Decorative Concrete Style Is Right for Your Home). For outdoor pavements, you’ll generally want to stick with subtle earth tone shades.
Some of the most popular choices are:
- Gray stamped concrete - can replicate light stones or be as dark as charcoal
- Brown stamped concrete - ranges from light tans to deep walnut
- Red stamped concrete - think terra cotta or mahogany
To achieve subtle tonal variations or “antiquing” effects, you can apply one or more accent colors of hardener or use acid stains or tinted release agents. For projects where you want a bolder, more vivid color scheme, try layering dyes or water-based stains, which are available in a broader array of vibrant color tones, such as red and cobalt blue.
STAMPED CONCRETE COLOR COMBINATIONS
Creating a beautiful stamped concrete patio, driveway or pool deck is a lot like baking a cake. A specific combination of elements goes into producing the end result. Check out the formulas below to see how contractors combine color hardeners, release agents, stamping tools, sealers and additives to create unique colors, textures and finishes for their stamped concrete work.
LIGHT COLORS
| Color | Texture | Finish | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Brickform’s Pecos sand color hardener, accented with a walnut release agent (main field)Walnut mixed with an oyster white color hardener (border) | Seamless texture called heavy stone | Two coats of solvent-based acrylic sealer with nonslip additive, Vexcon AC-1315 |
|
|
Sandstone Color Hardener Weathered Sage Release Agent | Italian Slate stamps 3-foot jointed diamond grid pattern Random Connecticut Bluestone bands | Random Connecticut Bluestone bands |
|
|
Brickform's shake-on color hardeners in gold sandstone and pico sand Medium gray release agent Brickform's ebony and amber acid stains | Ashlar slate pattern from Brickform | Solvent-based Kingdom Cure from Concrete Texturing and Tool Supply |
|
|
Solvent-based Kingdom Cure from Concrete Texturing and Tool Supply | Italian slate, Proline Concrete Tools | Information not available |
DARK COLORS
| Color | Texture | Sealer | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Brickform’s Pecos sand color hardener, accented with a walnut release agent (main field)Walnut mixed with an oyster white color hardener (border) | Old granite seamless cleft stone pattern, from Proline Tools | Super Stamp Seal, from DecoCrete Supply |
|
|
Integral color: Chromix Spring BeigeMedium and dark brown release agents, W. R. MEADOWS | Sandstone slate seamless texture skin, Walttools | Sealer: Sure-Seal 25, W. R. MEADOWS Grit additive: Sure-Step, W. R. MEADOWS |
|
|
Scofield's integral Terra Cotta color Brickform's darker Terra Cotta color hardener, and a charcoal release | Seamless slate stamp pattern from Brickform | Information not available |
|
|
Increte’s Philly blue color hardener Custom mixed accent and highlight colors | Old English Slate, Increte Systems | Solvent-based acrylic |
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HOW TO COLOR STAMPED CONCRETE
Integrally colored stamped pool deck with color hardener and tinted release agent.
Integral ColorTo produce permanent color that penetrates the entire slab and won’t wear away or fade after time, you can add integral coloring pigments to the fresh concrete at the batch plant or the jobsite. Because the options for integral color are usually limited to earthtones and pastels, this method is often used in conjunction with surface-applied coloring treatments to enrich the color and provide variation.
Pool deck colored with dry-shake hardeners and acid stain highlights.
Dry-Shake Color HardenersProbably the most popular method for coloring stamped concrete is the use of dry-shake color hardeners. Unlike integral pigments, which color the entire concrete matrix, dry shakes are hand broadcast onto the surface of the freshly placed concrete and color only the top layer. Because the color is concentrated at the surface, it tends to be more intense than integral color. Color hardeners also improve the strength and density of the concrete surface and create a rich surface paste that helps to produce sharper imprints.
Brick-red stamped concrete achieved
with a solid-color acrylic stain.
Surface-Applied ColorStamped concrete contractors often use integral or dry-shake color in conjunction with surface-applied coloring mediums. This layering of color is what gives stamped concrete such natural-looking color variations, such as you would see in real stone. The options include:
- Tinted liquid release agents
- Acid-based chemical stains
- Water-based acrylic stains
- Concrete dyes
Find products for coloring stamped concrete.
For more information on coloring stamped concrete check out the latest trends in stamped concrete patterns and coloring processes.
DESIGN IDEAS FOR COLORING STAMPED CONCRETE
Unique Concrete, West Milford, N.J.
A titanium-white color scheme gives this stamped pool deck a distinctive look and “coolness factor,” making it comfortable to walk on even under the hot summer sun. White concrete can be created using white Portland cement or by adding titanium dioxide to the mix.
Salzano Custom Concrete, Centreville, Va.
Natural stone often features multiple colors. To achieve an authentic look with stamped concrete many contractors hand-color their work to create variegation or marbling. In this case, custom mixed colors were selectively applied to mimic the highlights present in natural slate. See more examples of slate stamped concrete.
J&H Decorative Concrete, Uniontown, Ohio
One of the most important things to consider when selecting colors for stamped concrete is how they will blend with your home’s existing color scheme. In this case, the color inspiration was taken from the home’s brick and trim. The main fields of pavement were colored with Brickform’s Pecos sand color hardener, accented with a walnut release agent. The border color was walnut mixed with an oyster white color hardener to lighten it slightly.
HOW TO FIX STAMPED CONCRETE COLOR
As durable as concrete is, there can be some problems that may come up. Below are a few questions and answers from expert Chris Sullivan.
Changing the color of a stamped walkway
Question: How can I change the color of a stamped slab after it has been poured? The customer was not happy with gray and now wants a reddish-brown color.
Answer: You can change the color of stamped work once it has been placed by applying different types of stains, tints, or dyes. The type of coloring method you use will depend on the look desired and amount of color changed needed. Here's a handy guide:
For most decorative stamping work, lighter base colors
- For minor color adjustment - Use an impregnating stain or diluted acid stain.
- For medium color adjustment - Use a full-strength acid stain, dye, or tinted sealer.]
- For complete color change - Use an acrylic or solid-color stain.
When using any of these methods to change or adjust concrete color, be sure to profile the surface according to the product manufacturer's recommendations to ensure proper penetration and adhesion. In addition, the surface should be completely dry and the temperature above 50 F and below 90 F.
Finally, no matter what method you use, always prepare a small sample for pre-approval by the client.
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Excess antiquing color causes problems
Question: I have a pool deck in which the sealer seems to be flaking off and coming up in some areas. This is not an issue that we have dealt with before, so I am a little concerned. Can you let us know what is occurring and how we can remedy this issue?
A good rule to work by is that secondary color should make up 5% to 30% of the final color. In this case, the secondary color makes up almost 100% of the surface color, causing sealer failure.
Answer: This is actually one of the most common issues we face with coloring stamped concrete. It is in fact not a sealer issue, but rather the antiquing color that is causing the sealer to fail. The sealer failure can occur within weeks of application, but more often shows up 6 to 12 months down the road.
Imprinted concrete looks pretty bland and unrealistic without highlights or antiquing, which give the pattern definition and color variation. These highlights make the concrete look like stone, tile or whatever natural material the installer is trying to mimic. The highlights can be accomplished in a multitude of ways, with release powder being the most common. Other popular methods include stains, tints, dyes and colored sealers. Virtually any means of getting some contrasting color to stick in the depressions and textured areas of the surface will work. The problem occurs when too much secondary color is present. The depth and type of texture on the imprinting tool will determine the amount of secondary color to use. More aggressive textures with deep grout lines, lots of deep veins, and rough slate or stone surfaces will accommodate more secondary or antiquing color. The opposite holds true for light textures with smoother surfaces and non-aggressive patterns. A good rule to work by is that secondary color should make up 5% to 30% of the final color. In your case, however, the secondary color makes up almost 100% of the surface color.
The real curve ball is that stamped work with such high ratios of secondary color can look amazing and beautiful. Once sealed, the work looks great, the applicator gets paid and everyone is happy. The problem is that you have ticking time bomb, and it is just a matter of time before it explodes. Have you ever considered what secondary color is made of and how it works? No matter whether you use release powder, stains, washes or tints, you are filling the surface pores of the concrete with solid material. Those solids are filling the voids that the sealer needs to fill in order to "bite" or adhere to the concrete. The more secondary color present, the bigger the problem. The sealer will encapsulate the solid color in an attempt to do its job, but if there are no pores to fill, adhesion is compromised, which leads to failure when external forces exceed the ability for the sealer to hold. This is usually why we see these types of failures in the spring, after a winter assault of freeze-thaw cycles, deicing salts and snow shovels. As a result, the sealer lifts up in small circular areas and takes the secondary color with it, since the color is all it had to hold onto. You are then left with a stamped slab that has round, discolored spots. The "discoloration" is actually the base color that should have been visible in the first place, but was covered with too much secondary color.
The repair is fairly simple in theory, but more difficult in practice. The sealer has to be chemically stripped, but the process will usually remove most of the secondary color as well. Once the stripping is complete, you can remove any residual secondary color, give the surface a good cleaning, and then allow it to dry before resealing. The hard part is selling the client on the new "correct" color combination of their patio. What was mostly dark brown with hints of tan is now mostly tan with hints of dark brown.
Concrete coloring techniques
Question: What is the difference between base color and secondary color in stamped or imprinted concrete?
Answer: The base color refers to the primary color of the concrete. Most stamped concrete is colored with pigments that are either added to the mix (integral color) or surface applied (shake-on color hardener). While both are good methods of coloring concrete, color hardener provides greater color selection and enhances the strength and durability of the concrete surface.
For most decorative stamping work, lighter base colors
are accented by darker secondary colors. In this case,
he results mimic naturally weathered stone.
Secondary colors are used over the base color as contrasting accents or highlights. The contrast is what makes stamped concrete come alive, and provides the perception of stone, tile, wood, or rock. There are many different products and methods for imparting secondary color, depending on the final look desired and the applicator's preference. These include, but are not limited to, pigmented release powder, tinted liquid release, stains, tints, dyes, and tinted sealers. The most common, and arguably most practical method for adding secondary color to stamped concrete, is to use a pigmented release powder during the stamping process.
There is no limit to the number of base or secondary colors that can be used. In fact, blending multiple colors, in both the base and secondary applications, can add to the overall realism of the results. An important factor to keep in mind: The secondary color should make up no more than 40% of the final color you see. Anything more then that can impair the adhesion of the sealer to the concrete surface.
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