Colouring Concrete Surfaces 

Color cement and polished concrete have quickly become the most preferred flooring materials.
With recent advancements in polishing techniques and equipment, you can achieve almost any color you prefer using polished concrete.

It is durable, beautiful, and has a low cost of maintenance.
This makes it one of the most effective flooring materials currently available.

In addition, polished concrete is eco-friendly. Concrete used during the process is locally produced, so it does not have to be transported long distances.
If you intend to restore an old concrete floor, you are simply recycling the concrete. Thus, you are not filling up landfills.
Furthermore, the chemicals used during the polishing process are environmentally friendly.
There are three main methods of coloring concrete floors. These include acid staining, water-based colors, and solvent-based dyes.

Acid Staining

Acid staining gives your floors an expensive look at a bit of cost.
It provides your cement surfaces with a luxurious richness, which cannot be achieved using other coloring mediums.
Instead of producing an opaque or solid-like effect like paint, these paints penetrate the concrete, infusing it with translucent, luminous tones.

These tones depend on the application techniques and the surface they are applied.

You can mimic anything you want with acid staining, from natural stone, tanned leather, stained wood, and even polished marble.

Since they are UV resistant, they won’t fade or peel away.
Apart from that, the application does not affect indoor air quality since organic compounds are not used in the mixture.

The versatility of concrete stains allows you to achieve any imaginable look which suits your budget and design tastes.

You can add bolder design accents, subtle hints of color, or even custom graphics with acid staining.
The application can be made on existing as well as new floors. It also works well with concrete overlays.

– Limitations

The final colors achieved are affected by the chemical composition of the concrete.
This means that results are pretty unpredictable.

However, this is not a limitation perse.
It can make things interesting unless you are too rigid in color variation.
There are three main color options that you can choose from, brown, black and blue-green.
The installation process requires an experienced and skillful technician.

Furthermore, the process takes longer to complete than other coloring options, making it more expensive.
The colored concrete layer is fragile and thin. Therefore, you must protect it with a sealer, which must be re-applied regularly.

Solvent-Based Dyes

These are composed of delicate color molecules mixed with a solvent to permeate and color the concrete.
Different applications can be made to enhance its coverage.
Unlike acid-staining, the outcome here is more predictable, while the process is much faster.
The results show up right away. Once the dye is dry, the floor is sealed and ready to be used directly.
There is a wide range of vibrant colors to choose from. It all depends on how you want your floor to appear.

– Limitations

Although its installation process is not as complex as acid staining, it requires an experienced and skilled technician.
In addition, the solvents used are pretty strong, which means that powerful odors of alcohol and acetone produced during the process can affect indoor air quality.
The dye does not hide imperfections on the floor. Depending on the hardness and humidity, it might appear uneven in different areas of the bed.
The colors obtained are not UV resistant. They are prone to fading, calling for reapplication after some time.

Water-Based Colors

Colors are usually mixed with water, sprayed on the floor, and then scrubbed onto the surface using a microfiber mop or broom.
There is a wide range of colors to choose from. It is easy to apply and does not emit strong odors.
The outcome is predictable. Overall, this process is eco-friendly and affordable.

– Limitations

The color does not penetrate deep enough. This necessitates the use of a sealer to protect the surface.
The sealer must be regularly maintained to prevent color from wearing off.
The colors obtained are not UV stable and thus require regular reapplication based on the exposure of the surface to sunlight.

Bottom Line 

Color is what makes polished concrete floors more appealing. Coloring concrete provides more excellent design options.
As a homeowner, you can use color to highlight the floor as the standout interior feature.
Apart from that, you can blend it smoothly with interior décor and other home accessories.
Floors in showrooms and offices can be enhanced with color finishes to make the surface more appealing or to highlight the company’s colors.
Another benefit is that color can hide imperfections like patches on a floor, making it more attractive.