Polished Concrete - Color and Treatments
Stains and dyes are the most popular applications for enhancing already existing polished concrete. Other options include scoring and creating radial lines, grids, bands and borders, and other designs.
Stains and Dyes
Stains and dies can be applied to create looks that range from nearly monotone to translucent color shades showing marbling and variegation in the concrete and exposed aggregate. Dyes are the latest buzz in the decorative concrete community. Their ease of use, extensive palette, and vibrancy of color (which can be more intense than chemical stains) are creating a wave of popularity that is gaining momentum. Dyes, however are often used in conjunction with acid stains, that generally produce a more variegated look. Unlike stains, which react chemically with the calcium hydroxide in concrete, dyes are nonreactive and impart color by penetrating concrete or other porous cementitious surfaces. Dyes are much smaller in particle size than chemical stains or acrylic stains, thus allowing for easier penetration and color saturation. Dyes however, are not as UV stable as stains, so many manufacturers recommend for indoor use only.
Acid Stained and Sealed vs. Dyed and Polished Concrete?
The answer could be both.. it depends on the slab and desired finished look. Let the experts at Global Village Construction help you come to an informed decision to best fit you needs. The choice can be easy when you know how each type of decorative concrete works. Some considerations:
1) If chemical or food resistance is needed with low or moderate traffic (such as a restaurant), an for acid stain with a top-of-the-line two component polyurethane sealer. I would use a solvent based sealer for the best protection, water based if I am unsure of the moisture vapor transmission rate of the concrete slab.
2) If the same chemical resistance requirements are needed and colored concrete in a high traffic area is desired, I would hone the concrete with diamonds, apply an acetone dye, and multiple coats of a two component sealer. Again, solvent based for the best protection, water based if I am unsure of the moisture vapor transmission rate of the concrete slab.
3) If the situation is very high traffic (a school, commercial or retail store, auto service area), if I have an uncertain moisture vapor transmission rate, a high need for low maintenance, or very rugged wear (but very little need for acid or harsh chemical resistance), my choice hands down is polished concrete.
A World of Color.
Global Village Construction uses many fine products and suppliers. We work with architects and custom builders to provide custom mixed colors (ie. to match landscape feature), are just products the designer likes from past results. As an example here are eight standard colors, from the Kemiko Stone Tone Stain product line-up:
Malay Tan
Cola Stain
Black Stain
English Red Stain
Golden Wheat Stain
Aqua Blue Stain
Vintage Umber Stain
Green Lawn Stain
Beyond Color
Saw Cuts with Decorative Flare:
Using decorative concrete scoring, etching and staining methods Global Village Construction can create designs that mimic tile, marble or flagstone. It can be a grid pattern or a graphic design that stands alone without the addition of color. Saw-cuts also define the location for additional treatments such as color, stain, sandblast or stenciling. Simple grids or complex designs cut into the slab can enhance concrete—taking it from plain gray to multi-colored.
