Interesting and pleasant shades can transform the color of one of the most popular building materials from boring and gray to attractive and complete. Dyes for concrete allow you to give it almost any desired color. In modern construction, various methods of applying paint to a concrete surface are used, but each method has its pros and cons.
Acid dye for concrete
There are eight primary colors of acidic dyes, the range of which ranges from black to blue-green in various variations. Such dyes for concrete are used both outdoors and indoors. Their colors are transparent and are successfully used when painting new or existing concrete. Acid dye for concrete is applied to the surface with a spray gun under low pressure or with an acid-resistant sponge (brush) without the inclusion of any metal components. The concrete is then washed to remove residues and neutralize acid. This coating method gives concrete an exquisite “antique look”. The resulting color is resistant to ultraviolet rays and wear-resistant, because it penetrates deep into the painted surface of concrete.
Acrylic dyes for water-based concrete
When stained with acrylic dyes, you can get any available colors that mix well and the concrete takes on the desired color. Water-based concrete dyes are opaque in appearance. Acrylic dyes, as well as acidic, can be used outdoors and indoors, on existing and new concrete. Paint should be applied in layers using a low pressure spray gun, roller, brush or sponge. Color is completely absorbed by this building material. Acrylic concrete dyes, unlike acidic ones, are easier to use because they do not require concrete cleaning after coating. This paint is safe for humans and has excellent wear resistance and resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
Simple concrete dyes
These concrete dyes are transparent, have a wide range of colors, and, if desired, are mixed to create the desired shade. Like the previous ones, they can be used outdoors and indoors, however, for some manufacturers this kind of paint for concrete is not sufficiently resistant to ultraviolet radiation and, therefore, loses color when exposed to sunlight for a long time. Concrete dyes are applied to old and new concrete, which after application does not require cleaning, since the paint is well absorbed into the surface.
Both types of dyes (solvent based and aqueous) can be applied with a spray, brush, roller or sponge.
Colored additives for concrete
Color impurities provide light tones and pastel shades and are successfully used in air and indoors. Colored concrete additives are available in the form of liquid forms and powder, which are added to produce fresh concrete. Since colored impurities are part of concrete, the coating is fade resistant and does not lose color, even if scratches and bumps appear on the concrete.
Dry color dyes for concrete
Such dyes are available in the form of a powder, the color scheme of which is different. It is acceptable to use this kind of dry dyes both indoors and outdoors. They apply exclusively to new concrete. Such colors are applied to the concrete surface with a trowel or trowel. Dry dyes are resistant to ultraviolet radiation, durable and increase the density of the concrete surface due to the contained components. Dry dyeing is done on the top surface and creates an intense color.