Colored concrete - everything you need to know about this

Concrete products are very popular among developers due to their high strength and durability. But the appearance of such structures and surfaces leaves much to be desired, so the question of how to make colored concrete with your own hands becomes more relevant every year. In this article, we will consider the main options for imparting one or another surface color and features of the work.

The main advantages and disadvantages of colored concrete

To decide on the appropriateness of giving the surface of a particular color, you must carefully weigh all the pros and cons.

First, consider the advantages:

• Any design or surface looks much more attractive if you give it any color. The dull concrete walls and the floor of gray color do not produce the best impression.

• With the help of pigments or paint, you can arrange the exterior design in a single style, when all the elements will be combined and create an organic composition.
• The use of high-quality materials ensures durability and durability of color, many do not use this option due to the fact that they believe that in a year or two the color will become faded. Actually this is a delusion.
• The technology of colored concrete is quite simple, and the preparation of the solution is practically no different from the usual: one more component is added, and the mixing must be more thorough. Otherwise, everything is the same as with a simple solution.

Of course, this option has disadvantages:

• The first and most important drawback is the high price of pigments and high-quality paints. And on this aspect in no case should not save, as it directly affects the durability, wear resistance and color brightness of the finished product. And if concrete comes out not so expensive, then colored asphalt concrete is several times higher due to the use of very expensive components.

• Another important factor is compliance with the technology of work, any errors and distortions of proportions lead to a deterioration in the quality of concrete and a decrease in its strength characteristics. That is why the cooking instructions are required to perform.

Options for giving concrete color

Most often used two ways that we consider. Each of them has its own characteristics, so you have to make your own choice.

Preparation of color solution

This option allows you to give color to the entire structure of concrete, so that even if the upper layer is abraded, the surface color will remain unchanged. This option is ideal for paving slabs, as its surface is subjected to a variety of adverse effects, as a result of which the upper part is damaged.

Even if you need to cut the concrete with diamond circles, then you should not worry about color - it is evenly distributed throughout the structure.

This option has one drawback - the high cost of pigments, while in order to achieve high color saturation it is necessary to add a large amount of the component.

Tip! To achieve the best quality of color, you need to use white sand and white cement, this will give concrete additional brightness and intensity.

Consider what proportions should be observed when preparing the solution:

This ratio of components is ideal for the manufacture of paving slabs or other structures exposed to moderate wear. If, however, the transport will go along the paths, then the share of sand should be reduced to one and a half parts and gravel to two and a half parts. This will give the surface additional strength and ensures that the concrete does not crack under the influence of low temperatures and high loads.

Sometimes special additives are used to give concrete higher characteristics.

Conventionally, they can be divided into 4 main groups:

• Plasticizers - they increase the plasticity of the solution, it fills the form tightly, and the products come out very smooth and durable. If you decide to make lightweight aggregate color blocks, then this additive must be applied.
• Additives that increase the resistance of the material to moisture and even make the surface water-repellent, are demanded at the device of couplers.
• Surface dedusting compounds make concrete much more resistant to abrasion and strengthen the structure.
• Another important group of additives is the components that accelerate the hardening of concrete.

It is worth noting that it is very important to thoroughly mix the concrete, so that the dye and additives are evenly distributed throughout the structure. If the volumes are small, the work can be done manually, if the volumes are significant, then the most reasonable option would be to use a concrete mixer.

Tip! If you pour a screed and want to save on pigment, you can go for a trick: fill in 2-3 layers and add only dye to the top layer. In this case, the surface will not wear out, but you can save a significant amount of an expensive component.

Coloring

This option is more suitable for walls and other surfaces that are not subject to wear and abrasion. It is worth noting that color impregnation for concrete is quite expensive, especially if it is a quality option, because the deeper the composition penetrates the surface, the more durable the coating will be, and the longer the brightness of the color will remain.

The workflow in this case is as follows:

• The surface must be dry, it must first be cleaned from dust and dirt.
• It is best to prime the base, this will reduce paint consumption by reducing surface absorption.
• The paint should be suitable for the purpose of use: the floor should be painted with a special wear-resistant composition, while simpler versions will suit the walls.

• At the end of the work, the surface can be used after it has completely dried (time will be given by the instructions).

It is necessary to leave a certain amount of paint in case of minor repairs, for example, if diamond drilling of holes in concrete will be carried out, then the edges will be chipped, and they must be tinted.

Conclusion

The video in this article will vividly show some important points of the technological process. For colored concrete to retain its original color for many years, high-quality pigments should be used and technology should be observed.