Once the stain has fully dried, apply a solvent-based acrylic
Protect your stained concrete floors with acrylic, epoxy and/or polyurethane topcoats depending on the space – residential or commercial. When it comes to sealers for your stained concrete floors, there is no shortage of products, brands, and contracting companies from which to obtain them.
Not necessarily. Colored concrete will get good and hard just like normal concrete. However, all concrete benefits from being sealed against stains and water damage. So even though it's not necessary, sealing your colored concrete will make it look good longer and will help prevent dusting of the surface.
Usually this white or off-white discoloration to concrete and masonry forms when soluble salts and other water dispersible materials come to the surface through capillary voids as a result of temperature changes, moist migration, condensation, rain, dew, and/or too much water in the mix.
Although the main purpose of sealers is to beautify and protect, some sealers can also be used for darkening concrete. Water-based sealers do not change the color of the decorative concrete, but solvent-based sealers darken the color by several shades. This darkening effect is called color saturation.
In the case you have the grayish-white spots or cloudy concrete, and you know that it was done with a solvent based sealer, you can use xylene and toluene solvents to help with the issue. Xylene is a stronger product.
For outstanding results, it comes down to the type and quality of the product, any unique characteristics, the location of the transformed area, and the application process. With all the right choices, the color will remain gorgeous for 10 to 15 years or more.
“(The appearance of) fading in integrally colored concrete may be the result of weather, traffic, moisture and efflorescence, individually or in any combination,” Sullivan says. Most homeowners and even some contractors don't understand that iron oxide pigments in concrete don't break down or fade, Roman says.
Because topical colour is applied to the surface of the concrete, it is subject to fade over time. If you're after a coloured concrete driveway, this is bad news because faded colour alters the entire façade of your home and will cost you more over time due to maintenance costs.
Leaving concrete unsealed will leave it with a flat look. The color will remain flatter and dull, in addition to the concrete remaining porous and easier to damage. Sealing the concrete will enhance the colors and give it more of a marble or mottled look, smoother and with richer colors.
The AX25 is a solvent-based siloxane infused acrylic sealer designed to enhance, seal, and protect concrete and paver surfaces. It will darken the surface and enhance any dull and faded coloring, and protect the surface with a durable high gloss surface film.
Sealing your concrete isn't really a labor-intensive, nor costly, job. By sealing your concrete every 2-5 years, as recommended by experts, you should keep your floor in good shape, preventing cracks, pitting, and additional damage.
Be certain to use curing, sealing, and cure-and-seal products approved for use with colored concrete and follow manufacturer's recommendations for application. Concrete will continue to lighten until it is fully cured.
Coloring your concrete can increase the aesthetic value of your property. It does not impact the durability of your concrete and if used on interior concrete, it can always be covered by an alternative flooring option. Cons: Every concrete floor takes the acid stain differently.
There are many benefits to laying coloured concrete as it provides great versatility across a project. You can also implement concrete stamping, polished concrete finishes, and concrete stencilling to elevate your coloured concrete project. Other benefits include: Huge range and available in different colours.
Using a Color Hardener
Concrete colored with this method is more resistant to wear, and less vulnerable to moisture and deicing chemicals than standard concrete. Many contractors shy away from color hardeners because of their messy application process.
Concrete Acid Stains are the only true stains with permanent results.
Concrete Acid Staining
They work by chemically reacting with the calcium compounds in the concrete. The acids and metallic salts permanently change the color in the upper portions of the concrete slab. This means two things for acid stained projects. First, the color is very durable and resistant to wear and fading.
Acid Staining
Acid stains are a reactive coloring process that penetrates into the porous concrete surface. This is probably the most permanent of all coloring options but is usually limited to eight colors.
When the sealer is applied too heavily, the air displaced through the surface can't escape, and it forms a bubble in the sealer surface. Bubbling of a sealer can also occur if application is done in hot weather, or if the concrete is in direct sun.
Concrete sealer is supposed to dry quickly, but it won't if you put too much on, and this compromises its long-term effectiveness. It's better to apply it too thin and apply a second coat later.
However, if you don't notice any damage to the floor, it's possible that you can restore shine simply by cleaning with a microfiber mop and a concrete floor polishing agent which can break down surface dirt and grime. To clean concrete floors, stat with small areas to ensure there is no dirt or grime left behind.
Film-forming concrete sealers will darken concrete and leave a glossy shine to some extent, giving the concrete a “wet look." The concrete will lighten back to its unsealed color over time, as the sealer wears off or is removed.
4: Water-based sealers give a more natural appearance by not darkening the concrete as much as a solvent-based sealer. Solvent-based sealers will generally darken your concrete more than a water-based sealer.