The burgundy band seen here contains four colors. Contractor Lee Levig says he created this custom color by mixing 30 pounds red, 2.5 pounds black with 15 pounds tan and then adding a pinch or two of brown to make it more of an earth tone.

Concrete Stamps, Concrete Colors

Many colorful changes have occurred since the early 1900s when Henry Ford boldly stated: "People can have the Model T in any color — as long as it's black." From cars to concrete, applications of color have burst into the 21st century limelight and vivid hues are everywhere. In the cementitious world, creative contractors should prepare to leave their one-color concrete notions behind to make way for jobs that feature coats of many colors.

Coloring stamped concrete to achieve a multicolored effect can be accomplished by using many different methods, including liquid and powdered release agents, color hardeners, colored sealers and acid stains.

Popular combo is tried and true
According to Debbie Bliss, technical information coordinator for Brickform Rafco Products in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., the easiest way to color stamped concrete is to use a color hardener and a color release prior to stamping. "The hardener makes the color denser and more abrasion resistant. If you want to bring out the detail, go with a darker release."

Germania Hernandez, sales manager for SuperStone in Miami, agrees this combination consistently produces realistic-looking surfaces. "Terra cotta, brick red and buff color hardeners are the most popular colors here in the South, with a brown stone, dark brown and charcoal release," she notes. "The silver, French gray, sun gray color hardeners with charcoal, gray and slate releases are very popular in the North."

Bob Harris, the director of product training at Scofield Institute in Douglasville, Ga., who has done plenty of work for Disney, swears by dry shake color hardener when the job calls for a very abrasion-resistant hard-wear surface. "You'll get much better wear in the long run," he says.