Decorative Concrete Techniques

You may have noticed that when you mix dry powder color with water and add it to your microtopping, you end up with little dots of color in your finished product. That’s because color grains are the size of sugar, whereas cement is more like powdered sugar. Xylene is commonly used to break down the color granules for more efficient blending.

Contractor Rick Smith takes it a step further by using acetone, and says his method gives him better control of color in finely detailed applications.

Among his crew’s jobsite tools is a big commercial blender, the stainless steel type used in bars and restaurants. Color powder is measured in with acetone and a little water, then blended, beaten, whipped and frapped to a fine liquid. "The acetone breaks everything down and melts the color," Smith says. "It meets California VOC regulations and is one of the few mineral spirits that blends in water." There is no exact speed or time, he says. Just rub a pinch between the thumb and forefinger until it feels right. More tips are available at www.richardsmithconcrete.com.

1. Add acetone.	2. Add water.
3. Add dry powdered color, cover and blend.	4. The blended mix is ready to go.
Traditional Mixing Method Notice dots of color in the microtopping.	Blender Mixing Method No color dots mar this microtopping.
	All photos courtesy of Rick Smith.

Thanks to Richard Smith of Richard Smith Custom Concrete