Staining & Coloring Concrete

Over all the years I’ve worked in decorative concrete, I’ve done a lot of basic tile patterns. That’s all I did almost every week for three years as I learned to use my tools. I got so bored doing these that I had to find a way to design something a little different but still easy to lay out.

Longtime artist and acid stain master Gaye Goodman, 66, wasn’t always a guru of colored concrete.

She spent the early part of her career creating batiks and abstract paintings. Forms found in nature often served as her inspiration. She finally landed in the decorative concrete industry and truly blossomed.

In a recent conversation with Todd Scharich, decorative concrete technical specialist with the American Society of Concrete Contractors, this question came up: What happens when plastic, lumber or construction debris is left on colored concrete during initial curing? 

Acid-stained concrete has been popular for decades. The process of acid staining is well documented, as are the key precautionary items to look for before and during application. Thanks to real-world experience, continuing education and better specifications, issues with acid stains have been greatly reduced.

Columnist, Chris Sullivan answers a question about sealers that initially had him stumped. This article works through some answers if this problem ever arrives on your doorstep.

For a greener alternative to acid staining, SoyCrete Architectural Concrete Stain from Eco Safety Products offers the same variegated look in a product that's environmentally friendly in virtually every sense of the word.

Greg Hryniewicz isn’t a man who sits around and says “better luck next time.”

The general contractor to whom he submitted a proposal for a flooring job at a Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery in White Marsh, Md., was not awarded the contract.

Creating a look reminiscent of cork or aged hardwood floors, this technique requires plastic sheeting and some well-coordinated teamwork.

Does the use of admixtures change the intensity of integral color?

This elegant color combination is the way to go for a simple design that calls for a two-toned color scheme.

Cheryl and Ralph Burgess, of Mackintosh on the Lake, a development in Burlington, N.C., wanted a design in their sunroom. As you can see, they got a pretty spectacular one.

Ken Miedema, of Concrete Revival LLC, in Jenison, Michigan, was contracted to remodel the floorS at Craig Cruser's Grand Rapids location. He utilized V-8 High Performance Floors products by Xtreme Engineered Floor Systems to achieve several very unique applications and looks.

Check in and check out three examples of decorative concrete at its finest, in Georgia, Tennessee and California.

Bob Harris of the Decorative Concrete Institute was asked about his experience training and working at the Children's Museum of Phoenix as part of the Concrete Decor Show & Decorative Concrete Spring Training.

There’s more than one way to stain a slab, and Newlook International Inc. has found a way that is unique. Its products are modified polymer stains that require no sealer and are easy to maintain.

Bart Rockett, 46, began working with concrete back in 1987 after joining Patterned Concrete Industries (PCI) and working for one of its local franchises outside of Philadelphia in southern New Jersey.

Coloring concrete isn't just a matter of choosing pigment, sand and cement. How your concrete is finished will alter its color too.

There is a famous paperback called "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. Many writers treasure it as a guide to writing clearly and succinctly while avoiding common grammatical errors. The handbook itself is a model of clarity.

Mark Womack of Monster Constructors in Fort Worth, Texas, inadvertently became something of an expert when two back-to-back clients asked him for concrete work that included fiber optic lights.

Artists approach design as a space-filling exercise. As such, the first thing they consider is the format within which they will be working. The shape of the format will radically alter the distribution of elements within it. The elements of design are the simple building blocks artists have to work with.

The techniques featured in this beloved annual feature may give you the look you’re after for finishing that one job. Or, they may provide the spark you need to come up with something new.

Decorative concrete doesn’t come on a bigger scale than this. Developer Geoff Palmer has built more apartments in downtown Los Angeles than anyone else — more than 3,000 — all in the same faux-Italian style.

The choice you have is between a liquid release agent and a dry-powder antique release. Both products are similar in function — however, the application technique is completely different for each. This results in a different final look as well.