Guide To Using Concrete Color Pigment

Concreted surfaces can be more than just floors these days. Versatility with coloring, texturing, and installation provides more options. People can choose this material for counter tops, table tops, bar tops, and even as a non-traditional flooring. Concrete color pigment helps with choices, but it is important to understand the proper use and types.

Pigments for this type of application will be in either a liquid or powder form. These pigments can be an integral or surface type, depending on how they should be applied. Each type will also have different requirements for how to mix them. For instance, a liquid may need to have water added before they are put into the mix. There may be specific usage instructions, such as applying a liquid coloring to a cured concreted surface similar to a stain.

The most common types of pigments are iron oxide versions. Out of the three main groups of pigments, these ones are the least expensive, often because they have limited colors and more detailed or difficult application instructions. They have very few colors to choose, but they are ideal if you are looking for earth tones in the brown and dark yellow range.

Metal oxides are a bit more expensive than iron oxides. This is often due to their composition, which typically helps to provide more choices for coloring. For example, titanium oxide is a bright white while chromium oxide is a green. There are also blues, reds, and purples available in comparison to only the earth tones available in the first group.

Synthetic pigments are in the third group. Even though they are more expensive, many people feel the increase in price is worth it. There are more colors to choose and they tend to use less than pigments in other groups. Colors are much brighter and there is a larger selection available, including yellows, purples, and oranges.

Packaging for powdered pigments includes cans and pre-measured dissolving bags. These pigments come in granule or fine forms. Granules are recommended for cement mixing trucks and large industrial mixers. Fine pigments, in true powder form, are designed for do it yourself uses and appropriately sized manual cement mixers, such as the ones that are used by homeowners who are attempting projects on their own.

Versions in liquid form are actually solid pigments suspended in liquid to allow time to measure and mix. They must be mixed well frequently while you are measuring to keep the pigments from settling. Some are concentrated, while others are already diluted. Read the package instructions before you begin to determine what may need to be done in advance and during mixing.

The benefits of pigments for concreted surfaces are numerous. Many people seek protection for their concreted surfaces after they have been colored. Surfaces can be highly polished to resemble marble, but the pigments can help repel water. Liquid and synthetic pigments are generally the ones that provide this extra protection.

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