#COLORCAST DYE METHOD FULL#

It's better to apply the hardener a bit early than to wait until the concrete is too hard. Apply color hardener while the concrete is plastic (wet) but most of the bleed water has dissipated.

#COLORCAST DYE METHOD FULL#

Lighter hardeners typically require a heavier application to achieve full color saturation (about 3/4 to 1 pound per square foot) while darker color hardeners hide better so you often need to use less (about 1/2 to 3/4 pound per square foot). Use the coverage rate recommended by the manufacturer.This airborne powder can also be harmful to breathe, so it's important to wear a respirator or dust mask when working with these products.Īlthough properly applying color harder is a bit of an art form, you can take a lot of the guesswork out of the process by following these basic guidelines: Before stamping the surface it is closed up or sealed with a steel trowel or Fresno.īecause some of the material goes airborne during broadcasting, it's necessary to protect adjacent buildings, landscaping, and existing slabs with plastic sheeting. The hardener wets up and is then floated into the surface with a wood or magnesium float. The surface is now stronger and more wear resistant than regular concrete, the surface is also less permeable, preventing the intrusion of water, salts and other stains,' says engineer and architectural concrete expert, Jeff Potvin.Ĭolor-hardener is tossed or broadcasted over a concrete surface that is in a plastic state. 'Color-hardener is a layer that can be up to 1/8' thick and have a compression strength up to 8,000 psi which is twice the strength of the concrete base. 'Not only do they expand your color palette, but hardeners also reduce color-related callbacks and produce a better surface finish,' he adds. 'I am a big proponent of color hardener! Using color hardener produces a stronger, brighter, more durable concrete surface than using integral color alone,' says Chris Sullivan, Vice President of Sales at Fenix Group. Offers a greater selection of colors in more vibrant hues (see color charts).Produces a stronger, more durable concrete surface.However, on indoor projects, especially if the concrete will be polished, concrete densifiers are a better choice. For example, contractors can apply one or more accent colors of hardener to achieve subtle tonal variations, such as you would see in natural stone.īecause color hardeners improve the strength and density of the concrete surface, they are a great choice for exterior slabs exposed to freeze-thaw cycles and deicing salts and for interior floors exposed to heavy foot traffic and abrasion. Hardeners also produce more robust tones than possible with integral pigments and permit greater variability. Concrete FX in Agoura Hills, CA WHERE TO USE COLOR HARDENERĭecorative contractors often use dry shakes to color stamped concrete or concrete overlays because the rich surface paste helps to produce sharper imprints.

Colorcast dye method