I know we all want the best looking floor at the best price. I know guys, finish their floors in all sorts of ways, but wondered why it is not more common for people to add color to the concrete mix when laying down new garage floors. I would think the color would not fade and look better then your standard concrete grey.
dyed concrete garage floors.
- Thread starter bop_pa
- Start date
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
This requires a dye to be added to the ready-mix. You will still need to finish the surface with a densifier or sealer.
londonsteve
Well-known member
Cement dye is easily obtained and mostly used for brick mortar but can be used in concrete either by putting in mixer or by sprinkling on top of poured slab just before final troweling. the colours are all pretty dull and not two bright but it works well just think of the paving at Disney world it's all coloured concrete using the trowelled in method,
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you have existing concrete, you can alter the color with a stain.
This penetrates the slab only 1/16" or less, again I would recommend densifying it afterwards.
This penetrates the slab only 1/16" or less, again I would recommend densifying it afterwards.
thegarageguy
Well-known member
You are just talking about a coloring method. The concrete would still need to be sealed via acrylic, epoxy or epoxy-poly or polyaspartic. Kept unsealed and the floor will perform like any other concrete. It'll stain and deteriorate.
Densifiying is what is done to polish the concrete. It essentially chemically hardens the concrete and helps with the polishing process. Regardless of what anyone says, polished concrete will still stain and must be maintained to keep up the shine. Nothing is stain proof or maintenance free.
colored concrete is awesome if done right - but we went through a nightmare with the stuff. A few things we learned the hard way after hiring "experienced professionals".
we ran into this issue with colored concrete counter tops that were poured in place.
1. the amount of dye you use is very important - too much dye will keep the concrete from sticking to itself, so it will never set
2. screeding/troweling the top changes the color - a lot. this makes the color way off of any samples, and color matching just about impossible if you have to patch any imperfections. patches will be dark and the trowled parts will be light. We are talking about the difference between maroon and a light pink if you order the dye for maroon.
3. the dye is nasty and stains everything. natural colors are not as noticeable., but my driveway/yard/rocks/trees wash are all still stained blue from the mixing/cleanup that those a$$clowns did.
they ended up pouring 4 times, ruined our cabinets, and the counter tops still look like S%$.T
we ran into this issue with colored concrete counter tops that were poured in place.
1. the amount of dye you use is very important - too much dye will keep the concrete from sticking to itself, so it will never set
2. screeding/troweling the top changes the color - a lot. this makes the color way off of any samples, and color matching just about impossible if you have to patch any imperfections. patches will be dark and the trowled parts will be light. We are talking about the difference between maroon and a light pink if you order the dye for maroon.
3. the dye is nasty and stains everything. natural colors are not as noticeable., but my driveway/yard/rocks/trees wash are all still stained blue from the mixing/cleanup that those a$$clowns did.
they ended up pouring 4 times, ruined our cabinets, and the counter tops still look like S%$.T
drmoonshine
Well-known member
You can get some very nice speckled garage floor paint that makes the floor look amazing aside from doing tile floors there isn't much better. I got it at home depot when they had a labor day sale. (Last Year) haha
popcorn-guy
Active member
If one were to dye their concrete and densify it, can it then be covered with an overcoat of a clear type epoxy? I had been considering using concrete for my front driveway dying it a black and exposing the agragate, which obviously would negate doing any densification. Would it need an epoxy, or would a sealer once a year maintain it decently, or??? I considered dying it due to oil leaks from your friendly visitors vehicles and being able to maintain it easier with dyed material. Yes, there is nothing perfect, but am just attempting to maintain its' appearance decently for as long as possible. Any bonified experience would be most appreciated.
Grumpy365
Well-known member
I have heard TONS of stories like this. Especially regarding color matching.
I personally did / would avoid it
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
From my personal experience...
Coloring is easy, you hand the redi-mix guy a bucket of powdered dye, he throws it in the truck, you are DONE.
The trick is anything over 7 yards. You need to make sure you weigh your dye so that you get close on the color. It will never be exact but I did it and it was very close, wife was pleased.
7 yards is the capacity of a redi-mix truck.
Coloring is easy, you hand the redi-mix guy a bucket of powdered dye, he throws it in the truck, you are DONE.
The trick is anything over 7 yards. You need to make sure you weigh your dye so that you get close on the color. It will never be exact but I did it and it was very close, wife was pleased.
7 yards is the capacity of a redi-mix truck.
Small_words
Member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2010
- Messages
- 13
This might sound strange, but if you're serious about this, contact Cheng Concrete. It's a design business that does countertops and other furniture out of concrete. They're very knowledgeable.
If you're going to color conrete, use an inorganic dye. Inorganics are made from oxidized metal, ie iron. The reds, oranges, and blacks are from iron, green is copper, etc. Naturally the iron based dyes are the least expensive. Also, you will DEFINITELY need to seal the concrete, just like you have to reseal granite counters ocasionnally.
If you're going to color conrete, use an inorganic dye. Inorganics are made from oxidized metal, ie iron. The reds, oranges, and blacks are from iron, green is copper, etc. Naturally the iron based dyes are the least expensive. Also, you will DEFINITELY need to seal the concrete, just like you have to reseal granite counters ocasionnally.
Nuccio
Well-known member
10 yards is the standard capacity of a rear load redi mix truck in NJ, you also can get 11 yards out of a front load truck in NJ.
AlphaGarage
Well-known member
I think around SoCal the cap is 9 yards or 10 yrds for delivery to the flat lands, hills are a bit less due to potential spillage. Don't see many front loaders, in fact I don't recall ever seeing any 'round here.
Hmrhead
Well-known member
colored concrete is awesome if done right - but we went through a nightmare with the stuff. A few things we learned the hard way after hiring "experienced professionals".
we ran into this issue with colored concrete counter tops that were poured in place.
1. the amount of dye you use is very important - too much dye will keep the concrete from sticking to itself, so it will never set
2. screeding/troweling the top changes the color - a lot. this makes the color way off of any samples, and color matching just about impossible if you have to patch any imperfections. patches will be dark and the trowled parts will be light. We are talking about the difference between maroon and a light pink if you order the dye for maroon.
3. the dye is nasty and stains everything. natural colors are not as noticeable., but my driveway/yard/rocks/trees wash are all still stained blue from the mixing/cleanup that those a$$clowns did.
they ended up pouring 4 times, ruined our cabinets, and the counter tops still look like S%$.T
+1 on all of the above. All the dyes fade over time. Reds, Browns, and Black fade the fastest. Matching color samples is almost impossible. You need to make the sample using the same mix as the pour with the same dye ratio as the pour. If sample was made prior, close won't be. Reason: sand come from all over and has different colors. Think of trying to match paint from different mfg. different bases create close but not matching colors. Even if you were to save sand, dye & cement from original(if you mix yourself) a patch won't match due to original fading. The dyes are very hard to clean up. Wear cloths you don't care about, don't wash tools over anything you don't want discolored. ....spent 7 years in Masonry supply sales of having people come in with small samples to try and match on their 30 yr. old home until housing collapse in MI.
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
We sell tons of acid stain, dye, densifier and sealer.
It is growing at an incredible rate.
It is an excellent way to make your slab unique. I am happy to see many folks using both stain and epoxy/polyaspartic to make a complete project.
It's not that hard and the results are amazing.
It is growing at an incredible rate.
It is an excellent way to make your slab unique. I am happy to see many folks using both stain and epoxy/polyaspartic to make a complete project.
It's not that hard and the results are amazing.
Can we get a picture of this? I would LOVE to see it! I have never seen concrete that is died in the truck then finished
I just had a 28 X 36 slab poured in an Autumn Oak. It is unbelievably beautiful. The concrete contractor had not seen this color in such a large slab and was equally satisfied with the color, as well as my general contractor. (and my wife...) Neither of them have seen a garage slab colored here in the north woods, so it was kind of fun for all of us. I'll post pics once they are done cleaning their construction mess. Only time will tell on the durability and I expect to re-seal routinely. The price was not that expensive (relatively speaking) and I still plan on garage mats under the cars to protect the finish. Now I have to decide on a color theme to compliment the floor... 
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I just had a 28 X 36 slab poured in an Autumn Oak. It is unbelievably beautiful. The concrete contractor had not seen this color in such a large slab and was equally satisfied with the color, as well as my general contractor. (and my wife...) Neither of them have seen a garage slab colored here in the north woods, so it was kind of fun for all of us. I'll post pics once they are done cleaning their construction mess. Only time will tell on the durability and I expect to re-seal routinely. The price was not that expensive (relatively speaking) and I still plan on garage mats under the cars to protect the finish. Now I have to decide on a color theme to compliment the floor...
Good job, seal often and it will last.