Sunday, September 14, 2014

All About The Concrete Color Pigment

By Kerri Stout


Although there are a lot of available natural materials like woods and metals, ready made concrete mixture is also readily available. However, this material still needs to be stained or coated. There are many methods to give life and color to this mixture.

The mixing process increases the number of strategies in coloring a concrete. Concrete color pigment is available in a form of liquid, powder or granule. Powdered pigments are placed in a disintegrating bag that will dissolve when it will be added to the mixture. It will greatly help in reducing the tendency of inhaling the powder.

The most popularly used color is the black. It can be used to create any shade of gray, either light or dark. It is widely used in many driveways, runways, roadways and parking lots, for it covers the stains from the oil produced by the vehicles that are passing through. It will absorb heat and reduce ice occurrence.

This pigment has two kinds, a carbon and iron oxide. Carbon produces a darker black, on the other hand an iron oxide produces a shade of gray. However, a carbon wears out that easily in time than the other type.

They also come in a liquid form. It is either a natural or synthetic form and it is usually measured in volume, similar to the measuring process of a paint. It will be put together with the material during the mixing process. The downside of a natural one is that it only offers earth tones. Synthetic on the other hand, offers almost all shades that you might know.

Using a liquid on can sometimes give you an undesirable uneven shade. That is why it better to avoid using a liquid form, for it can give you an unpleasant result sometimes. It you wish to use it, you can mix it with aggregates and a water containing salts for best results. It will give a efflorescence result which may look white and powdery.

Mostly, a form of granulated one is mixed together with some dry to a wet system of metering. It gives a cheaper technique to make a liquid. There are many concrete businesses that will purchase granulated forms that will be mixed with water. They will put it in a tank and sooner they will distribute it to the mixing truck. This type can cost a little cheaper because it is lighter than the liquid.

There are also a few methods of coloring. Part of the several methods is the staining. There is also what you call a rubbed stain method. A resist method can also be applied using a brush and a sealant together. These methods will require a use of a sealant over time.

A technique called color wash is a strategy similar to painting. You will mix a coloring paint in a water based. If you have achieved your desired shade. Brush it with a sealant. And put a final coat of sealant after the first coat had dried to attain the one you desired.




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