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There are a few ways to color concrete, each offering different effects, finishes, and quality. In this article, we are going to introduce some of these methods based on what we have experienced with projects we have made for concrete pots. I am sure there are additional ways of coloring concrete, but these are the ones we have tried and can give you an idea of what we might have liked and those that maybe weren’t the best choice.
Concrete by itself can be a very nice-looking product if done correctly, but at times it can also look very plain and cold. In my opinion, it really depends on how it is used and how the surrounding elements work with the concrete.
If you want to increase the aesthetics of concrete, you easily add some color to it by using various coloring materials. Doing so can drastically change the way the concrete looks. Some methods of adding color are applied when the concrete is being poured or placed, while others can be applied to concrete that has already cured.
Let’s take a look at some of these options for coloring concrete pots…
Stains
Stains are usually applied after the concrete is cured. The concrete pot pictured below was stained with a wood stain. I was first skeptical if this process would hold up over time, but this pot was made earlier this year and has held up just fine so far.
Using the wood stain is a quick and simple way to color the concrete pots. This method doesn’t require any experience and very little creativity, and still creates a very nice-looking pot. The wood stains are also more affordable and are easy to find than some of the other options.
As I am writing this article, I thought of another way to use that stain that I would like to try and that is to pour some of the stain into the concrete mix prior to adding the water. I am curious on how that might work out, so I will now have to give that a try. Water will still need to be added to the mix because it is the water that reacts to the chemicals in the concrete mix allowing the mix to properly cure.
Liquid Dyes
Liquid dyes are added during the mixing of the concrete mix to provide an integral color, meaning that the color is throughout the concrete. This is nice because if a piece of concrete breaks off then you will see the same color as there is on the outside.
These liquid dyes can also be mixed with water or solvents and applied to the surface similar to stains. I haven’t tried this method yet, but I will soon!
One issue that I have experienced with this method is that because I am mixing small batches of concrete with water, the added liquid dye messes up the water/cement ratio of the mix. The next time I use liquid dye, which I still have some left, I will add the dye to the dry concrete mix first, mix it all together, and if the concrete mix consistency is not liquid enough, then add some water. As noted above, water will still need to be added to the mix because it is the water that reacts to the chemicals in the concrete mix allowing the mix to properly cure.
I have also experienced that it takes quite a bit of liquid dye to really change the color of the concrete, which really surprised me. I wanted a black concrete pot, and even though I used about half of the container of liquid dye, the concrete pot came out dark grey. This is most likely because the concrete mix was grey. To fix this issue, I want to try using white Portland cement instead so that the colors are more noticeable.
Liquid dyes can be a little pricier than wood stain and one container does not last as long as a container of wood stain of similar size.
The liquid dye I have been using is from Quikcrete Liquid Cement Color (Paid Link).
Powdered Dyes
Powdered dyes are similar to liquid dyes, except they are in a powdered form. They still provide an integral color and can also be mixed with water or solvents and applied to the surface. So far, I have only used them in the concrete mix for an integral color.
With powdered dyes, you can find more colors and they can be easily mixed together to create even more colors.
This is probably the most expensive method of all the methods I have tried, but it also creates a very nice integral colored pot.
I have been happy with this Iron Oxide Powder from 7-Miles (Paid Link).
Paints
This has been one of my favorite methods, mostly because of the style of concrete pots that I really enjoy making are best presented with painting them due to the number of various colored layers.
Painting concrete can be more labor intensive depending on how detailed you want to go with it. Of course, if you are applying a single layer of one paint color, it may be a quick process. But if you are using three or four different layers of paint color, then your time working with the project will obviously be longer. It all depends on the style you want to go with.
When choosing a type of paint for concrete pots, you can’t pick any kind of paint and expect it to last forever. However, if you choose an outdoor acrylic paint, such as Outdoor Acrylic Paint by U.S. Art Supply (paid link) or Acrylic Patio Paint by ArtDeco (paid link), then you can expect to last a long time outdoors and in wetter conditions that pots are exposed to.
If you choose to use paint on concrete, I have a little tip for you that I have learned from a couple other people that make concrete pots or outdoor sculptures. Before you apply your first base layer, apply water to the surface of the concrete pot prior to applying the paint. I usually use a spray bottle for this and also dip the paint brush in water first then dip it into the paint and then brush it on. You can also dip the whole pot in a bucket of water and let it sit there for a few minutes. What this does is it allows the acrylic paint to penetrate further into the concrete pores with the assist of the water, creating a much more durable finish and reduces the chance of the paint from peeling off.
Acrylic paints come in many colors and can be purchased through your local craft store or online and the prices usually aren’t too bad.
Conclusion
The coloring method you choose for concrete pots may depend on the style of concrete pot and the desired appearance you may like. If you aren’t making your own concrete pots, then you will need to choose one of the coloring methods that can be applied to the exterior surface. If you are making your own concrete pots, like I do, then any of the methods listed above will work.
Portland cement typically comes in grey and most pots are made with this type of cement and that can result in different colors than you might expect when added to the concrete mix. However, Portland cement also comes in the color white, which should help the colors added to stand out more since they don’t have to compete with the grey.
Portland cement is usually mixed with other ingredients, such as sand and gravel to add strength. Other admixtures (ingredients added to the mix) may also be added to give different results, such as perlite or vermiculite (to make the pot weight less), or other chemicals for other purposes, such as workability or freeze resistance. Mixing concrete can be and is a whole science in itself.
If you have the opportunity, play around with a few methods and see what works best for you. It can be a fun experience.
Rick Simper has various hobbies, including woodworking, metalworking, composting, and gardening. He is an Architect full time and uses these hobbies to get away from the busy week of Architecture.