Exciting
Color Options For Concrete Flooring
When it comes to colorful concrete flooring options, the sky is the
limit. Dyes, stains and surface coatings make it easy to transform boring
plain-jane bare concrete into a work of art. With the availability of nearly
every hue imaginable, from rich, earthy browns and golds to fire-engine red,
azure blue, and vibrant shades of purple and green, your color choices are only
limited by your imagination. The following are the most requested color options
and the coloring techniques used to produce them.
What
are some of the most Popular Concrete Floor Colors
While they might not initially sound exciting, the most popular concrete flooring color choice,
especially for residential applications, is brown tones. From pale tan to terra cotta to deep cocoa,
brown concrete flooring mimics the warm look of wood flooring yet is more
durable and much easier to maintain. In addition, the array of shades
achievable in the brown palette is infinite, ranging from dark walnut to deep
russet to sandy beige.
Another popular color choice for modern homes, businesses, medical facilities or restaurant kitchen floors are the
multitude of options in the gray spectrum. Whether you are looking for a silver
pearl, a steely grey or a dark charcoal, there’s a perfect hue of gray to
choose from.
For more colorful, whimsical designs consider combining multiple colors
for your concrete flooring. Multiple colors can be used to create distinct
patterns or swirled together for a mottled effect. With stencils, multiple colors
can also be combined to create custom designs, monograms and logos.
Concrete Coloring Techniques
Just as there are a plethora of concrete
floor colorings to choose from, there are a variety of methods
to apply the color:
- Water-based Stains – These stains produce a permanent color by penetrating the concrete surface. Typically a blend of pigments and acrylic polymers, the resulting finish ranges from translucent to opaque. They are offered in a broader color spectrum and have a less subtle color effect than acid-based stains, including metallic tints.
- Acid-based Stains – Prized for their unique color combinations and permanence, these are the most tried and true stains for concrete floors. Due to chemical reactions and variations in penetration, each floor is unique. The colors are mainly limited to blue/green and earth-toned hues, and are translucent.
- Concrete Dyes – This application penetrate the concrete to achieve a permanent, opaque color saturation. Available in solvent- or water-based formulations, concrete dyes are available in a variety of colors. The water-based dyes typically produce more variegation and marbling, while solvent-based dyes provide a more uniform, monotone effect.
- Epoxy Floor Coatings – While they generally cost more than dyes or stains, epoxy coating is very opaque, making it a good choice for hiding flaws and stains. They are durable and have long-lasting color. Additionally, they can feature color chips, metallic pigments, and are abrasion-resistant, making them a great choice for commercial flooring applications.
