Coloured Concrete Basics
You’ve had that asphalt driveway for so many years. But now that it has potholes, cracks, and depressions in it, you know that it’s finally time to get rid of it and get a new one. A coloured concrete driveway is a good option, but you’re not sure if it’s the right one for you.
If you’re thinking about installing a coloured concrete driveway but you’re not quite sure if it’s perfect for your property, then let our experts here at Versatile Concrete explain why. Let’s get started.
Installing a Concrete Slab
To install a coloured concrete driveway or deck, we need several bags of cement, sand, gravel, and water. We’ll start by removing dried leaves, rocks, and loose soil from the surface, making sure that the ground is flat and smooth before the actual work begins.
To ensure that everything is level, the ground will be compacted manually using a steel tamper. If it’s a large area, then the workers will use a ride-on, a walk-behind roller, or a forward plate compactor.
Once the ground is compacted, the workers will lay the timber formwork. The mixed concrete will be poured on the ground and filled up until the mixture reaches the highest part of the timber. It will be flattened and levelled, while excess concrete will be skimmed off from the top.
Adding the Colour
There are many ways you can add colour to concrete. Check them out below.
Concrete paint. The easiest and simplest way to give concrete a boost of colour is by painting it. To paint the surface, contractors use a special kind of concrete paint that you see on the road and parking lots. These paints are not only durable but also skid-resistant.
These paints are affordable and easy to apply. They are also available in a wide array of colours that will suit your home’s exterior paint. The problem is the paint is going to crack and fade after a few months if the surface is constantly exposed to the sun, rain, or heavy foot traffic.
Concrete stain. Staining is another great way to add colour to concrete. Unlike paint, stains do not just adhere to the surface; they penetrate deep into the concrete itself to produce a lovely and elegant coloured surface.
Powdered colour hardener. If you want something more vibrant than concrete stains, then go for powdered colour hardeners. They come in a broad range of hues, including tan, terra cotta, copper, and brick red.
Once the concrete is poured, flattened, and smoothed out, the powder is then “broadcasted” by hand. The colour doesn’t fade over time, and unlike other colour options, staining won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Benefits of Coloured Concrete
- It can be used in outdoor or indoor settings.
- It is available in a broad range of colours.
- The colours can be applied to recently installed or existing slabs.
- Applying concrete stains, paint, and powdered colour hardener is very easy.