Glow-in-the-dark Stones in Concrete

Exposed aggregate of the pool deck has also included glow in the dark stones. — This exposed aggregate pool deck powered by high-performance, ½-inch, sky blue glow stones is a shining example of what can be accomplished with glow aggregates.

Just when you thought you were going to install another exposed aggregate pool deck, your clients inform you they want the concrete to “glow” with stone accents. Don’t hit the panic button! If you’ve never worked with a glowing medium before, glow-in-the-dark stones in concrete can be a breeze. Glow stones are applied in exposed aggregate finishes in the same way as other decorative aggregates such as seashells and tumbled recycled glass.

Hand broadcasting is the easiest and most popular application method. Basically, you toss the glow stone over the entire concrete surface as it is setting up. Then gently work the stones into the curing concrete with a trowel. Leave them just under the surface covered with a thin film of concrete. For general flatwork, ½-inch stones are a good size to use.

An outdoor pool deck where stones that glow are embedded into the concrete — Photos courtesy of Ambient Glow Technology

Exposing the stone

To get the stones glowing, they must be exposed to light during the day so they can absorb energy to use once the sun sets. Once the stones are embedded, you can expose them in one of two ways:

Chemically

Chemical exposure can be achieved by lightly spraying a concrete retarding agent over curing concrete. The concrete retarder chemically slows down the curing process leaving 1/8 to 3/8 inch of the surface uncured. The top is then pressure-washed off. Doing this exposes the glow stones on the surface and allows them to charge by day and glow at night.

Mechanically

This technique is more labor-intensive and requires the use of diamond-laden polishing pads mounted on either handheld polishers or heavy-duty concrete floor polishing machines. The polishers “cut off the top” of the concrete to expose the glow stones. This form of polished, glow-in-the-dark concrete finishing is typically seen in interior applications. However, recently it’s been successfully applied on the interior of concrete pools and spa tubs, creating a beautiful star-like pattern on the bottom.

glow-in-the-dark stones in concrete at the bottom of a pool — Seen here, Premix Marbletite polished concrete pool mix is seeded with commercial-grade ¼ inch glow stone to create a bottom that resembles a starry night.

The key to a glowing success

As a decorative concrete professional, it’s very important to analyze the project’s environment. You want to determine if there are any competing light sources nearby that will shine on the surface once the sun sets. A light source, such as a streetlight or landscape lighting, will affect the overall glow intensity. In some cases, it can neutralize the glow effect altogether.

Before you seed the surface, you should test the stones’ glow effect by placing samples on the ground. Be sure to do this where the concrete is going to be and have the clients observe them at night. This way, your clients will have an idea of what the glow surface will look like prior to the concrete pour.

Unlike other accent lighting systems that require electricity or batteries to function, high-grade glow stones only need 15-20 minutes of daylight or artificial light to glow all night. The initial brilliance will be like Superman’s Kryptonite and then the glow will begin to diminish throughout the night, remaining at about a 40 percent glow level until the sun rises or the lights come on (interior).

contractors installing glow-in-the-dark stones in concrete around a pool — Workers first seed the glow stones onto the surface and then trowel them in.

7 Steps for successful glow stone placement

Pour concrete mix as you normally would.
Bull float the surface.
Seed glow stone by hand where you want them.
Work the glow stone into the slab with a fresno or regular trowel.
Apply a retarder per manufacturer’s instructions.
Let concrete set and cure.
Wash off the surface with water per retarding agent manufacturer’s instructions.

That’s it. You’re ready to glow!

Questions from readers

Question

Can I use glow stones with regular broom finish concrete?

Answer from Concrete Decor

I don’t know if seeding glow stones onto a concrete surface that’s going to receive a broom finish will deliver the results you’d want. Generally speaking, glow stones will see the best results with an exposed aggregate finish. This would include the use of a surface retarder that allows you to remove cream from the surface to expose aggregate, including the glow stones. Review Dayton Superiors chart for the Top-Cast product to choose the surface retarder that’s right for your application.