Here are a few products that can be used to breath new life into old concrete:
— Newlook’s Solid Color Stain penetrates the surface of porous concrete and forms an opaque, breathable finish that resembles integrally colored concrete. The stains, which will completely cover any discoloration or stain, can be used on concrete flatwork, concrete blocks, pavers, imprinted concrete and exposed aggregate. They work with sandblasting stencils and over most microtoppings and overlays. The stains come in 80 standard colors and can be custom-colored to match anything from a paint chip to a car. They are applied with a special broom-like brush.
— Newlook’s Transparent Color Enhancer Stain is a translucent stain designed to be used over Newlook’s solid stain as a contrasting color. It can highlight or enhance areas of relief or texture on stamped concrete surfaces to create an antiqued look. The Enhancer is also used to create a faux finish by blending and layering additional colors.
— L.M. Scofield’s Colorcure Concrete Sealer can be used to restore integrally colored concrete or surfaces colored with a dry-shake color hardener. The low-VOC, two-component curing and sealing system enhances depth of color while creating an easy-to-maintain, low-gloss finish that resists surface staining from materials such as automobile grease, oil and food spills.
— AmeriPolish is a translucent dye that’s formulated using extremely fine molecules of color designed to penetrate and color any cementitious surface. Although it was created for polished concrete, it can be used to touch up integrally colored concrete and overlays, as well as concrete colored with dry-shake hardeners or acid stains. The company also makes a penetrating agent to improve dye penetration in tightly troweled concrete or polished concrete, in many cases providing an opportunity to add color to previously densified concrete. AmeriPolish water-based dyes with the same color range as solvent-based dyes were introduced at 2007 World of Concrete and will be available for distribution later this spring.
— Cem-Coat from Brickform is an opaque color substance that can rejuvenate existing colored concrete or create an antiqued look on textured surfaces with multiple colored wash-coats. Ideal for creating brightly colored concrete surfaces, Cem-Coat is available in 40 standard colors, with custom colors available upon request. The simple two-part mixture is extremely UV-resistant and is designed to reduce the effects of fungus.
— Spray-Top from Concrete Solutions is a polymer cement product that’s applied in the same way as paint to restore old, stained, smooth or stamped concrete to a like-new solid color or decorative finish. The thin coating, which preserves the existing texture, looks similar to professionally installed color hardener or integral colored concrete. As its name implies, the coating is sprayed onto the concrete with a special piece of equipment to achieve a smooth hand-troweled appearance. It’s available in any color.
