Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement · Episode 28
Listen to this episode
White is the most requested countertop color and the hardest to actually achieve. The reason is the cement itself: add white pigment to a gray Portland mix and you get ash, not white. Shawna Turner on why white Portland cement is the only real starting point, and what your options are when the top you have is already gray.
5 min 15 sec · Download MP3 (7.2 MB)
For this job you need: Concrete Powder Pigment · Vibrance™ · ColorWave®
Not sure which is right for your slab? Send us the details — the free project consultation is a person, not a form letter.
The written guide on this topic, with photographs: Everything White Concrete Countertops.
Editor’s note. This episode was recorded some years ago. The transcript below has been corrected where the facts have changed; nothing about the technique has been altered.
- Most of the products named in this episode are no longer sold by Direct Colors. The white countertop mix, the concrete overlay, the TiO2 white pigment color packs, the white tinted sealer, those polyurethane sealers, the epoxy countertop sealer and the countertop kits have all been discontinued. The Direct Colors product names and codes have been dropped, but the generic material names — overlay, polyurethane, epoxy, tinted sealer — remain in the transcript, because they are what the technique actually depends on. Where Shawna recommends one in the first person (“I’d recommend…”, “we encourage…”, “our most popular…”) she is speaking at the time of recording about a Direct Colors product that no longer exists — read those as the method, not as a current recommendation, and see “What to use for white today” below. The technique and the chemistry are unchanged — you can still follow this using materials from a concrete supplier.
- White pigment is still available: Concrete Powder Pigment in color 205 (white). For a white surface color rather than a white mix, Vibrance™ 339 White and ColorWave® 601 White are both current.
- The “Ash TiO2” and “Pearl TiO2” product codes have been dropped, but the distinction they were making is kept because it is the whole point of the episode: white pigment in a gray mix reads as ash, not white.
- The Concrete Countertop Photo Gallery referenced is now DIY Concrete Countertops in Direct Colors University.
- The sign-off’s RSS-feed line and social links have been dropped — the list included Google+, which shut down in 2019, and Twitter, now X.
- The series is no longer in production, so the closing reference to a twice-monthly schedule reads in the past tense.
- ⚠ Direct Colors does sell a polyurethane again — ThaneForce™ High Gloss, for professionals only. It is not available to buy online and has no product page: call (877) 255-2656 to buy. It comes in 3 gallon and 15 gallon. The specific products named in this episode are still discontinued — this is a different sealer, not a reissue.
- Housekeeping, applied to every episode in this archive. The spoken sign-off has been rewritten to point here rather than at the old directcolors.com/listen address. The RSS-feed line, the social-media list and any pointers to retired photo-gallery, blog or video pages have been dropped, along with pointers to pages that have since been retired or superseded by the links under What’s Next — in some episodes that removes a whole sentence or a short exchange. Every speaker says “design consultation”; the service is now called the free project consultation, and we have used the current name throughout rather than send you to a page that no longer exists. Run-on speaker turns, duplicated intro lines and obvious transcription slips have been repaired without changing meaning. Nothing bearing on technique, safety or product choice has been altered; those changes are itemized above.
Still accurate, and the reason this episode is worth keeping: a truly white result can only come from a mix containing white Portland cement. No pigment will turn gray cement white. Also still true — epoxy yellows in direct sunlight and does not belong outdoors.
What to use for white today
Almost every product in this episode is discontinued, so here is the honest current answer — split by whether you are making the concrete or recoloring concrete you already have.
- Making white concrete
- Source a white Portland mix, then add Concrete Powder Pigment in color 205 (white). No pigment turns gray cement white.
- White onto an existing gray surface
- Vibrance™ Dye 339 White or ColorWave® Stain 601 White.
- A near-white opaque finish
- AcquaTint™ PRO Colored Sealer or EasyTint™ Tinted Sealer in the palest shades — 524 Silver Gray and 504 Buff read far lighter than bare gray.
- Seal it
- AcquaSeal™ indoors, EasySeal™ outdoors.
For a countertop specifically, send the details through the free project consultation before buying — we no longer make a countertop-specific sealer and want you pointed at the right thing.
Full transcript
Tommy Carter: You’re listening to podcast episode number 28: How Do I Get Brilliant White Concrete? If this is your first time listening, then thanks for listening. I’m Tommy Carter, Sales Manager and Technician with Direct Colors. We receive a lot of requests for white concrete countertops. White is a popular color for kitchen tops as well as bathroom vanities, but it’s not always easy to find the materials you need to make a truly white countertop. Direct Colors’ General Manager talks about how to get the most brilliant white color for your indoor and outdoor concrete projects. Thanks for joining us today, Shawna.
Shawna Turner: Thank you.
TC: So, why is it so difficult to get a white concrete color?
ST: In order to get a brilliant white color, you’ll need to begin with either a white concrete countertop mix or a concrete overlay. Unfortunately, white concrete mixes are often hard if not impossible to find locally. Often, gray Portland concrete mixes are all customers can find in their area. At best, gray concrete mixes will yield an ashen gray or light gray color even when a white concrete pigment has been added. We do recommend adding a white pigment to that white mix or overlay for the most brilliant white finish possible.
TC: Just to be clear, can a customer use a gray countertop mix and get a white color?
ST: No. A truly white color can only be achieved using a concrete mix containing white Portland cement. As I mentioned, white concrete pigment can be added to a gray concrete mix to create an ashen color, but not a white. The white pigment is a powder and should be mixed into either the countertop mix or the overlay prior to applying.
TC: What options do our customers have for making an existing countertop white?
ST: Well, they have quite a few options for both indoor and outdoor projects. For an existing gray concrete countertop, I’d recommend a white tinted concrete sealer. If they prefer a more solid look, this might be the fastest and least expensive option. Once the tinted sealer has been applied, topcoat the countertop with either a polyurethane or epoxy finish for best results. Keep in mind that epoxy would not be an option for an outdoor project.
ST: Now, if they’re interested in a little metallic shimmer, they could consider adding a pearl metallic pigment to an epoxy countertop sealer for an extra touch of class. It’s our most popular color on bathroom vanities.
TC: What about refinishing a Formica countertop?
ST: That’s by far the easiest and most affordable way to get a white kitchen countertop if you are starting with Formica. A white concrete overlay does the job, and white pigment can also be added to the overlay for a brilliant white finish.
TC: Finally, what about sealers? What’s the best sealer for white concrete countertops?
ST: We encourage customers with white countertops to apply a polyurethane sealer for greater durability, chemical and stain resistance, in high gloss, gloss or matte for indoor or outdoor countertops. If using an epoxy, keep in mind that the sealer will yellow over time when exposed to direct sunlight. Epoxy countertop sealers should never be used outdoors, and should be used with caution on indoor white countertops where direct sunlight might be an issue.
TC: Thanks for all that information. We hope this podcast will help customers find the products they need for white countertops and other concrete projects. DIY Home Improvement podcasts were produced twice monthly for your enjoyment, and the show notes live here in the Direct Colors listening archive. I’m Tommy Carter, and thanks again for joining us!
What’s Next
- The written guide → Everything White Concrete Countertops
- White on floors and slabs → White Concrete Stain Gallery · White Concrete Basement Floor
- Coloring the mix itself → Integral Color · Pigment Color Chart
- Countertops start to finish → DIY Concrete Countertops
- Shop → Concrete Powder Pigment · Vibrance™ · ColorWave®
