Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement · Episode 12
Listen to this episode
Stamped concrete fades because the sealer breaks down and takes the topical color with it. Wet the slab and you will know which problem you have: if you like it wet, you need a sealer; if you do not, you need color. Shawna Turner on why you must reseal like-for-like, and on the powdered-release failure that a stain will only mask temporarily.
5 min 46 sec · Download MP3 (8.0 MB)
For this job you need: Antiquing™ · EasySeal™ Satin · Portico™
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: What Makes a Stained Concrete Patio Shine Again.
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.
- “Liquid Colored Antique Concrete Stain” is now Antiquing™ Stamped Concrete Stain, and “Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer” is now EasySeal™ Satin.
- Direct Colors no longer sells that polyurethane. The advice about it — that you must scuff or abrade an existing polyurethane before recoating, or the new coat peels straight off — is left in because it is still true of polyurethane generally, but the specific product named on air is no longer available.
- Ace Hardware and True Value are third-party retailers, named as spoken.
- For a pool deck or paver project today, note there are now paver-specific lines that did not exist when this was recorded: Portico™ and PaveWave™.
- The closing “RELATED” links pointed at pages that have since been reorganized; the equivalent material is under What’s Next below.
- ⚠ 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photo-gallery, blog or video pages have been dropped, along with pointers to pages that have since been retired or superseded by the links under What’s Next — in some episodes that removes a whole sentence or a short exchange.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: the wet test; that acrylic sealers last roughly 2–3 years outdoors depending on climate; that you must reseal solvent over solvent and water-based over water-based to avoid a reaction; that Antiquing™ works over previously sealed concrete; and the 6–8 hour dry time before sealing.
What to use for this today
The polyurethane in this episode is discontinued, and the paver-specific lines below did not exist when it was recorded. The method — wet test, match solvent to solvent, recolor then reseal — is unchanged.
- Renewing color on faded outdoor concrete
- Antiquing™ Stamped Concrete Stain — it works over previously sealed concrete, which is the whole point of this episode.
- Resealing outdoors (solvent over solvent)
- EasySeal™ Satin. Expect roughly 2–3 years outdoors before it wants another coat.
- A polyurethane (pros only)
- ThaneForce™ High Gloss is available to professionals by phone — call (877) 255-2656 to buy, 3 or 15 gallon. For a DIY route instead: HydroCryl™ where you want maximum chemical resistance, or ProSeal Li™ where you would rather have no film to lift at all. If a previous polyurethane coat is already down, the scuff-or-it-peels advice applies to recoating it either way.
- Pavers and pool decks
- Portico™ or PaveWave™ — paver-specific and newer than this recording.
Do the wet test first, then send the result and what is already on the slab through the free project consultation — what the old sealer is determines what can go over it.
Full transcript
Amie Nolen: You are listening to Direct Colors podcast episode 12. I’m Amie Nolen and today we’re talking with Direct Colors General Manager, Shawna Turner, about the best way to renew color on outdoor concrete and pool decks.
AN: “My stamped concrete looked great when it was first installed, but now the color has faded and the finish is dull. What can I do to restore the color again?” We get this question a lot. Stamped or textured concrete is often integrally colored with contrasting color accents and sealed. Over time, especially if the concrete goes unsealed for a significant period of time, the concrete loses some of its topical color once the sealer begins to break down. Welcome, Shawna.
AN: What would you recommend for exterior decorative concrete that hasn’t been sealed for several years?
Shawna Turner: First, I would see what the concrete color looks like when it’s wet. If the color is satisfactory when the concrete is wet, you most likely just need to seal the concrete using a quality concrete sealer. Most acrylic concrete sealers last between 2–3 years depending on the climate before re-application is needed. It’s important to know what kind of sealer was originally used, if at all possible. To avoid undesirable chemical reactions, solvent based sealers should be resealed using a solvent based sealer, and the same for water based products. Something else to keep in mind: if your concrete happens to have been sealed with polyurethane, the surface must be scuffed or abraded before another coat of polyurethane can be applied. If you attempt to re-coat without sanding first, the new sealer will peel right off the concrete. No fun for sure.
ST: Now, if you still think the color isn’t right even when it’s wet, then Antiquing™ is the product for you. We formulated this product in response to customer demand for a stain that would renew stamped and textured concrete even if it has been previously sealed. The color flows into the lowest parts of the stamp impression, adding natural looking highlights. It can also be used on smooth or broomed concrete for a rich, more solid color appearance. I’ve used the antiquing on my outdoor concrete at home. I love it — so easy to use and maintain.
AN: How do you apply the stain, and which concrete sealer would you typically use for outdoor concrete?
ST: While we do offer individual samples and sample kits for testing or small projects, which would generally be applied with a foam brush, Antiquing™ is always sprayed from a fence and deck sprayer for larger projects. The key to success with this product is to shake it very, very well before pouring from the container, and to shake it periodically during application, just to make sure the product remains in solution at all times. The application itself is very straightforward — spray even, saturating coats onto the concrete until the desired color is achieved. As for the best sealer choice for this product, I always use EasySeal™ Satin on outdoor concrete. It works great in conjunction with the concrete stain, and it’s a safe, non-slip choice for most patios and pool decks.
AN: So why are you such a fan of this product?
ST: Most of all I appreciate how easy it is to use, and beyond the initial surface prep, how quickly I can finish a project using the stain. Once the concrete is clean and dry, you simply spray down the product and allow for 6–8 hours dry time before sealing. There’s no additional cleaning or rinsing in between. Really a joy to work with when you need to get something completed quickly. I love all the color options too. Sometimes I combine colors, use multiple colors, or both. It’s really a very flexible, user friendly material.
AN: Are there any projects that might require a little closer scrutiny before applying the antique stain and sealer?
ST: Yes. Concrete stamped and accented with powdered release at the time of installation can sometimes become a problem a few years down the line, especially if left unsealed for a while. The powdered release, usually darker than the concrete itself, flakes away leaving an unsightly speckled pattern behind. Unfortunately, repairing the damage using an antique stain is sometimes only a temporary fix and the problem often continues.
ST: So what can be done? First, power wash the concrete to remove as much of the loose colorant as possible. Sand those areas where significant color loss has occurred to prevent more damage, and apply Antiquing™ to the dry, clean concrete. Properly preparing the concrete prior to application, and sealing well with a high quality concrete sealer, will reduce the chance of future damage.
AN: Thank you for the helpful DIY tips on renewing color on outdoor concrete and pool decks. Sounds like it’s easier than we first thought! If you have questions, call one of our expert technicians at 877-255-2656 and we’ll help you select the best products and technique for your needs. If you prefer email, send in a free online project consultation and we’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours.
What’s Next
- The written guide → What Makes a Stained Concrete Patio Shine Again
- Recoloring stamped concrete → Recolor Faded Stamped Concrete · Stamped Decorative Concrete
- Applying it → How to Apply Outdoor Concrete Stain · acid stain vs Antiquing™
- Pool decks → Staining Concrete Pool Decks · Sealing a Pool Deck · Salt Water Pool Sealer Tips
- Shop → Antiquing™ · EasySeal™ Satin · Portico™
