Decorative Concrete Trial Kits

Decorative Concrete Trial Kit Buying Guide

Not all concrete surfaces are created equal, that’s for sure! The colorant you ultimately choose for your DIY project will depend on a few factors such as heat, moisture, and traffic. The texture or finish of your particular concrete surface is also a very important factor. In this buying guide, we’ll give our ideal recommendations for what a DIYer should consider when choosing the best product for their project. Let’s break it down!

What to Think About When Choosing a Kit

Heat

Floors are the most common application for decorative concrete products. But, as concrete becomes a more popular building material, more and more houses are fitted with concrete surfaces that homeowners might have not considered. Countertops, walls, fireplaces, and even decor could be made of concrete - and could be spiffed up with a colorant if you so choose! For concrete surfaces that could potentially get hot such as fireplaces and countertops next to stoves, the type of stain matters less than the way the concrete is sealed. Concrete acid stain or water-based stains will do the job here, but be sure to seal the surface with Direct Colors Penetrating Sealer.. This particular sealer is safe up to 160℉, and won’t bubble or crack the way some other sealers may.

Moisture

Now that that’s out of the way, moisture is your next most important consideration. Similar to heat, protection from moisture penetration is often the job of the concrete sealer. But, indoor flooring generally doesn’t see moisture the way a pool deck or patio might. However, countertops are a different story. Countertops see a lot of moisture and a ton of use from different materials. From pots and pans to knives and hands, your kitchen counter might even see more traffic than your floors do!

Traffic

For the high traffic of your concrete floor, we recommend acid stain. For DIYers, our EverStain™ Acid Stain Trial Kit makes it easy to get what you need and start your project as soon as possible. Concrete acid stain is particularly good for high-traffic areas such as indoor flooring. This is because of acid stain’s longevity and durability after application. However, for a concrete coloring option that is easier to apply and has less odor, our ColorWave™ Water-Based Stain Kit is the way to go. This concrete stain, while lacking a bit of the longevity of the acid stain, is much easier to apply, and won’t have the application odor that an acid stain will. The main difference between indoor and outdoor concrete stain is sunlight and the sheer amount of moisture that an outdoor area will experience. UV rays can damage or fade concrete coloring projects. Without the right product, your patio or pool deck can go from beauty to bust in a matter of years or months. That goes for moisture content too. Concrete stains penetrate the pores of the concrete to interact with the inner workings of the material, and if water is clogging up those pores, the stain won’t be able to get in, and you’ll be left with a sub-par coloring job. For the specific and extreme environment of your patio or pool deck, we recommend the Antiquing™ Stain Kit. This stain is durable enough to withstand the beating rain and sunlight, but powerful enough to give your concrete a rich, vibrant color. For DIYers who aren’t sure what they need to get started, we’ve got you covered with our complete DIY kits.

Trial Kits By Finish At a Glance

AcquaTint™ Tinted Sealer Trial Kit:

This low VOC, colored concrete sealer offers the protective benefits of sealers - with that added smidge of color! We recommend AcquaTint™ for indoor concrete surfaces that are smooth/machine troweled or lightly textured for best results. You can also get some pretty fantastic results on indoor brick pavers or stamped concrete.

Antiquing™ Stain Trial Kit:

For the best results on outdoor broomed concrete and stamped concrete, we recommend Antiquing™ Stain. It’ll also do a decent job on smooth, or lightly textured surfaces. This concrete stain is great at restoring color to your faded exterior concrete.

ColorWave™ Water Based Stain Trial Kit:

Low VOC and nearly odorless, Direct Colors’ ColorWave™ semi transparent stain is easy to apply, and safe to use on interior and exterior concrete. It’s best for machine troweled, smooth, and lightly textured surfaces, and also works on stamped concrete.

DecoGel™ Acid Stain Trial Kit:

This gel based acid stain works best for machine troweled/smooth surfaces, but also thrives on lightly textured concrete. If you’re looking for that marbled look, DecoGel™ can achieve it!

EasyTint™ Tinted Sealer Trial Kit:

A stain and sealer in one, EasyTint™ cuts the time it takes to complete your project in half! Use it on indoor and outdoor surfaces that are machine troweled, smooth, or lightly textured. You can also use it on pavers or stamped concrete.

EverStain™ Acid Stain Trial Kit:

This reactive stain works best for machine troweled/smooth, lightly textured, and stamped surfaces, but also works for broomed concrete. If you’re looking for that marbled look, EverStain™ can achieve it!

Concrete Pigment Trial Kit:

An integral concrete colorant, concrete pigment is added to mixed concrete to color it before it’s even poured. Pigment is a pastel, muted color option often used for things like concrete planters and art.

Portico™ Paver Stain Trial Kit:

For concrete pavers, broomed concrete, and rough surfaces, we recommend Portico™. This concrete stain doesn’t just restore color to your faded outdoor concrete - it can also withstand heavy foot traffic, UV rays, and other environmental factors once sealed.

Vibrance™ concrete dye Trial Kit:

Concrete dye powder is mixed with acetone to create a solid, sleek color for your indoor and outdoor concrete surfaces. Modern and timeless all at once, this colorant is ideal for machine troweled/smooth or lightly textured surfaces.