Acetone Concrete Dye Stain

Direct Colors Concrete Dye is quick-drying, easy-to-apply acetone-based, topical colorant intended for concrete floor or similar applications. When used properly, this product will provide true, consistent color for indoor and outdoor concrete surfaces. Concrete Dye is a dye and seal product and is not intended for polished concrete floors

What is Concrete Dye?

Concrete Dye is an acetone-based topical colorant. The acetone mixes with the coloring agent and bonds to the surface of the concrete. Concrete dye provides a permanent color when properly sealed and maintained with a high quality concrete sealer. When properly sealed, the dye produces a bright, variegated surface color unique to this process. Concrete Dye can also be used in conjunction with concrete acid stain to enhance color and texture. Concrete dye is ideal for commercial jobs where turnaround time is a factor as well as for stenciling and vertical projects where fast drying time and ease of application is a necessity.

Can You Dye Existing Concrete?

Concrete Dye is particularly useful when attempting to stain areas that cannot easily be colored with concrete acid stain. Concrete Dye is an excellent choice as secondary accents on tinted concrete sealer and acid stain finishes, stenciling, design work, and borders. Dye can also be used on slabs not suitable for acid staining such as concrete poured with a waterproofing additive, with exposed aggregate or areas previously treated with muriatic acid.

Concrete dye is not a good choice for excessively rough and/or heavily broomed concrete.

SURFACE PREPARATION

The floor should be completely dry before beginning the coloring process. Concrete Dye will cover up some minor imperfections, but to insure a consistent color, you will want your concrete as clean as possible. Concrete Dye performs best on hand-troweled or relatively smooth surfaces.

MIXING THE CONCRETE DYE POWDER

For best results, apply a thin layer of Satin Finish, Solvent-Based Acrylic Concrete Sealer to the surface prior to applying the concrete dye. Because the dye particles are finely milled, most surfaces, especially porous and exterior concrete, should be sealed first before applying the dye.

APPLYING THE CONCRETE DYE

Safety while applying dye is important. Remember to use goggles and gloves while working with the concrete dye. The appearance of the finished product is very much influenced by the manner in which the dye is applied.

Shake the mixture in the sprayer frequently to ensure an even, consistent color during the application.
The dye should be sprayed going right to left, then north to south.
Try not to spray on too thick. The dye will dry almost instantly.
The more layers you apply the darker the color will become.
Apply as thin a coat as possible to ensure color quality and appearance.
Generally, 3-4 coats of dye should be sufficient for most applications, but additional dye can be applied to make the surface darker.
Do not let the dye pool up in any area, so mop up these spots with a disposable rag.
Allow product to dry thoroughly.
Carefully use a dry buffer, soft cloth, or dust mop to remove excess colorant or residue on the surface before sealing.

SEALING THE COLORED CONCRETE

After the surface has been cleaned, begin the sealing process.

Remove shoes and work in sock feet on dyed surfaces.
Solvent based acrylic sealers are preferred for use with Concrete Dye.
Both solvent-based acrylic sealer finishes (satin and high gloss) can be sprayed from a pump-up sprayer or HPLV sprayer.

Use caution in applying solvent-based sealers, particularly during indoor applications. Wear a mask while applying the sealer and make certain the area is well ventilated to the outside. Consider using a water-based sealer in poor ventilated spaces such as basements.