Project Gallery by Colorant Type
ColorWave® Stain
ColorWave® Stain
- Sealing is absolutely essential
- For interior and exterior use
- Ideal for most concrete finishes
- Water-based with low VOCs
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Can be uniform or multi-color mottled
Vibrance™ Dye
Vibrance™ Dye
- Sealing is absolutely essential
- For interior and exterior use
- Ideal for smooth concrete finishes
- Acetone-based formula
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Can be uniform or multi-color mottled
Antiquing™ Stain
Antiquing™ Stain
- Sealing is absolutely essential
- Best in exterior or ventilated areas
- Ideal for stamped concrete surfaces
- Expect strong fumes
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Less pigment than Portico™
Portico™ Paver Stain
Portico™ Paver Stain
- Sealing is absolutely essential
- For exterior or ventilated areas
- Ideal for concrete paver surfaces
- Expect strong fumes
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- More pigment than Antiquing™
EverStain™ Acid Stain
EverStain™ Acid Stain
- Sealing is absolutely essential
- For interior and exterior use
- Ideal for most concrete finishes
- Permanent reactive stain
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Unique variegated mottled look
DecoGel™ Acid Stain
DecoGel™ Acid Stain
- Sealing is absolutely essential
- For interior and exterior use
- Ideal for vertical concrete finishes
- Permanent reactive stain
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Gelled, lighter hues than EverStain™
AcquaTint™ Tinted Sealer
AcquaTint™ Tinted Sealer
- Stain and sealer in one
- For interior and exterior use
- Ideal for most concrete finishes
- Water-based with low VOCs
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Lighter hue than EasyTint™
EasyTint™ Tinted Sealer
EasyTint™ Tinted Sealer
- Stain and sealer in one
- Best in exterior or ventilated areas
- Ideal for most concrete finishes
- Solvent-based, expect strong fumes
- Semi-transparent, won't hide like paint
- Deeper hue than AcquaTint™
Colorant Recommendation Chart
Water Absorption Test: Before choosing a colorant, it's crucial to test the concrete's readiness for staining. Pour a small amount of water on the concrete. If it absorbs within 5 minutes, the concrete surface is suitable for staining. However, if the water does not absorb in that time frame, the concrete will need further preparation, such as etching with CitrusEtch™ Concrete Etcher.
Follow these simple steps to determine the best colorant product for your concrete finish:
- Determine the finish of your concrete surface.
- Locate the column for that finish on the right side of the chart.
- Look for the 'BEST' recommendation for an ideal match. 'GOOD' is also a suitable option.
- Grayed-out boxes indicate that a product isn't suitable for your surface.
- Check the intended usage in the middle columns—whether for interior, exterior, or both.
- Click on the Product Name in the leftmost column to access its product page.
- Determine the finish of your concrete surface.
- Locate the column on the left side of the chart under Concrete Finish.
- Look for the 'BEST' recommendation for an ideal match. 'GOOD' is also a suitable option.
- Grayed-out boxes indicate that a product isn't suitable for your surface.
- Check the intended usage under Ideal For column—whether for interior, exterior, or both.
- Click on the Product Name to access its product page.
| Ideal For | Concrete Finish | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Name | Interior | Exterior | Machine Troweled/ Smooth |
Lightly Textured |
Stamped | Paver | Broomed | Rough |
| Antiquing™Stamped Concrete Stain | N/A | Good | Best | N/A | Best | N/A | ||
| Portico™Paver Stain | N/A | N/A | Good | Best | Good | Best | ||
| ColorWave™ (Low VOC) | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | ||
| Vibrance™ Dye | Best | Best | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
| EverStain™Acid Stain | Best | Best | Good | N/A | Good | N/A | ||
| DecoGel™ Gelled Acid Stain | Best | Best | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
| AcquaTint™ Tinted Sealer (Low VOC) | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | N/A | ||
| EasyTint™ Tinted Sealer (Solvent-Based) | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | N/A | ||
Calculator for Direct Colors Concrete Stains vs SQ FT
This calculator is for these Direct Colors interior and exterior concrete stains: AcquaTint™, Antiquing™, ColorWave®, DecoGel™, EasyTint™, EverStain™, and Portico™
