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Podcast: Color Concrete Pavers for Patios, Walkways, Pool Decks and More!

You’re listening to Direct Colors podcast Episode 36: Color Concrete Pavers for Patios, Walkways, Pool Decks and More! If this is your first time listening, then thanks for joining us.  Concrete Pavers are popular with a DIY homeowner audience because they are affordable, come in so many varieties and can be used for just about any outdoor project. Unfortunately, concrete pavers can lose their appeal becoming faded and dull with weathering and sun exposure over time. That’s when Direct Colors can help! Here to talk about the options for restoring, coloring  concrete pavers for the first time is Direct Colors General Manager, Shawna Turner. Welcome back to the podcast, Shawna.

ST: Thanks, Reagan.

RS:  What are concrete pavers most commonly used for?

ST:  Concrete pavers can be used almost anywhere concrete could be poured. I think the most popular use would be patios and walkways, but we see them included in pool deck and driveway designs, too. Because pavers come in so many shapes and sizes these days, homeowners use them to bring a little variety to their backyards in particular. Now, not all pavers are colored and we often advise customers on what products to use for the color and finish they’re looking for. There’s also a large group of people who are making and coloring their own concrete pavers and stepping stones for all kinds of purposes.  It’s really an increasingly more common DIY home improvement project and we thought we might discuss what our customers are doing.

RS:  Great. What Direct Colors products do people generally use to color concrete pavers?

ST:  It entirely depends on the project. If you have existing concrete pavers that have lost color over the years, you’d most likely update the color using our Liquid Colored Antique Concrete Stain and seal with our Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer. The antique can be used even on previously sealed concrete which makes it ideal for outdoor refinishing projects. Sometimes it’s not necessary to add additional color to the pavers but simply to seal them and bring back their original appearance. I recommend pouring water on the pavers first to determine if the color is sufficiently revived by the water or will need more color. Wetting the concrete simulates the finish when the paver has been sealed so if you’re happy when it’s wet, you’ll likely be happy after applying a satin gloss solvent based sealer such as the Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer.

RS: What about new concrete pavers? What would you recommend?

ST:  Liquid Colored Antique Concrete Stain can be used for pavers whether new or old. It’s really a great all-around outdoor staining product. However, you can also use the concrete acid stain on new concrete pavers as well. It really looks great on smooth finish concrete pavers where you can get a more typical acid stain look just like what you’d expect on a patio or similar concrete slab. One of the advantages of pavers is you can use multiple colors to create any design you wish. We’ve seen some very creative examples over the years using both acid stain and liquid colored antique.

RS:  What about older concrete pavers that have been degraded by exposure to sun and weather?

ST:  That’s very good question. Even if the pavers have never been previously stained or sealed, the surface may be too eroded to react well with acid stain. No question the Liquid Colored Antique would likely be the better option but I’d strongly recommend testing the acid stain on one of actual pavers if possible to be certain. A good rule of thumb for deciding if concrete is a good candidate for staining is to look for exposed sand or stone aggregates in the surface. If you can see that, especially if it’s widespread, Liquid Colored Antique would be your best bet.

RS:  You mentioned earlier that customers make and color their own concrete pavers. How does that work?

ST:  That’s right. If we have a customer making their own concrete pavers, they will typically color the pavers using concrete pigment. Sometimes several pigment colors in fact.  We have a wide variety of colors so customers can create all kinds of paver patterns and designs.  Pavers in the shape of flagstones are the most popular for walkways and patios I’d say.  You can even use the Liquid Colored Antique as a mold release for pavers or stepping stones to create an antiqued look on integrally colored pavers. Looks great.

RS:  What advice would you offer for customers who have concrete pavers but don’t know what to do with them?

ST:  Well, the first thing I would suggest is that if you’re happy with your pavers as they are and would like to keep them in good condition for as long as possible, seal them with our DCI Penetrating Lithium Hardener Sealer. This is a one-time only application that works best on smooth or lightly textured pavers and protects from salt as well as the freeze thaw cycle. It won’t change the color of the pavers but it will preserve them for many years to come. Our solvent based sealers are commonly used to add some shine to flagstones and deepen existing color.

I’d also say that there’s no reason to live with faded and unattractive concrete pavers or tear them out for that matter. Many years ago I had a customer call me from Arizona about his pink concrete pavers. Now there’s nothing wrong with pink but he insisted they used to be brick red but the sun had faded them to pink and his family wasn’t happy. We used the Crimson and Cinnabar Liquid Colored Antique to restore his pavers and made sure they were regularly sealed from that point forward.  We offer samples for all our products and pavers make it very easy to test colors until you get just what you want.

Coloring and Sealing Concrete Paver patios, walkways or pool decks is a relatively inexpensive way to improve the overall look of your home and significantly increase curb appeal without investing a great deal of time, effort or money. What’s better than that?

RS:  Thanks, Shawna.  Who knew there were so many options for concrete pavers – new and old! 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 design consultation and we’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours.

Direct Colors DIY Home Improvement podcasts are produced twice monthly for your enjoyment and show notes can be found at directcolors.com/listen.  Feel free to add the podcast to your favorite RSS feed.  You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ , YouTube and Instagram. I’m Reagan Smith and thanks again for joining us!