| Figure 9. In mixing integrally colored material, the pigment is added to the water so that the color is evenly dispersed when the dry materials are added. |
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Coloration
There are many ways to color and decorate concrete. Integral color is created by adding dry or liquid pigment to the mix (Figure 9). Surface treatments, which color the concrete after it's poured, include acid stain, color hardener, colloidal dye, and universal tints. Some colors require you to substitute white cement for the gray cement that's in conventional concrete. Additional effects can be created by embedding objects in the surface or by exposing colorful aggregate that was added to the mix.
Many customers opt for integral color because it's more uniform and because dings are less likely to show when the color goes all the way through. However, counters contain very little material, so it can be tricky getting the exact color the customer wants. Minor variations in the ingredients may produce noticeably different results.
Surface treatments allow for patterns, mottled colors, and effects that aren't possible with integral color. The color usually goes in about 1/16 inch, plenty far for the kind of wear a counter is likely to get. Surface treatments cost more than integral color because they add labor, but it's not a significant amount compared with the total cost of the job.
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Figure 10. A cordless vibrator consolidates the concrete so that there are no bug holes and rock pockets in the edge. |
Placing and Finishing
After the concrete is mixed, we haul it into the building and place it in the forms. The mix is stiff, so it's difficult to spread. We use a float to spread it and a cordless concrete vibrator to prevent voids and increase workability by bringing moisture to the surface (Figure 10).
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