Water-based Acrylic Concrete Dye
This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2021.
Various methods exist for staining or dying concrete. These methods include the use of acid dyes, integral color (where the color is added to the concrete during mixing), dry-shake products, and water-based concrete dyes or stains. Water-based...
Various methods exist for staining or dying concrete. These methods include the use of acid dyes, integral color (where the color is added to the concrete during mixing), dry-shake products, and water-based concrete dyes or stains. Water-based concrete dyes contain small pigment particles that penetrate the natural pores in the concrete. Unlike traditional acid dyes there is no chemical reaction that occurs to color the concrete. They also tend to offer a much larger variety of colors than acid stains. This Common Product (CP) describes a water-based concrete dye or stain containing an acrylic polymer for a binder. Water-based and solvent-based paints, epoxy coatings, and polyurethane stains and sealers also may be used to color concrete but were beyond the scope of this CP.
While water-based concrete dyes exist for interior and exterior applications, some are not considered to be UV stable and are only recommended for indoor use. Some products are made UV stable by using pigments with higher UV stability. Generally a sealer is applied to protect the concrete after the pigment is applied, and these products can add additional hazards. See the Water-based Penetrating Concrete Sealer CP and the Inorganic Silicate Concrete Densifier CP to review content commonly found in two types of products that may be applied after the dye. Sometimes sealers are also relied upon to impart UV stability to the entire system.