DO DYES PENETRATE THE CONCRETE LIKE ACID STAINS?

Unlike stains, which react chemically with the calcium hydroxide in concrete, dyes are nonreactive and impart color by penetrating concrete or other porous cementitious surfaces. Dyes are much smaller in particle size than chemical stains or acrylic stains, thus allowing for easier penetration and color saturation while leaving less residue on the surface. A good analogy for comparing the color intensity and penetration of dyes to stains is that you can fit a lot more marbles than bowling balls into the same size container. The small dye particles fill the pores of the concrete and are very hard to remove, making dyes nearly as permanent as stains. Because there is virtually no residue, minimal cleanup is required, greatly speeding the application process.

ARE ALL DYES THE SAME?

Dyes are available in water- or solvent-based formulations and produce looks ranging from monotone to translucent, depending on how they are applied. Water-based dyes typically produce more marbling and variegation (similar to the look of a chemical stain), while solvent-based dyes tend to be more monotone and uniform in color. Some manufacturers' water- and solvent-based dyes can be combined to produce special color effects. The downside to dyes is that they penetrate very fast, leaving little room for error during application. Also, they are not UV stable, so most manufacturers recommend indoor use only.

CAN DYES AND STAINS BE USED IN COMBINATION?

Dyes and tints provide color variations not available in chemical stains and they can be used in combination to treat areas that did not stain well, or can lighten the stain color.

WHERE CAN DYES BE USED?

Dyes can be used as a stand-alone color application or layered over stains or integral pigments to enhance or intensify the color. Because of the broad array of color options, concrete artisans often turn to dyes to create elaborate graphic compositions. Many dyes also take well to polishing, and some products are specifically formulated to impart rich color to polished concrete floors.

DO DYES HAVE LIMITATIONS?

Like chemical stains, dyes have some transparency, so they will not disguise flaws in an existing surface or mask an underlying color. Dyes are not as UV stable as stains and may fade when exposed to direct sunlight. If you are considering using a dye for an outdoor project, be sure to check its suitability for exterior applications.