How to make coloured concrete

How to make coloured concrete

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How to make coloured concrete

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Project Overview

Making coloured concrete is easy and follows much the same process as normal concrete, except that the water you use has colouring agent. We’ll show you how to make the colour solution and then mix it into your concrete properly. Remember to always wear your safety gear because the colouring agent can easily stain your clothes and skin. 

Continue to step-by-step instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1 Mix the colouring agent into some water
2 Pour the concrete mix onto your working surface
3 Mix the colour solution into your concrete

  • Step 1. Mix the colouring agent into some water

    Scoop out some colouring agent with your trowel and stir it into some water in your measuring cup.  Your colouring agent should be about 8% of the water volume but you can add more or less, depending on the colour you want.  Make sure that you write down the measurements to keep the colour consistent for when you make another batch. And remember to always follow the instructions on the packaging.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Mixing concrete colouring agent with water

  • Step 2. Pour the concrete mix onto your working surface

    Take the concrete mix and pour the amount you want into a mound on your working surface. Then use the trowel to make a ‘well’ in the concrete mound. This will stop the colour solution from spilling everywhere when you pour it into the concrete.

    Previous Step Next Step
    Concrete mix poured onto table

  • Step 3. Mix the colour solution into your concrete

    Now pour your colour solution into the well, just enough to fill it. Then take your trowel and start mixing the solution through the concrete. Keep turning and churning the concrete with the trowel, while adding more colour solution, until you get the colour you want and the right consistency. Your concrete should be thick and smooth, not watery. And remember, the colour of your concrete will be lighter once it dries. 

    Previous Step Next Step
    Mixing concrete mix and colouring with a trowel

Tools and Materials

Tools

  • Bucket
  • Dust mask
  • Measuring cup
  • Safety glasses
  • Safety gloves
  • Stirrer
  • Trowel
  • Water

Materials

  • Concrete mix
  • Oxide colouring agent

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