One of the many ways to add color and style to assorted landscapes is with colored concrete. This decorative concrete comes in a number of hues and can be designed to match or complement other outdoor features. Learn more about colored concrete here, including its benefits and what maintenance is required. 

What Is Colored Concrete?

This type of decorative concrete is made in two ways: integral coloring and staining. Integral coloring refers to adding the selected pigment to the material during the cement mixing process. Pigments are generally available in earth tones and are liquid, powder, or granular. Since the color is part of the concrete, there is no risk of it fading, chipping, or wearing away. 

Staining concerns adding an acid-based stain to new or previously installed concrete. The stain is usually a combination of hydrochloric acid, water, and acid-soluble metallic salts. Such stains are available in earth tones as well, and they penetrate the material to avoid chipping, fading, and wear issues. 

What Are the Benefits?

Colored concrete adds instant beauty to your landscape and can be used in a variety of ways, such as for walkway, driveway, patio, porch, retaining wall, or fireplace project. You can also have your decorative concrete textured to create a desired look, such as a well-worn stone pathway, or stamped with assorted designs for unique results. 

Opting for this type of concrete also means enjoying damage-resistant surfaces, since there is virtually no risk of scratches or dents in addition to no fading, chipping, or wear problems. If you decide to enhance existing concrete installations with color, you reduce your carbon footprint. Concrete staining agents make the material like new again, which keeps it out of landfills. 

What Are Some Maintenance Tips?

It takes little time or effort to keep your decorative concrete beautiful. Simply mop the flooring or wipe down the installation a few times a month to remove dust, dirt, and grime. Should you require more cleaning power, use a power washer, if applicable, or a mild soap and water solution. For serious grease issues, use a degreasing product. 

If the concrete is indoors, have it waxed once per year to maintain its luster. For outdoor concrete, have it re-sealed every four or five years, depending on its location and the amount of foot traffic it sees. 

Does colored concrete sound ideal for your property? Contact Melvin Hubbard Concrete Construction Inc. to discuss your ideas. This concrete company has served Broken Arrow, OK, and the surrounding areas since 1990, providing timely services from seasoned experts. Call (918) 857-1163 today to schedule services, or learn more about the company’s offerings online.