Stamped concrete colors: 10 best colors for stamped concrete?

When it comes to stamped your patio, pool deck or driveway. You need to choose the pattern to look like wooden, slate, stone or any other material. But only right color combination can give you the realistic look. There’s a wide range of colors for stamped concrete but below we will discuss and mention which stamped concrete colors are suitable for your patio and walkways.

Basics of stamped concrete colors:

Basically stamped concrete is patterned or textured to resemble like stone, wood, slate or any other pattern. It has two types of colors, one is integral color and the other is release/accent color. Integral color is use as a base, which is added in concrete mix at batching plant or at site before pouring. While accent or release color is applied over the wet surface of poured concrete.

If you have old concrete floor or patio try concrete stain. Concrete stain is basically water product which is applied over concrete. Because of concrete porosity the dye/pigment penetrates into concrete and gives permanent concrete stain color.

Integral colors:

To get a permanent color in concrete, which do not fade and wear over time is to use integral color. Integral pigment actually penetrates into the concrete and give it a permanent color. The advantage of this, you won’t get the different color at the bottom if the concrete goes fade or wear out. Integral color is added in concrete while mixing & then place the colored concrete. It is the most common and best way to color concrete.

Shake-on color hardener:

Shake-on color hardener is apply over the fresh concrete surface during initial stage of finishing. Color hardener is mix with cement & fine aggregates and then apply as dry shake on the surface area. It harden the color of concrete & provide dense and strong layer on concrete surface.  VISIT HERE

Release color:

Release color is the final color applied over the top of the concrete surface. The purpose of release color is to enhance the base color. It also helps to prevent stamp mats from sticking to concrete. While choosing the release color, be sure to choose a darker color matches your base color, it will give better result. E.g. integral color is beige with brown release agent & Pecos sand color hardener with walnut release agent.

What colors does stamped concrete come in?

Most popular integral stamp concrete colors are brown color, beige, gray color, natural gray color, tan color, red color & wood color. The cost of stamping is about $9-$30 per foot.

Advantage of integral color is that, it mix trough out the concrete, so the stamped concrete patio or driveway give a uniform appearance. If the stamp concrete get crack, it won’t show the color variation underneath.

While the antique/accent color is use as highlighter in between pattern lines. Stamped concrete color combination depend on the integral and accent colors. The combination can give you more realistic look or either the dim & dull.

Read stamp concrete with fire pit

Stamped concrete patterns and colors:

Basically stamped concrete has five basic designs or patterns for concrete patio such as wood stamp, slate, stone, brick and textures. Further you can have different stamped concrete color combinations and dye e.g. tan, brown, gray combinations to modify a stamped concrete and get a unique design.

For concrete staining, there’s also numerous concrete stain colors are available, such as tan, brown, red, gray, wood color etc.

How to pick stamped concrete colors?

If we talk about stamp concrete colors, you can choose any integral color for it. But to give it a realistic and comfort look better to choose the one from the popular colors. e.g. brown, tan, gray & wood color.

If we talk about stamped concrete release colors, there’s numerous option available, but the dark for light is best combination. It means if you have a tan stamp concrete choose a brown or dark release/accent color. If you choose brown or gray integral color, the release color should be black or dark gray.

Light colors:

Stamped concrete has variety of light color options to pick. Most popular light color for stamped is beige, Pecos sand, sandstone color, light gray, gold sandstone, antique white, buff, camel, silver gray and sun gray. All the colors are avalaible for integral as well as release, but choose a darker color for release to get a prominent look.

Dark colors:

There’re variety of dark colors for stamped patio as well. But this needs really expertise to choose the dark color for base as well as for release, because both dark colors can over took each other so be focus to choose. Try the combination of Pecos sand base color with walnut release agent. Another combination of dark color is beige as base and dark brown as release agent.

How to do stamped colored concrete?

Ok so you decided to get a stamped concrete. If you don’t know anything about the stamped concrete, just read the important things & hire a contractor. Anyways if you don’t want to hire a contractor, below i will guide you step by step, how to get colored stamped concrete?

First of all just measure your area to calculate how much concrete do you need? If less concrete is require just make it on site, if there’s more concrete to be use, just order ready mix concrete.

1. First of all just add the base color pigment to your concrete on site or at batching plant. The ratio of pigment is between 0.4% to 10% max of the cement weight. The more pigment you add the more intense it will be. Please check right percentage will be written on pigment bag.
2. Secondly pour the concrete in form work, where you need a stamped patio. Make it surface smoother with trowel. Apply the required color hardener as dry shake after 30 minutes.
3. Now Stamped the concrete surface with stamp mats. You can buy it locally or at Amazon. Press the stamp mats in a good manners so it imprints over the concrete surface.
4. Remove the stamp mats, highlight the pattern lines, if required. Let it dry for 3 to 7 days.
5. Apply the release color on concrete surface. Make the groove lines highlighted. Wash the release color after a day. Let it dry, apply the sealer over it.

Can stamped concrete color be changed?

Yes, you can change the color of stamp concrete. How to change stamped concrete color? Once the placement of concrete is finish and completly dry, you can then apply the new color upon it. You need to change the color, when the previous color is fade out, gives a unrealistic or bad look which is due to choosing the wrong combinations of integral and accent colors.

Best stamped concrete patterns and colors:

Stamp concrete can be cast in any patterns with different stamped concrete color combinations. Most popular patterns are slate, wood, brick, regular and irregular shapes. Different concrete patterns used on different locations.

On pool deck people prefer wood and slate pattern with brown and natural gray color. For patio and drive ways people use brick and stone patterns with color combination of tan and red.

Popular stamped concrete colors and patterns: Colored concrete patio

For patios and driveways people prefer slate and brick stamp concrete pattern with a tan, gray, beige, Pecos sand, sandstone color, light gray, gold sandstone, antique white, buff, camel and red color combination. Dark brown and black is use as antique/accent or highlighter on patios. It gives aesthetic appearance and nice look to patio.

How long does colored stamped concrete last?

The life span of stamped concrete is about 25 years, which is almost same as normal concrete. Because both the concrete are poured and mix in same manners. If you don’t compromise the quality of concrete, and place it adequately with proper maintanance, it can last more than 25 years.

If you use color hardner (Engineered method to color the the concrete by adding blend pigment, cement and fine aggregate). This gives more durability and strength to concrete, because it create a dense/thick layer on concrete surface.

Stamped colored concrete around pool:

Stamped & colored concrete around pool is a wonderful idea. It gives really amazing look with light color combinations. Yes it is durable choice and slip resistant. If it is properly sealed it gives resistant against chemicals, fading out and water entrance. Further you can stain it later on, but be sure not to make its surface more slippery.

Is stamped concrete safe around a pool?

Yes stamped concrete is very much safe around pool. The advantage of stamped concrete it has beautiful texture, non slippery surface. It also resist water exposure if properly sealed, just use a good quality of sealer with expertise to seal it. Stamped concrete can have more than 25+ life span if properly maintained.

Can you stamp concrete without color?

Yes, you can stamp concrete without adding any color pigment into it. Even though concrete has really beautiful natural light gray color. It will give the conventional look of concrete but be sure to seal it to make it long lasting.

Does sealing stamped concrete change color?

No, concrete sealing doesn’t change the color. Concrete sealer is water based transparent product which is use to seal the pours, cracks & gaps of surface. Sealer main purpose is to prevent water from entering into concrete surface. It sometimes just make release color a little more prominent.

Black concrete stain:

Black concrete stain acid react chemically and penetrates into concrete surface pores and produce a permanent color by making bond. There’re many concrete stain colors available such as black, red, coffee, brown, tan, gray etc.

Best black concrete stain gallon is selling on amazon which cost $44 and cover between 200 to 400 sq ft depending on coating. This is really easy to apply just add water and apply over the surface with roller. It can be apply on already stained surface but the last result may be different.