We had new steps poured this past week. It was a two part pour, with red concrete for the sides and tan for the steps.
The red side columns came out nice, but you can rub your and across it and your hand turns red. It seems like there’s a very thing layer of colored powder over the entire surface of the concrete now.
The tan concrete doesn’t seem to be suffering from this condition.
The contractor believes it will weather off over time, but suggested that we just put a sealer over it.
Any thoughts on that? Is it normal for dark-tinted concrete to have this issue? Does sealing it sound like a good idea?
Replies
Is the concrete stamped, or just a flat pour. We need a little more info to properly help you out.
Secondly, wasn't your contractor supposed to seal it as a part of the job? I've always included sealing our stamped and colored concrete jobs for just this reason.
It sounds like the contractor broadcasted the colorant on top of regular concrete, instead of mixing the colorant in the redi mix truck. If so, you may have some issues if any cracks occur and the 'white' color of regular concrete comes through from underneath. I always colored the entire batch of mix for this exact reason. Also, a release agent could have been used to keep stamps from sticking, and this may be what is rubbing off. Anyway, I'm speculating, so I'll wait to hear back from you.
Jeff
Edited 10/12/2006 12:10 am ET by JeffHeath
Sorry for not clarifying a few things.It's not a broadcast color...it's premixed (ordered via truck from the concrete distributor). It's not stamped either. Just form poured than trowel finished.The cement company did say they couldn't guarantee the mix since we were only ordering 2 yards (they had something like a 4 yard minimum to guarantee color). The sides did come out a tad bright, so perhaps they had put too much color in the mix.Anyways, sounds like sealing will solve everything? I just wanted to make sure the color rubbing off wasn't a sign of bad concrete or anything.
Seal it, two coats, with ample dry time between. Should be just fine.
Jeff
A little of the red pigment goes a long way, so what is coming off on your hand is probably a very small amount of the pigment and simply seems like a lot. Sealing would take care of it, as would just letting it be.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.