Homemade Concrete Coloring
- 1). Mix small amounts of chemicals to create your choice of stain color. Mix together ¼ cup iron sulphate (Copperas) with 2/3 cup water for a copper color. Mix 1 cup water with ¼ cup copper sulphate to create a blue to blue-green stain. Add small amounts of potassium to the copper sulphate mix for an orange or green stain. Experiment with combinations of manganese carbonate, potassium dichromate and muriatic acid for brown and black colors. Adding coffee to your mixture will give it a darker, richer look.
- 2). Mix together the final chemical compound. One gallon covers 200 to 400 square feet of fresh concrete with at least two coats, depending upon how much compound you choose to spread with each wipe of the mop.
- 3). Scrub and wash the concrete thoroughly. Follow the wash with a complete sweeping, and then a dusting with a dust mop.
- 4). Wet the concrete down lightly with a mop.
- 5). Spread the stain on the concrete using a mop, a mop with a cotton rag wrapped around it or a sponge mop, or even by hand with a large piece of cloth. Be careful not to leave footprints behind.
- 6). Keep track of where you stain since the colors do not appear right away.
- 7). Dust the floor with the dust mop after the stain dries.
- 8). Wet the floor lightly and spread the stain again for a second coat. Apply in a different direction and use different patterns of wiping. The stain can be applied multiple times. The colors will become more intense each time.
- 9). Seal the concrete with a commercial sealer after several days have passed and it has completely dried.