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How To Bring Out Color In Dull and Faded Concrete

Concrete fades from exposure to UV rays, surface abrasion, foot and vehicle traffic, and age. In some cases, the concrete will need to be recolored, but in most cases, the use of a high quality sealer will instantly renew any dull and faded coloring.

Color Enhancing Penetrating Concrete Sealers

Water repellent sealers are a popular choice for sealing concrete because they work entirely below the surface, won’t leave a visible surface film or coating, and will provide years of life before the need for a recoat. Because they are designed to work entirely below the surface, the amount of color enhancement they can offer is limited. Silane-siloxanes, silicates, and siliconates won’t offer any enhancement, but hybrid products, like the Armor WL550 will. The Armor WL550 combines the benefits of a water repellent sealer, with some of the enhancements an acrylic sealer offers. It is designed to slightly darken the surface, providing a slight, but not dramatic, improvement in color. The Armor WL550 is great if you are looking for a slight color enhancement without having to worry about maintaining an acrylic sealer.

Color Enhancing Acrylic Concrete Sealers

Acrylic sealers offer the most enhancement to dull and faded concrete. If you are looking for a dramatic color enhancement, or want a low to high gloss finish, acrylic sealers are the best sealers for enhancing color in dull and faded concrete.

Foundation Armor manufactures several types of acrylic sealers, and which acrylic sealer is best for you depends on what you want your concrete to look like once sealed.

  • Darkened wet look, and a low to high gloss finish: Foundation Armor solvent based acrylic sealers will darken the concrete to give it a similar appearance to being wet, and provide a low to high gloss finish. If you want the most color enhancement you can get with an acrylic sealer, solvent based acrylic sealers are the best option. Popular products include the Armor AR350, Armor AR500, Armor AX25, Armor LV15, and Armor LV25.
  • Little to no enhancement to color, and a low to high gloss finish: Foundation Armor water based acrylic sealers will offer a very slight enhancement to color, and give the concrete a low to high gloss finish. If you like the color you have but want a slight enhancement, water based acrylic sealers are the best option. Popular products include the Armor WB15 and Armor WB25.
  • A semi-transparent gray or brown tint, and a low to high gloss finish: Foundation Armor semi-transparent tint packs are a great option if you want to add color to your concrete coating, but still want to see the concrete below. They can be added to any Foundation Armor solvent based acrylic sealers. Foundation Armor also manufactures the Armor AG Brown seal which has the semi-transparent brown tint already mixed in.
  • An opaque, paint-like color, and a low to high gloss finish: If you don’t like your concrete and want to completely cover it (similar to the look of paint), Foundation Armor Acrylic Color packs can be added to any Foundation Armor solvent based acrylic sealer.

In order to see what a sealer would look like on your concrete, we suggest applying a small sample to your substrate to determine which type of sealer is best for your application.

Product Selector

By Using the Product Selector, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of using the Product Selector.

The Foundation Armor product selector is intended to provide information to help you select the appropriate product for your application, based on the information you provide. The product selector is not binding, and is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. The Product Selector also doesn’t include every possible scenario. Ultimately, it is up to the purchaser/user/installer to determine product selection and product compatibility. Foundation Armor does not assume any liability for the results displayed by the product selector, or for the choices/decisions made by the purchaser/user/installer/individual taking the quiz.