What causes concrete to become discolored? Have you ever passed a house whose driveway was tinted concrete? The fact that it’s lighter in some areas and darker in others indicates that the staining was accidental. When you look at a chaotic project, you can’t help but wonder what went wrong and how you may avoid making the same error on future concrete projects.
Reasons Why Does Concrete Turn Discolored? The Fading of Concrete Occurs Frequently
There are a lot of variables that might cause concrete to become discolored at the beginning of the process, and concrete laying is not an exact science. Here are some of the factors:
- varying concrete mixes that utilize calcium chloride and either too little or too much water
- wrong ways to lay concrete
- climate outside
- water and salt exposure
The correct sealing of poured concrete can prevent many of these problems. However, what happens if the color remains even after sealing?
Reasons Why Does Concrete Turn Discolored? Why Does Sealed Concrete Get Discolored?
When examining stained concrete that has been sealed, it is common to examine for three potential causes:
An incorrect application of the sealer was made.
Sufficient sealer was not applied.
The concrete itself absorbed water at different rates.
The sealing procedures and concrete’s inherent characteristics are typically to blame for post-sealing discoloration.
Because of their inherent porosity, certain regions of the earth are more likely to contain concrete than others. First, we apply concrete sealers to solve the permeability issue and stop newly poured concrete from absorbing salts and water, which could cause corrosion or contamination more rapidly.
However, discolouration is an inevitable result of both the varied porosity and the ineffective application of the sealer.
A lack of a proper seal can cause concrete to deteriorate when exposed to water or de-icing products, regardless of how uniform the color may seem at first.
What causes concrete to become discolored? Ways to keep concrete from becoming discolored?
Getting the sealant on concrete right from the start is the simplest approach to keep it from discoloring. Looking at a concrete slab under a microscope makes it look like there are an infinite number of peaks and valleys. The end profile of the slab’s surface is directly affected by the finish. A more leveled surface would have fewer peaks and valleys, but the Grand Canyon could look rushed or uneven.
The goal of sealing concrete is to create a smooth surface by filling up any imperfections and leveling out any bumps. On the other hand, keep in mind that the concrete’s porosity will absorb some of the sealer—the amount and location of this absorption will be totally dependent on the concrete’s variability. Inadequate sealing will cause certain areas of your concrete to look shielded while others remain exposed.
What causes concrete to become discolored? The concrete will eventually become discolored as a result of this.
Sealers are engineered to assist in producing the most consistent seal conceivable. Poor application techniques or materials won’t compensate for poor quality sealer, unfortunately.
As a result, you should absolutely pour on as much concrete sealer as you can and spread it evenly over the surface, making sure to fill in any troughs and account for any porosity.
BUDGE WARNING: Applying a heavy sealant could cause concrete to expand. The coloring may be uniform, but the top coat may be so thin that air bubbles embedded in the concrete will be the only thing visible.
A few light coats of the sealer applied evenly can avoid this problem. Give it at least two or three hours to dry in between applications. After the coatings have hardened, check for spills. If the concrete doesn’t show any signs of discoloration after the last coat has set, you’ll know you’re done.
Having patience and being willing to seal slowly and carefully is the key to attaining the consistent finish you desire.
What causes concrete to become discolored? Reasons Why Does Concrete Turn Discolored?
What Gives Concrete Its Discolored Look?
It’s easy to picture yourself staring at your damaged, discolored concrete in agony if the harm has already been done. Based on what you know today, it’s clear that not enough sealer was applied to all locations.
Taking out the concrete and starting again is now your only choice, is it?
No way! You still have time to solve this, but you’ll have to put in some work.
On the other hand, you may try adding a second coat of concrete stain over the first one to cover up the imperfections. Naturally, doing so would necessitate the elimination while the previously used sealant would eventually necessitate more effort.
In summary
Properly applied, concrete impregnators can drastically cut down on stain formation on concrete. To avoid issues down the road, be careful the next time you seal concrete.
Be sure to read our other articles as well:
- One liter of BETOFF-I-Impregnat for use with both concrete and precast driveways
- Pavement paint that works best
- A home made from wood or concrete?
- Various varieties of cement
