Concrete Colour Solutions - Frequently Asked Questions


		Frequently Asked Questions

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Care & Maintenance Tips
Decorative Concrete surfaces need to be maintained!
Follow these simple tips and keep your surfaces looking good all year round.

Keep driveway clean, including sweeping off leaves and grass cuttings as they may stain
Wash surface regularly to remove loose dirt
Remove spillages, use an absorbent material or mop up excess with a rag. Treat with a suitable degreasing compound A.S.A.P
Reseal your surface every 12-24 months
DO NOT use any solvent based products on the surface

QUESTIONS (clicking on the questions below will take you to the answer)

Sealing

What are the benefits of sealing?

Can home owners seal their own pavement?

Which sealer is most suitable?

What is the coverage rate of sealer?

What happens if the pavement is not sealed?

When should I reseal?

How long will the sealer take to cure?

Why does the pavement appear faded but darkens when wet?

I have seen small bubbles on the surface of the sealer, how are they caused?

There are lots of fine cracks in the sealer

What if there is peeling/flaking sealer present?

What if a client insists on sealing a medium/steep slope or smooth surface?

What influences the expected service life of sealer?

Fauxtex (for new wet concrete)

What is Fauxtex?

How thick is the product?

Does it crack or wear off?

Is is slip resistant?

Will the colour fade?

Can Fauxtex go over existing concrete?

Cover-tex (for existing concrete)

What is Cover-tex?

How long can Cover-tex last?

How thick is Cover-tex?

Stamped Concrete

What is stamped concrete?

Is stamped concrete suitable for all areas?

Is stamped concrete slip resistant?

Spray Stencil Wet Concrete

What is the Fauxtex Spray On Colour Hardener System?

What is the difference between Fauxtex Spray On and dry cast colour?

Can Fauxtex Spray On Colour be used on existing pavements?

How does Fauxtex Spray On differ to Cover-tex?

Should I seal it?

Colour Thru Concrete

What is Colour Thru?

Do I need to seal my Colour Thru concrete?

How is Colour Thru supplied?

Can I cure my Colour Thru concrete by spraying with water?

Will concrete coloured with Colour Thru fade?

ANSWERS

Stamped

What is stamped concrete?
Stamped concrete is where Stamp mats, Colour Hardener and Release Agent are used to imprint a pattern into the surface of 'freshly placed' concrete to simulate rock, slate or stone.

Is Stamped Concrete suitable for all areas?
Due to the surface finish of Stamped Concrete, it is not recommended for steep sloping pavements or anywhere that may be subject to potential slip hazards. If you require a higher slip resistant surface a Fauxtex Stencil Pattern should be considered.

Is Stamped Concrete slip resistant?
No, for applications where slip resistance is required, Fauxtex Stencil Pattern Concrete should be considered. To ensure that you get the finish best suited for your site and requirements please discuss the options with your contractor.

Sealing

What are the benefits of sealing?
Sealer allows improved cleanability of the surface. Staining is reduced, and any stains that do occur are more easily removed or fixed. When the correct sealer is used on new surfaces it may also aid curing the concrete. Cover-tex should always be sealed on the day it is placed as it helps cure and protect the surface.

Can home owners seal their own pavement?
Yes, as long as they follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Which sealer is most suitable?
It depends on the surface you would like to seal. For Fauxtex the same day sealer is recommended for the first coat and once sufficiently cured, Decorative Concrete Sealer or High Build Sealer used for the second. The recommended sealer for Cover-tex is Spray on Paving Sealer. The best results for Stamped Concrete are obtained when Decorative Concrete Sealer of High Build Sealer is used. You may choose to use Coloured Sealer when Cover-tex is not suitable and one consistent colour is required.

What is the coverage rate of sealer?
Normal coverage is 3-5m2 for 1 litre of sealer.

What happens if the pavement is not sealed?
Cover-tex should always be sealed as it may absorb moisture and result in white patches or in some cases, delamination. Unsealed Fauxtex and Stamped Concrete surfaces will still be serviceable but may stain more easily. Sealer stains less readily than concrete and if it does stain it is a lot easier to clean or fix than unsealed concrete.

When should I reseal?
Resealing may be necessary when signs of wear or weathering become apparent (this may include flaking, peeling or "patchiness"). The most common sign of wear or weathering is when the pavement appears "faded" but darkens when wet.

How long will the sealer take to cure?
Curing times are dependent on ambient conditions. Under normal conditions sealer may take up to 1 week (7 days) to fully cure. Under milder conditions it can take longer. Exact curing times will vary from job to job. Driving on uncured sealer may reduce its lifetime.

Why does the pavement appear faded but darkens when wet?
The pavement may need resealing. If sufficient sealer is present (i.e. has been recently sealed/resealed) it may need a light solvent scrub. It is important to note that there may be a change in colour shade as the pavement cures.

I have seen small bubbles on the surface of the sealer, how are they caused?
Small bubbles may form if the sealer is applied thickly or if a roller is pressed too hard during application. A light scrub with solvent will reduce the amount of bubbles on the surface of the sealer. This should not be confused with sealer blistering which occurs when the sealer surface "skins" before the bottom of the sealer has cured. The solvent in the uncured bottom layer sealer may be trapped between the pavement and the "skin", causing blisters. This is often caused by applying sealer too thick or applying a second coat before the first has sufficiently cured.

There are lots of fine cracks in the sealer
If the sealer dries too quickly, fine plastic shrinkage cracks can form (also called "crazy" cracks). Accelerated drying can be caused by wind as well as heat. A light solvent scrub may reduce the effect when it is confined to the sealer.

What if there is peeling/flaking sealer present?
Old sealer may start to peel at the end of its service life or may be a result of excessive wear. Adhesion may also be compromised by blisters/moisture in the sealer left for prolonged periods or by rising damp. Smooth surfaces (such as a steel trowel finish) may peel if not acid etched before sealing. Peeling sealer will need to be removed before any resealing is undertaken.

What if a client insists on sealing a medium/steep slope or smooth surface?
The manufacturer does not advise sealing a sloped or smooth pavement. If the home owner insists, then the minimum amount of Decorative Concrete Sealer should be used. The use of Decorative Technologies Slip Resistant Agent is also suggested. Slip Resistant Agent is mixed into the sealer before application.

What influences the expected service life of sealer?
The type and frequency of traffic, along with the weather conditions all play a part in how long the sealer may last. Furthermore, traffic over excess dirt, friction (e.g. from tyres), and other excessive wear and tear (e.g. power steering or heavy traffic) may reduce the life of the sealer. Regular maintenance can help extend the useful service life of sealer.

Cover-tex (for existing concrete)

What is Cover-tex?
Cover-tex is a cementations coating that has been specifically designed and formulated to be applied to the surface of existing Concrete or Pebble Crete.

How long can Cover-tex last?
Cover-tex has been independently tested by the C.S.I.R.O. The results indicate that if Cover-tex is applied in accordance with the manufacturers specifications, a service life in excess of 15 years may be expected.

How thick is Cover-tex?
If a single base coat and 2 coats of Cover-tex are applied the surface may build up to approximately 5mm over the existing concrete.

Fauxtex (for new wet concrete)

What is Fauxtex?
Fauxtex is a cement based colour hardener, which when correctly applied to concrete can give the appearance of rustic bricks, tiles and other similar type finishes. It comes in a variety of colours and texture grades and is used for stencil, stamp or unpatterned coloured concrete.

How thick is the product?
The product is applied approximately 2-3mm thick on to the surface of the concrete. It is normally applied in two steps to ensure that maximum colour hardener strength is achieved.

Does it crack or wear off?
When applied correctly, Fauxtex is stronger and more durable than concrete.

Is it slip resistant?
Slip resistance is largely determined by the final finish. There are many techniques used to create a slip resistant surface. Please discuss these with your contractor, to ensure that you get the finish best suited for your site and requirements.

Will the colour fade?
The pigments used in Fauxtex are inorganic metal oxides, which are extremely UV and chemical resistant. A maximum of 5% shading variation may occur over a period of 5 years. However, this is barely detectable to the human eye. The application of a UV sealer will aid in retarding the fading process.

Can Fauxtex go over existing concrete?
No, Fauxtex is designed to be used with wet concrete only. Cover-tex is the product best suited to go over existing concrete.

Spray Stencil Wet Concrete

What is the Fauxtex Spray On Colour Hardener System?
The Fauxtex Spray On Colour Hardener System is the latest way to introduce a decorative finish to freshly placed concrete. The colour is sprayed onto the surface the same day the new pavement is installed.

What is the difference between Fauxtex Spray On and dry cast colour?
They look different and the way they are installed is different.Dry cast colour is applied to the surface as a dry powder and is worked into the concrete. The texture for dry cast colour is determined by how the surface is trowelled. Fauxtex SprayOn is made into a wet mixture and sprayed onto the surface. Texture is achieved with the spray.

Can Fauxtex Spray On Colour be used on existing pavements?
No. Spray On Colour is intended to be used only on new concrete the day it is poured. Applying it to existing or cured surfaces would be expected to result in delaminating. Use Cover-tex to resurface existing concrete. Existing concrete can be resurfaced with the Cover-tex resurfacing product.

How does Fauxtex Spray On differ to Cover-tex?
Although they appear to be quite similar at first glance, Cover-tex and Fauxtex Spray On are different products with different formulations. Because they are designed for different tasks they have very different properties. Cover-tex is designed to bond to existing surfaces and so has very different polymers or “glues” in it. Fauxtex Spray On needs to go “into” the new concrete rather than just to stick to it. This makes a more suitable bond. Other than the Colour Dispersant the Cover-tex and Fauxtex Spray On system components are different and are not interchangeable.

Should I seal it?
Yes. Sealing will aid cleanability and often enhances the colour. Fauxtex Spray On Colour is usually sealed with Decorative Technologies Same Day Sealer on the day it is installed. It can then be sealed later with Decorative Concrete Sealer or High Build Sealer. Periodic resealing is recommended when needed.

Colour Thru Concrete

What is Colour Thru?
Colour Thru is high quality, UV stable, inorganic oxide. It is added to concrete before it is placed to introduce permanent concrete colouration throughout the entire material.

Do I need to seal my Colour Thru concrete?
Sealing is not a serviceability requirement, however, it is recommended that decorative concrete is sealed to improve the cleanability and help produce a more consistent appearance.

How is Colour Thru supplied?
It is supplied in water shredable bags pre-weighed with enough pigment to colour 1 cubic metre of 25MPa concrete.

Can I cure my Colour Thru concrete by spraying with water?
No. Although spraying the surface of uncoloured fresh concrete is common it should not be done when Colour Thru has been used. If water is added to Colour Thru treated concrete it may result in a lightening or whitening. It can also increase the chance of salt formation (efflorescence). If the concrete requires curing the use of a suitable curing compound is recommended.

Will concrete coloured with Colour Thru fade?
The Colour Thru product is inherently colour stable and under normal circumstances is not expected to fade. However, the concrete it is mixed with may fade slightly over time due to weather exposure. This is an inherent property of concrete and is usually very minor. This occurs over a long period and is not normally noticed by the naked eye. Remember also that concrete will lighten as it cures.