Interior/Exterior, Fast-Drying Acetone-based Concrete Colorant

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How-To Apply DCI Concrete Dye

DCI Concrete Dye must be applied with either an aerosol sprayer or an acetone sprayer. The product cannot be applied with a brush, roller or similar applicator. DCI Concrete Dye is particularly useful when attempting to stain areas that cannot easily be colored with concrete acid stain. DCI Concrete Dye is an excellent choice to color slabs with exposed aggregate or areas that have been previously treated with muriatic acid or a waterproofing agent.

NOTICE:

**Standard pump-up deck and fence sprayers cannot be used to spray DCI Concrete Dye. An acetone sprayer must be used for application of this product. 3-gallon or similar large acetone sprayers should never be carried by the pump handle while spraying. Most sprayers are bottom discharge units and any sediment will go directly into the strainers causing blockages. The sprayer should be carried by the strap at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Carefully read the acetone sprayer instruction booklet before proceeding with any application.

What is Concrete Dye?

DCI Concrete Dye is an acetone-based topical stain. The acetone mixes with the coloring agent and the selected color bonds itself to the concrete. Concrete dye provides a permanent color when properly sealed. When covered with the proper sealer and in the case of an indoor application wax, the dye produces a bright, variegated surface color unique to this process. DCI Concrete Dye is durable, cleanable, spray-able and diverse. It can be used to create beautiful colors for your concrete floors. DCI Concrete Dye is also ideal for stenciling or upright applications due to its extremely fast drying time.

Surface Preparation

Surface preparation is one of the most important steps of the dyeing process. The concrete must be free of debris, dirt and oils, flaking sealers, adhesives or anything that might prevent the color from bonding with your surface. If you do not know the history of your slab, preparing a test patch or sample would be highly advisable. For older or exposed concrete, the surface must be completely intact with no exposed aggregate. This will ensure that your final color will be as consistent as possible.

Often, surfaces inside an existing house will have dry wall mud, paint, wood stains, tile adhesives, carpet adhesives, grease, pet stains, etc. on the concrete. Areas where debris remains on the surface may prevent the dye from adhering properly leaving color imperfections on the floor. Use Bean-ee-Do, for removing carpet or tile adhesive and Soy Gel Professional Paint Stripper to remove epoxy, sealers, varnish or paint stains. For more information on these and other concrete cleaners, visit www.directcolors.com. Soap and water or an orange degreaser can be used to remove stubborn dirt or similar stains from your slab. Using an organic degreaser (such as DCI Orange, Simple Green, etc) at a medium concentration, scrub the surface thoroughly with a nylon brush and rinse with clear water. A fine sanding pad on a floor buffer can even the surface and re-open the pores of a distressed concrete. For an interior project where water run off is not possible, use a shop vacuum, mop and/or squeegee to contain the water and aid in drying. The floor should be completely dry before beginning the coloring process. DCI Concrete Dye will cover up some minor imperfections, but to insure a consistent color, you will want your surface as clean as possible. If you desire a more even finish or are unable to clean your floor to a staining level or have loose, exposed aggregate, you should consider using an overlay to resurface your floor.

For best results, apply a thin layer of concrete sealer to the surface prior to applying the concrete dye. Because the dye particles are very small, porous and exterior concrete should be sealed first to enhance color visability.

***Be sure all soap and cleanser residue is removed from concrete before dying the surface, and make sure your surface is adequately dried.***

Mixing the Dye

Due to the transportation restrictions associated with shipping acetone, Direct Colors does not ship the DCI Concrete Dye in liquid form. For every gallon of dye purchased, the customer will need to buy a gallon of acetone from their local hardware store. Acetone is readily available in most communities. Empty your container of dye into the acetone, and shake for 30 seconds. DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF ELECTRICAL MIXER. Acetone is highly flammable. Shaking the mixture in the gallon container will thoroughly mix the solution. Allow the mixture to sit for approximately 30 minutes before applying. Pour into the acetone sprayer and apply. DCI Concrete Dye must be agitated regularly while applying to keep the particles in suspension.

Applying the Dye

Safety while applying dye is important. Remember to use goggles and gloves while working with the concrete dye. The appearance of the finished product is very much influenced by the manner in which the dye is applied. Shake the mixture in the sprayer frequently to ensure an even, consistent color during the application. The dye should be sprayed going right to left, then north to south. Try not to spray on too thick. The dye will dry almost instantly. The more layers you apply the darker the color will become. Apply as thin a coat as possible to ensure color quality and appearance. Generally, 3-4 coats of dye is sufficient for any job, but more dye can be applied to make surface darker. Do not let the dye pool up in any area, so mop up these spots with a disposable rag. Allow product to dry thoroughly. Using a dry buffer, soft cloth, dust mop or vaccuum, remove excess colorant or residue on the surface before sealing.

Sealing the Surface

After the surface has completely dried, begin the sealing process. Direct Colors offers both solvent and water-based sealers suitable for any concrete project. Sealers can be applied with either an applicator or a sprayer; however, some solvent-based sealers cannot be used in all US states. The Sprayable Satin Finish sealer is recommended for DCI Concrete Dye application where ventilation is good and in states where the sealer is permitted for use.

US Environmental/VOC Regulations

Gray states can purchase all of our sealer products.

Green and Blue states and California do not permit the use of Sprayable Satin Finish Sealer, AC-1315 Solvent-based High Gloss Sealer and CS-309 Solvent-based Sealer.

The method used to apply sealer depends on the type of surface and the variety of sealer used. Our solvent-based non-sprayable sealers can be used in most states (see map above) and are appropriate for both indoor and outdoor applications; however, we recommend using a water-based sealer for occupied indoor applications and for basements. If you are sealing a wall, statuary or a similar project, DCI Sprayable Satin Sealer (SSB) is by far the easiest sealer to use as it is fast-drying and sprayable. Use caution in applying solvent-based sealers, particularly during indoor applications. Wear a mask while applying the sealer and make certain the area is well ventilated to the outside.

Textured or broom finished surfaces sealed with a non-sprayable solvent and water-based sealers should be rolled on using a short-nap roller (approximately 1/8”) or less. For best results with a roller, use the pan grid to purge the roller of all excess sealer and apply with slow, even strokes. Sealer bubbles, should they occur, can be removed with a hair dryer set to cool or a clean leaf blower set to low speed. SSB can be either sprayed or rolled on a textured/broom-finished surface.

Generally, the thinner the application, the stronger and more durable the sealer will become. Applying a thick coat will result in an inconsistent finish with tacky areas that may not set-up correctly. Depending on the sealer selected, leave the solvent-based sealers to dry for at least 4-6 hours between coats. The DCI sprayable satin finish sealer has the shortest drying time between coats and the water-based sealers the longest. Water-based sealers should be given at a minimum 24 hours to set-up between coats. The surface should be completely clear and dry before applying an additional coat. If you live in a humid climate or the weather conditions are damp and overcast, give the surface additional time to dry.

Temperature Warning!

Water-based sealers and all DCI waxes must be applied to surfaces at temperatures greater than 60F. Indoor floors can be heated to the correct temperature but caution and careful attention should be given during the application and drying time for both products. In hot, dry weather conditions, apply sealers to outdoor concrete either late in the evening or early in the morning when surface temperatures are at their lowest.

Maintenance

Sealers applied to outdoor concrete should be re-applied every 2 to 3 years, depending on traffic and weathering. Indoor sealer applications should be waxed to with a Concrete Wax to assure best performance. Carefully walk the surface of your concrete every 6 months to identify areas that might be wearing differently due to exposure or heavy traffic. Spot sealing or waxing can be utilized in the event of uneven wearing. For a waxed surface, re-apply wax every 3-8 months depending on use.