Colors

Home ยป Colors
White Cement Base Color with White Grout and White Leaf Fill
grey concrete side table with corn husk impressions
Grey Cement Base Color with Limestone Grout, and Limestone Leaf Fill
Limestone Cement Base Color with Matching Grout
Cream Saffron Base color with Matching Fill
Burnt Umber Base Color with Lighter Umber Leaf Fill
Dark Grey Concrete stool or accent table with white, textural redwood leaf impressions
Mid-Grey Base Color with White Base Grout and White Leaf Fill
“Desert Mud” Base color with matching grout fill and white leaf fill
Light Umber Base Color with Mid-Umber Grout Fill and Various Umber Leaf Grout Colors

I can achieve almost any color in concrete with a variety of integral pigments, including blues and greens. Colors are UV stable, though color persists best with regular applications of sealer if concrete is subject to large amounts of sun and weather.

When placing an order, you may consider several aspects of color that will influence the final look:

  • Base Color
  • Base Grout Color(s)
  • Leaf Grout Color(s)

The Base Color is the primary color of the whole piece. Because I handpack the concrete (as opposed to spraying), there will be “pinholes” in the surface that I fill with grout (cement). This Base Grout Color is often slightly different from the Base Color to offer extra depth to the table. It can be the same as the Base Color for a more solid look, however.

If ordering a piece with a botanical design, consider how the leaf might be colored with Leaf Grout Colors. Like the base, I grout the leaf impressions to give them a smoother and more dramatic look. The grout emphasizes the vein patterns. I often use three colors in the fill to give the leaf a mottled look, often emphasizing the larger veins with a darker color, and the more delicate veins with two lighter colors.

Color Matching

I can do general color matching from Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore color swatches, or from a picture. Note that concrete is not paint, and absolutely exact color matching is challenging. Concrete has a non-uniform look by nature, so even the best color matching will result in a piece that is not 100% that color. Moreover, numerous variables, including variations in the color of bagged cement, the weather, variations in screens or cameras, and curing of concrete further complicate color matching. I create several samples for myself to ensure the best color match.

Sometimes I work with transparent sealer color stains to achieve an extra depth of color. I do not use acid stains in the interest of my health and safety and concerns about environmental disposal. Acid stains produce rich and beautiful marbling of brown and copper tones, but the aesthetic benefits do not outweigh other concerns.

There are great opportunities with color and unusual combinations. Concrete is actually fairly uncommon in its color versatility (exceeded only really by paint, ceramic and plastic), despite its reputation as a grey, bland material. I encourage you to be ambitious with your color concepts. Inquire for pictures of a variety of colors.