Dry Shake Color Hardener
Dry-shake color hardeners come as powders that are hand broadcast onto the freshly placed concrete and then worked into the surface with a float or trowel. Unlike integral pigments, which color the entire concrete matrix, hardeners color only the top surface layer. Because the color is concentrated at the surface, it tends to be more intense than integral color.
Coloring options come in a wider array of hues than integral colors. As the name implies, they also densify the concrete surface because they contain hard mineral aggregates and portland cement. The result is a surface that’s stronger, more wear resistant, and less permeable to moisture and deicing chemicals than standard concrete.
Where to use: D. Lalicata dry shakes to color stamped concrete or concrete overlays because the rich surface paste helps to produce sharper imprints. Hardeners also produce more robust tones than possible with integral pigments and permit greater variability. Because color hardeners improve the strength and density of the concrete surface, they are a great choice for exterior slabs exposed to freeze-thaw cycles and deicing salts and for interior floors exposed to heavy foot traffic and abrasion.
Limitations: Dry shakes generally are limited to use on horizontal surfaces. They also are messy to apply because some of the material goes airborne during broadcasting. That makes it necessary to protect adjacent buildings, landscaping, walls and existing slabs with plastic sheeting. This airborne powder can also be harmful to breathe, which may prohibit the use of dry shakes in occupied indoor spaces.
Dry Shake Color Hardener:
Click the pics to see the color charts
Brickform Dry Shake Color Hardener
- Non-fading
- Denser, more durable surface
- Improves abrasion resistance
- Can be antiqued and stained
- 42 standard colors
- Custom colors available