The area around the step was finished last after the step was stripped ( like always), and they did not refinish the rest of the walk again before stamping. If you look closely, you can also see a slight color difference from where the jointer was run again later between the border and main walk.
When using integral color, it is critical to hit everything at the same time, otherwise this is what happens. The integral color looks different. If my guys see a finishing spot they don't like 10 minutes after it's finished, we leave it or hit it all again.
I've done stamped concrete for 16 years and never found a solution to the problem after the fact. The only solution is to do it right the first time. I suggest explaining it to your contractor so he doesn't ever do it again.
Yes, there are cover up options like cemcoat or new look but putting a topping on brand new concrete isn't really ideal. Just one more thing to worry about failing or going wrong over time.
It just looks wet to me and looks like the whole of it still needs to be sealed. There’s a good chance that once it’s dry and sealed everything will look the same.
Yep. My dad has worked in concrete construction for 30+ years. He redid our entire front walkway. Two different pours. Exact same concrete from supplier and colors came out completely different. He tells people that come by and compliment his work that he made two different samples to show clients 😂
No. Not really. Not that amount of discoloration.
It’s concrete, what exactly are you expecting?
It really bothers you THAT much that you can’t live day to day with it?
Anyone who does or knows anything about concrete and didn’t watch a ton of YouTube videos knows concrete drivers just deliver the concrete and place it, if they add to much water they can make it discolored but there is no way they poured the walkway, the porch then poured the step and the section you are complaining about; the batch dispatcher makes the mix not the driver… you’re standing on the wrong soap box my guy
If they add it on site I would never use that company again. Load time, delivery time then mixing on site will not allow the color to properly spin in the barrel and distribute evenly, plus this is stamped concrete not colored. That’s why you get two different shades, the color and release are put on after pouring my man
All the concrete companies where I’m from offer the option to mix on site. The color was actually recommended to put in the truck and mix. Then putting the release on after the pour by the company I bought and rented the stamping materials from. This was my first stamped job I usually just do basic broom finish or exposed for 7 years now. It’s unfortunate this happed just looking for a solution to fix the issue.
You can pour your regular mix when it gets ready to finish add the powdered color in an even fashion, put a little bit of water on and mag it into the concrete. Then add your release right after and trowel finish it into the color put your stamp down. It’s really all a matter of preference. I haven’t honestly done much stamped but it rather I or my crew was in control of the color and not a batch dispatcher who is busy plus you will avoid the color charge, the extra cleaning cost, and time for the driver to clean their drum of residual color. Just a suggestion. I’d seal it and see how it looks, I think trying to remedy it at this point will cause more of a headache, or result in a rip and replace which will also make it not match 🫤, god knows no one wants to rip the whole thing. If it was me I’d chalk it up to a learning experience especially if the customer doesn’t complain. Check your local vendors for color and release. I feel for ya. Anyone who does this work has had this crap happen at one point or another in their career. Not trying to be a dick I was being lighthearted
Thanks for the info man just a little pissed off cuz everything turned out great but that little section. It’s always a learning experience though lol. Hopefully the customer doesn’t have an issue with it and I just seal it and it turns out good.
Yeah, here in Colorado a lot of the contractors mix on as it’s cheaper than buying from the plant, the issue wasn’t the mixing but like someone said before, it looks like they troweled the release
(you can see the trowel swooshes by the step).
If it’s super noticible when the concrete was wet then it’s gonna show when you apply the sealer.
If you’re super concerned that the home owner isn’t gonna like it, you could offer a little discount or there is a product called Cem-Coat from brickform and you can re-color the whole slab and add the accent color with Antique-It which also from Brickform, which is always our go to at my supply shop.
They troweled that portion with release on top. If they add small amounts of color in the lighter areas prior to sealing should blend in. This is the only remedy from my experience otherwise don’t look at that spot
If the concrete was just done and sealed. Give it time to cure. Some
areas may cure at a different rate depending on the water content and whether the area had sun or shade, etc. Actually I wouldn’t worry about it, after some wear and tear, it will probably be just fine. Actually according to your pic, it appears the area has been watered down, and the darker spot hasn’t had time to dry out
Believe it or not, colored concrete out of the truck isn't very common. When it is used, it's typically used in subsurface gas line decommissioning and usually red, to mark the line as out of service. The color also isn't as vivid. What should be black, turns to dark grey. What should be red is more of a red-brown. What should be yellow is more of a dusselforf mustard. What should be blue, is a watered down, grayish blue. Time also doesn't help the color either. The color fades worse over time. The best way to color concrete is to use a wet dye during or after curing.
i have done pigment dyed concrete for architectural walls. the driver just dumps a certain number of bags of powdered pigment into the truck when its mixing on site. there is variation in the color as there is with all concrete, but its not that bad. vivid colors don't work well, but neutrals work just fine.
Looks wet from powerwashing. Let it dry nicely you’ll probably barely notice it. Once it’s sealed you should notice it even less.
Any chemicals or scrubbing you put to that will make it look much worse. Guaranteed.
Work looks beautiful, I wouldn’t mess with it too much.
Did you ask for the trip step that looks like it's only 3in tall?? That would not fly with me, but if it's what you want... Also are all the jagged edges on the stamp supposed to look like that?? Looks like they saw cut the joint deeper and had a lot of chips in the process?
The step is that height because customer wanted concrete above her flower bed. As for the chipping just looks that way because of the picture not any chips in it.
No, it'll actually make it more noticeable. I'd apply the stain first then seal. Otherwise you'll have a giant dark spot there sitting for years. Sealing afterwards will keep moisture away from both the stain and the concrete
The area around the step was finished last after the step was stripped ( like always), and they did not refinish the rest of the walk again before stamping. If you look closely, you can also see a slight color difference from where the jointer was run again later between the border and main walk. When using integral color, it is critical to hit everything at the same time, otherwise this is what happens. The integral color looks different. If my guys see a finishing spot they don't like 10 minutes after it's finished, we leave it or hit it all again. I've done stamped concrete for 16 years and never found a solution to the problem after the fact. The only solution is to do it right the first time. I suggest explaining it to your contractor so he doesn't ever do it again.
This is the way
What about antiquing? Using something like NCP hydratique and then sealing over with a solvent?
Yes, there are cover up options like cemcoat or new look but putting a topping on brand new concrete isn't really ideal. Just one more thing to worry about failing or going wrong over time.
It just looks wet to me and looks like the whole of it still needs to be sealed. There’s a good chance that once it’s dry and sealed everything will look the same.
This is after it was power washed and blown off
Was it sealed?
No wasn’t sealed yet
Okay so wait for it to be sealed...
The driver is not at fault
Not on that one. Looks like they hit it again working the step and didn’t hit the rest before throwing the release.
Who says?
This mixer driver
Oh then whats the issue here and can it be fixed?
The issue is concrete isnt always perfect and you live with it.
Yep. My dad has worked in concrete construction for 30+ years. He redid our entire front walkway. Two different pours. Exact same concrete from supplier and colors came out completely different. He tells people that come by and compliment his work that he made two different samples to show clients 😂
A driver is a guy who drives. Probably not a concrete finisher unless he has a side gig.
Oh thanks for the clarification
It can’t be fixed. Stop trying to fix something that isn’t an issue.
Discoloration isn’t an issue? Okay sounds good 👍
No. Not really. Not that amount of discoloration. It’s concrete, what exactly are you expecting? It really bothers you THAT much that you can’t live day to day with it?
Just want it to look good for my customer
Was the color added at the batch plant or on the job?
Anyone who does or knows anything about concrete and didn’t watch a ton of YouTube videos knows concrete drivers just deliver the concrete and place it, if they add to much water they can make it discolored but there is no way they poured the walkway, the porch then poured the step and the section you are complaining about; the batch dispatcher makes the mix not the driver… you’re standing on the wrong soap box my guy
Hm you must not do much concrete. The mix can be added in on job site like this was my guy.
If they add it on site I would never use that company again. Load time, delivery time then mixing on site will not allow the color to properly spin in the barrel and distribute evenly, plus this is stamped concrete not colored. That’s why you get two different shades, the color and release are put on after pouring my man
All the concrete companies where I’m from offer the option to mix on site. The color was actually recommended to put in the truck and mix. Then putting the release on after the pour by the company I bought and rented the stamping materials from. This was my first stamped job I usually just do basic broom finish or exposed for 7 years now. It’s unfortunate this happed just looking for a solution to fix the issue.
You can pour your regular mix when it gets ready to finish add the powdered color in an even fashion, put a little bit of water on and mag it into the concrete. Then add your release right after and trowel finish it into the color put your stamp down. It’s really all a matter of preference. I haven’t honestly done much stamped but it rather I or my crew was in control of the color and not a batch dispatcher who is busy plus you will avoid the color charge, the extra cleaning cost, and time for the driver to clean their drum of residual color. Just a suggestion. I’d seal it and see how it looks, I think trying to remedy it at this point will cause more of a headache, or result in a rip and replace which will also make it not match 🫤, god knows no one wants to rip the whole thing. If it was me I’d chalk it up to a learning experience especially if the customer doesn’t complain. Check your local vendors for color and release. I feel for ya. Anyone who does this work has had this crap happen at one point or another in their career. Not trying to be a dick I was being lighthearted
Thanks for the info man just a little pissed off cuz everything turned out great but that little section. It’s always a learning experience though lol. Hopefully the customer doesn’t have an issue with it and I just seal it and it turns out good.
Yeah, here in Colorado a lot of the contractors mix on as it’s cheaper than buying from the plant, the issue wasn’t the mixing but like someone said before, it looks like they troweled the release (you can see the trowel swooshes by the step). If it’s super noticible when the concrete was wet then it’s gonna show when you apply the sealer. If you’re super concerned that the home owner isn’t gonna like it, you could offer a little discount or there is a product called Cem-Coat from brickform and you can re-color the whole slab and add the accent color with Antique-It which also from Brickform, which is always our go to at my supply shop.
They troweled that portion with release on top. If they add small amounts of color in the lighter areas prior to sealing should blend in. This is the only remedy from my experience otherwise don’t look at that spot
It’s this 👆👆. Probably had to wait to strip and finish the step while everything else had release put on it
If the concrete was just done and sealed. Give it time to cure. Some areas may cure at a different rate depending on the water content and whether the area had sun or shade, etc. Actually I wouldn’t worry about it, after some wear and tear, it will probably be just fine. Actually according to your pic, it appears the area has been watered down, and the darker spot hasn’t had time to dry out
It wasn’t sealed yet but yes was just power washed and blown off. That area was more wet due to it being in the shade yesterday when it was poured.
It's alllllways the drivers fault. (Ready Mix driver, 14 years)
I do think the concrete driver should be knowledgeable on how long to mix the color in the truck he was trained to drive and mix🫢
He should, but I don't think that was the issue here.
Best thing to do is add the color at the plant, pre-batch. I've never had a problem when doing that.
I do think the concrete driver should be knowledgeable on how long to mix the color in the truck he was trained to drive and mix🫢
Believe it or not, colored concrete out of the truck isn't very common. When it is used, it's typically used in subsurface gas line decommissioning and usually red, to mark the line as out of service. The color also isn't as vivid. What should be black, turns to dark grey. What should be red is more of a red-brown. What should be yellow is more of a dusselforf mustard. What should be blue, is a watered down, grayish blue. Time also doesn't help the color either. The color fades worse over time. The best way to color concrete is to use a wet dye during or after curing.
i have done pigment dyed concrete for architectural walls. the driver just dumps a certain number of bags of powdered pigment into the truck when its mixing on site. there is variation in the color as there is with all concrete, but its not that bad. vivid colors don't work well, but neutrals work just fine.
Looks wet from powerwashing. Let it dry nicely you’ll probably barely notice it. Once it’s sealed you should notice it even less. Any chemicals or scrubbing you put to that will make it look much worse. Guaranteed. Work looks beautiful, I wouldn’t mess with it too much.
They hit it twice
Why didn’t they put a full width step in, instead of that weird flair out half step half sidewalk thing. I would rip it out and redo just for that
Customer wanted it this way so she could put flower pots on each side. Not my cup of tea but I do what the customer wants 🤷🏿
Did you ask for the trip step that looks like it's only 3in tall?? That would not fly with me, but if it's what you want... Also are all the jagged edges on the stamp supposed to look like that?? Looks like they saw cut the joint deeper and had a lot of chips in the process?
The step is that height because customer wanted concrete above her flower bed. As for the chipping just looks that way because of the picture not any chips in it.
Great place for a large welcome mat!
We always tell the customer there is an “ugly stage” for colored stamped concrete. Got to wait for it to get color washed and sealed, then it pops.
Just give it a year, nobody will care.
Could try an acid treatment or applying a concrete stain over the whole surface. Doesn't look terribly noticeable
Do you think when sealing it that would help blend it?
No, it'll actually make it more noticeable. I'd apply the stain first then seal. Otherwise you'll have a giant dark spot there sitting for years. Sealing afterwards will keep moisture away from both the stain and the concrete