Coloring concrete – which factors are important

Figure: Harold Scholz

Pigments are available on the market in various delivery form; all of them have advantages and disadvantages

Figure: Harold Scholz

Figure: Sika Deutschland

This photo shows how colorful concrete can be

Figure: Sika Deutschland

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

Although the color of the aggregate is only of secondary importance, it should not be neglected

Figure: Ha-Be Betonchemie

Figure: Harold Scholz

This photo shows the influence of the aggregate on the overall appearance of the concrete – in particular, when the uppermost cement layer has been removed

Figure: Harold Scholz

The natural color of cement has an enormous effect on the appearance of concrete, especially when light pigments are used

Figure: Harold Scholz

Figure: Laumer Bautechnik

By exposing the aggregate, with the aid of a surface retarder, attractive effects can be achieved

Figure: Laumer Bautechnik

Figure: Harold Scholz

What a difference a little color makes: this façade would look quite different in gray

Figure: Harold Scholz

Claudia El-Ahwany

Dipl.-Ing. Claudia El Ahwany is in fact architect and has been running a public relations agency for about ten years. She has specialized in the topic of concrete and provides advice to architects in all questions related to concrete design. In addition, she supports companies in the construction industry and makes them known to their target groups by means of product news and reference reports.

Coloring concrete has ceased to be a novelty for a long time now. And although new insights are continuously being gained in this area, the danger of undesirable color deviations is considerable. A number of these can be easily influenced by the staff of a precast plant – others can be implemented only at great expense or not at all.

The coloring of concrete has ceased to be a novelty for a long time now. And although new insights are continuously being gained in this area, the danger of undesirable color deviations is considerable. The reason for this is that the color of concrete depends on many factors.

The staff in a precast plant can easily influence some of these factors – others, only at great expense and others not at all. Despite these factors, anyone intending to manufacture colored concrete should know the factors that play a role. The most important of these are described in the following.