Hi guys! I'm new to all of this so I am hoping you guys can help me with your knowledge. I just had 3 slabs of concrete poured, a walkway, and an addition to my previous patio. I know that I need to wait until it is "cured" before I can do much.
So.. I am planning on scoring the concrete to make "large tiles" and some bricks on all of the concrete. Next, I was planning on acid staining it. I was looking for a turquoise/purple/grey combination (like using all three colors individually). After researching, it seemed that I could just spray these colors unevenly and get the result I am looking for. I then read that I need to use a dye for a color such as purple since it's usually not offered in stains.. but sometimes you can mix for the color you want. Also, I've read that doing turquoise outside is a bad idea. I REALLY want to use these colors. Can I use stains and dyes together and use an awesome UV-protecting sealer to get the result I want? Also, Since half of the patio is old concrete, would I be better off using acrylic stain? I really like the marble/non-solid look of acid stains. Sorry this is so long, I really need some good advice!

P.S. I live in Phx, AZ.. Valley of the SUN!

Thanks again

 

No blues or green for reactive (acid) stains outside, nor any purples available. You will have to use dyes, basically paints, then seal it, but I would plan on major fading anyway.

Integrally colored concrete has come a long way, and greens and blues are do-able but you are past that point.

 

Scarborough's right. And even if you could use them, the new pour would never match the old colorwise. Acid stains and dyes are translucent, so the concrete color shows through to an extent. You need something opaque which will completely cover the concrete as it colors or the different slabs will never match.

 

Thanks for the response guys!

So should I switch to an epoxy? Like the thick, 100% solid type? Is that what you mean by something that fully covers the concrete? Only my old patio is a different concrete, so I could do something unique (like epoxy) to the patio and acid stain all of the others, but I would have to stick to earth tones, wouldn't I? It's difficult because I look online and see all of this awesome stuff and then realize that it would probably never be possible in Phx. Do you guys trust the darker red shade of stain not to fade? I've read that if you re-seal it every 2 years it shouldn't. Last but not least, does anyone know if there are sealers that are made for exterior Arizona? Such as non-slip & wont turn yellow? Thank you so much in advance!