Water from the stain solution then fuels the reaction, usually for about a month after the stain has been applied. The concrete is stained, and then engraved. The job is cleaned up and a sealer is applied. Stenciling Concrete Stencils allow contractors to give concrete slabs the look of inlaid brick by simply laying a laminated paper pattern on the floated surface, embedding it with more float passes, and then broadcasting a dry-shake color hardener uniformly over the surface after excess moisture has evaporated. When the concrete has set enough to bear foot traffic, workers pull up the paper pattern and use a mechanical blower to remove debris before applying a curing compound.
Areas covered by the pattern remain uncolored and slightly indented, resembling mortar joints.
Exposing the Aggregate in Concrete Exposed aggregate finishes, in bands or fields, are perfect for patios, driveways, walkways, and many other flatwork applications. Or the ready mix supplier may have colorful aggregates suitable for seeding, or poured integral in the mix and then exposed by sandblasting. The amount of aggregate exposure can vary from light to heavy. Sandblasting aggregates can produce a heavy or fine aggregate exposure. In addition, some fields that are side by side, or in a pattern, can be sandblasted to different exposure levels for an interesting effect.