Coloring & Staining Products... Without Color it is Plain

Listed below are the various stains and coloring product Elite Crete Systems manufactures.

• ULTRA-STONE™ Antiquing Stain:

First of all, there is no other stain like ULTRA-STONE™ available on the market. This is not a diluted paint like other stain type products that claim to be similar. ULTRA-STONE™ is a very unique waterborne polymer modified emulsion based stain that carries  and suspends PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ or SYPP™ pigments to create a translucent, multi-hued and aged appearance on any textured concrete overlay finish in just one coat.

Unlike CHEM-STONE™ Reactive Stain or HYDRA-STONE Dye Stain, ULTRA-STONE™ is not hazardous and does not need neutralized or rinsed before the application of a protective sealer. Simply flood the textured surface with ULTRA-STONE™, allow it to dry to the touch and the protective sealer can be applied. The finished color looks as if 3 to 4 different coats where applied when one was required.

Ideal for:

• 1/4" thin stamped overlay applications
• Slate trowel down finishes
• Splatter textures and knockdowns

Advantages:

• Versatility. Because ULTRA-STONE™ is sold as a non-colored neutral base with color added by the installer, there is no need to purchase or stock multiple bottles of misc. colors that might never get used. ULTRA-STONE™ is easily colored with PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ or SYPP™ pigments to create literally hundreds of color combinations and options.
• Ease of Use. There is not a simpler way to achieve multi-colored, antiqued appearance than through the use of ULTRA-STONE™. Simply follow the product information sheet by choosing the desired color, add the desired pigment (either PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ or SYPP™), dilute per the recommendation and apply (either by pump-up type sprayer for large areas or by using a foam paint brush for more confined detailed applications). ULTRA-STONE™ is not applied like a paint, but rather flooded on like watering a yard. Allow to dry and seal. No rinsing, neutralizing, etc.
• Cost. Like many of our products, ULTRA-STONE™ is sold only as a concentrate and must be diluted prior to use. One gallon of ULTRA-STONE™ will produce 3 to 5 gallons of useable stain with an average cost of $0.05 to $0.12 per square foot.

Disadvantages:

• ULTRA-STONE™ should not be used on plain conventional concrete surfaces and must only be used on polymer modified overlay systems such as THIN-FINISH™ and TEXTURE-PAVE™.

View the PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ color chart here

TECHNICAL DATA

• CHEM-STONE™ 2.0 Reactive Stain:

CHEM-STONE™ is reactive through the use of various metallic salt compounds instead of with the use of colorant. The initial color achieved is not necessarily going to be the cured color. In addition, because the actual coloring is determined by the substrate composition, colors will vary to create an old-world, aged appearance and may slightly change as the finished surface ages. This slight change only enhances the authentic aged appearance.

Ideal for:

• Concrete overlays such as THIN-FINISH™, TEXTURE-PAVE™ & MICRO-FINISH™
• Plain conventional concrete
• Concrete floors
• Concrete retaining walls

Advantages:

• Authentic Aged Look. Because CHEM-STONE™ is not a pigment or colorant based product, the reaction of the metal salts create an authentic aged appearance that cannot be duplicated with other staining products and techniques.

Disadvantages:

• Often times the exact color result cannot be perfectly predicted as the reaction created with the existing substrate may slightly modify the end result.

View the CHEM-STONE™ color chart here

TECHNICAL DATA

NOTE: When trying to decide between ULTRA-STONE™ and CHEM-STONE™, remember that ULTRA-STONE™ is recommended for textured finishes (slate trowel down, splatter/knock down and thin stamped overlays. CHEM-STONE™ is recommended for texture OR smooth finishes such as MICRO-FINISH™ surfaces and non-broom finished conventional concrete surfaces.

• HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain:

HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain is designed and engineered to achieve the desired color instantaneously. Simply apply, allow to dry and seal. HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain does not require neutralizing like some other staining methods. Keep in mind that HYDRA-STONE™ is NOT a conventional alcohol, acetone or lacquer thinner based dye. Rather than achieving colors from industrial printing inks dissolved in alcohol, HYDRA-STONE™ is based on complex metal solutions. Because the finished color is also determined by the substrate color, texture and composition, colors appearance and may slightly change as the finished surface ages. This change only enhances the authentic aged appearance.

Ideal for:

• Concrete overlays such as THIN-FINISH™, TEXTURE-PAVE™ & MICRO-FINISH™
• Plain conventional concrete
• Concrete floors
• Interior applications

Advantages:

• Ease of Use. Apply either by pump-up type sprayer for large areas, by using a foam paint brush or even using the HYDRA-STONE™ Detailing Pen for more confined detailed applications. Allow to dry (which in most cases will be less than 45 minutes) and seal.

• Variations. Unlike acid based stains, HYDRA-STONE™ Dye Stain offers the ability to achieve color variations that other stains cannot.

Disadvantages:

• Full color may not be sustained if exposed to direct sunlight or if reduced.

View the HYDRA-STONE™ color chart here

TECHNICAL DATA

• COLOR-FAST™ CH & RA: Broadcast Color Hardener & Powdered Release Agent

COLOR-FAST™ CH & RA is Elite Crete Systems very own broadcast color hardener and powdered release products for stamping conventional full depth concrete. Available in 20 stock colors, COLOR-FAST™ can match virtually any standard color specification depending on architects design and custom colors can be manufactured as required.

Ideal for:

• Stamping plain conventional full depth concrete

Advantages:

• Consistency. One inherent problem with conventional color hardeners and powder release agents in the inconsistent colors from batch to batch or container to container.

• Cost. You will not find a more competitively priced CH or RA anywhere.

View the COLOR-FAST™ color chart here

TECHNICAL DATA

• PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™:

Contractors that use PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ wonder how they ever got along without it. Unlike virtually all other colorants on the market, PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ is not an oxide based pigment. Oxide based pigments lead to whitening problems, washout, efflorescence and considerable fading from UV and wear. PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ is based on liquid emulsion, plastic based pigments, not oxide. The beauty of PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ is that 30 colors are achieved through the use of just 10 different bottles. Each bottle will create three distinguishable colors without mixing colors. PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ is packaged in quart bottles that have a built in measuring device for consistent coloring each and every time.

Advantages:

• Ease of use. Because of our unique packaging, color is consistent every time. Simple choose the desired color, squeeze the container until the measuring device is full (it will automatically siphon off excess) and pour it in the material that is to be colored.

• Versatility. Perhaps the best feature of PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ is that is will create solid, defined colors when used in any of the Pre-Mixed Overlay (THIN-FINISH™, TEXTURE-PAVE™ or MICRO-FINISH™ but it will also create multi-colored hues when used in ULTRA-STONE™ as a stain.

TECHNICAL DATA

• SYPP™ (Synthetic Primary Pigment):

When released several years ago, PORTION CONTROL COLORANT™ was to be the replacement to all coloring systems and options, offering color options in a wide spectrum of earth tones to pastels. What we quickly learned was that there were still a great number of contractors still using off the shelve paint pigments to achieve basic primary colors like blue, red, yellow, etc. The problem was, conventional paint pigments are oxide based and create a number of problems as it pertains to coloring polymer modified overlays. SYPP™ was our answer to the problem. SYPP™ is based on the same liquid emulsion, plastic based dyes and do not have any of the problems that oxide based pigments are known for. SYPP™ is available in six primary color; red, blue, green, yellow, white and black.

TECHNICAL DATA

• REFLECTOR™ Enhancer:

Created to add sparkle, shimmer and added highlight to finished applications, REFLECTOR™ Enhancer is ideal for custom floors and countertops. REFLECTOR™ Enhancer can be added to any of our clear sealers and coatings and is available in 8 distinctive flavors.

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