Easily color concrete by adding a pigment to water before mixing the concrete. This project contains some improvements to the previous DIY concrete vase project and shows the concrete coloring process.

SUPPLIES:

Plastic Bottle or Container
Recycle
Hopefully plastic packaging will be replaced with more responsible alternatives in the future, but if it isn't going to biodegrade on its own, you might as well put it to use before it goes in a landfill.

Gluestick or Candle
Available Online
I used a glue stick but a candle would have been easier to remove.


Quikrete Countertop Mix (in White)
Available at Home Depot
QUIKRETE® Countertop Mix is a super high-performance mix that is worth the price. It has no large pieces of gravel or aggregate, which makes it great for small intricate pieces such as lamps and vases. It’s easy to work with and comes in different colors. Most stores don’t carry it in-stock so call ahead to your local Home Depot to have it ordered for pickup.

TOOLS:

Knife
Available at Home Depot



RYOBI 18 Volt Cordless Drill
Available at Home Depot

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Drill a Hole In the Cap
I cut an X into the lid of the cap with a knife to help keep the drill bit from slipping. I then drilled a hole right through the center of the lid. The hole should be a little smaller than the glue stick or candle.





STEP 2: Insert the Candle/Glue Stick
Carve the hole with the knife so that it's just big enough for the candle or glue stick to tightly fit in.





STEP 3: Mix the Pigment with Water
I mixed the pigment with the water before adding the water to the dry concrete mix. Use clean water and add pigment in proportion to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can increase the color intensity by adding more pigment and decrease it by adding less.





STEP 4: Mix + Pour the Concrete
Mix the colored water into the concrete. Since the concrete is being poured through the narrow mouth of the plastic bottle, I made the concrete a little more watery than usual.





STEP 5: Remove the Plastic Bottle
Once the concrete has cured for at least 24 hours, you can remove the bottle. Using a heat gun or hair dryer set on hot will heat and soften the plastic and removal easier. I heated the plastic around the mouth of the bottle and then easily cut through it.





STEP 6: Drill Out the Center
I used a glue stick and had to drill it out. This can be tricky since the glue is rubbery can push the drill bit into the edges of the concrete causing cracking. A candle would have been easier to remove.











Good luck making your colored concrete and please email, tweet or hashtag photos to @benuyeda, ben@homemade-modern.com or #homemademodern. For more detailed instructions, dimensioned drawings and different variations of the project, check out our soon-to-be-released book.

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