Colorants

Since Buddy Rhodes mixes are WHITE, the mixes can be pigmented to produce virtually any color. Find a color solution that fits your needs. Whether creating concrete countertops, concrete sculptures, architectural concrete, etc., our pigments will stand up to virtually any artisan concrete application.

The Buddy Rhodes Signature Collection features 15 timeless colors, hand selected by Buddy himself. These colors all feature the same convenient dosage; add 1 lb of BR Signature Collection pigment to one bag of any BR Blended Bag Mix for perfect color every time.

Not interested in a blended pigment, you just want the raw materials? All of the colors we use to formulate with can be found in our range of Pure Pigments.

These are the highest quality pigments, made available to you so you can blend a color that suits your fancy.

Please Note: Specialty Colors have a lead time of 7 business days (per single color).

Over the years, we have formulated hundreds of colors based on the Benjamin Moore color wheel. The result of that effort is a huge library of colors spanning the entire spectrum. These colors are available for purchase with a typical lead time of 7 business days. Note: There is a minimum purchase of 20 lbs for any color in the Specialty Collection.

You can find a chart of over 400 colors in our Color Selection Guide..

The Benjamin Moore™ color site allows you to see these colors in a particular room or alongside other colors of your choosing. Click here to visit the Benjamin Moore™ color site. Simply type in the color code from our catalog to explore the color details.

Pricing for Specialty Colors

These pigments are split into four pricing tiers based on raw material cost. Type I colors are the least expensive, while Type IV are the most expensive. You can find the Type designation in the catalog, but please call us to confirm the most up to date price for your pigment selection.

How to Calculate Color in Concrete

All colors are formulated as a percentage of the Total Cementitious Binder (TCB) of the mix. TCB is the sum of all cementitious materials in the mix, including all cement and pozzolans. The TCB is multiplied by the "Loading Percentage Rate" (LR) listed with each of the color swatches in the catalog. This determines how much pigment needs to be added to your mix.

Here's How it Works:

• Determine your color. There is a percentage number listed on each swatch in the pure pigments and formulated colors sections of the catalog. This represents your loading percentage rate (LR). As an example, "2058-30 Deep Ocean" has an LR of 8.55% or .0855

• Determine your TCB. Your mix is a blend of cement, pozzolan, sand, aggregate, and so on. We will use GFRC Blended Mix for this example, which has a TCB of 26 lb. per 50 lb. bag.

• Determine your number of batches. How much coverage will you get with your mix? This will determine how many batches of concrete you will need to make, which will tell you how much pigment you need. Let's say the piece you are making is 10 sq. ft at 1" thick. The GFRC Blended Mix covers 5 sq. ft at 1" thick, so you will need 2 batches of mix.

• Round up. Add 10% for spillage and test samples, then round up one more time.

Best Practices

The final appearance of the concrete product is determined by a combination of several color factors, including surface texture, color of the cement-pigment paste, aggregate color, admixtures, and water/cement ratio. Test using a small batch of your mix design before any large pour. Use the same steps as above to determine your color needs.

For quick reference, the Total Cementitious Binder (TCB) of each bagged mix is:

Explore the BR Glazes as a way to color your concrete after it has been cast. Glazes are an easy to way to change or enhance the look of your concrete, using a water-based carrier with nano sized pigment particles that penetrate deeply into the concrete surface. These water based stains provide a broad color spectrum for full color treatments, or subtle tinting to hardened concrete.