An imprinted concrete colour is not always the result of a single product. The base colouring and the darker antiquing effect have different jobs. A name on a colour chart should therefore be read alongside the proposed finishing combination, not treated as a guarantee of one exact appearance.
Identify the base colour clearly
The PICS colour surface hardener chart gives named base colours with CM references. Record both the name and code when making a selection. Similar-sounding grey or buff names can otherwise be confused during discussion.
A digital chart is a starting point. Screen settings, lighting and the printed pattern influence what you see. View a suitable physical example and consider how the colour relates to the house, walls and surrounding planting.
Understand the antiquing effect
Release agents used in the imprinting process can also contribute a contrasting antiqued appearance. Darker material within the texture can emphasise the impression, changing the overall visual result without changing the name of the base colour.
Ask which combination is proposed. A sample showing strong dark contrast and another showing a quieter finish may use a similar base family but look very different. The pattern texture and finishing process also influence how the contrast reads.
Consider the final sealer and light
The selected sealer can affect sheen and colour perception. Damp weather, bright sun and shade create further differences. Avoid agreeing an entire driveway colour from one highly saturated online photograph.
Keep the base colour, release/antiquing selection, pattern and sealer details together. That record provides a clearer description of the intended finish than “grey concrete”. It also gives future maintenance discussions a more useful starting point.
Before confirming: Ask to see the whole proposed finish, and distinguish an illustrative colour render from a physical sample of the selected products.
Discuss your project
Thinking about imprinted concrete? Discuss the pattern, colour, joints and water route together with Smart Paving before settling the design. Arrange a site visit.
Explore our imprinted concrete service. See the imprinted concrete patterns and colours guide.
Related reading
- Five PICS grey colours to compare for an imprinted concrete driveway
- Glossy or restrained imprinted concrete: choosing a sealer finish
- Ashlar or cobble-effect imprinted concrete: choosing the right scale
