# Coloured & Stained Concrete Toronto | Best Concrete

> Integral colour, acid stain, water-based stain and dye finishes in Toronto from $3 to $8 per sq ft on top of base concrete. Published pricing and a 2-year warranty.

URL: https://bestconcretetoronto.ca/coloured-stained-concrete/

![Charcoal integrally coloured concrete patio beside a modern Toronto home](/images/hero/charcoal-integrally-coloured-concrete-patio-with-a.webp)

# Coloured & Stained Concrete Finishes in Toronto & the GTA

Last updated: August 28, 2026

Integral colour, acid stain, water-based stain and dye finishes.

-   verified 2-Year Workmanship Warranty
-   shield WSIB + $2M Liability
-   schedule 2-Hour Quote Window
-   star 4.9 Google Rating

Published pricing $3 - $8 per sq ft add-on

request\_quote Get a Free Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

call (647) 800-3688

[tel:+16478003688 →](tel:+16478003688)

 

View Pricing

[#pricing →](#pricing)

-   star 4.9 Star Google Rating
-   receipt\_long Published Pricing
-   verified 2-Year Workmanship Warranty
-   shield WSIB + $2M Liability
-   schedule 2-Hour Response Window
-   support\_agent 24/7 Phone

![Worker applying acid stain to a concrete floor with variegated colour developing](/images/misc/worker-applying-acid-stain-with-a-sprayer-to-an-in.webp)

Worker applying acid stain to a concrete floor with variegated colour developing

## What Is Coloured and Stained Concrete?

There are four ways to get colour into concrete, and they behave completely differently. Choosing the wrong one is the most common decorative concrete mistake we are called in to fix.

**Integral colour** is iron-oxide pigment batched into the concrete at the plant. The colour runs through the full depth of the slab, which means a chip or a saw cut still reads as the same colour rather than exposing grey. It gives a uniform, fade-resistant tone and is the most durable option for exterior work.

**Acid stain** is a reactive solution that combines chemically with free lime in cured concrete to produce permanent, translucent colour. It does not sit on the surface, it becomes part of it. The palette is limited to earth tones, and the effect is mottled and variegated in a way that looks genuinely geological. No two slabs come out the same.

**Water-based stain** deposits fine pigment into the concrete’s pores. The colour range is far wider, coverage is more consistent, and there is no acid to neutralise. It is the pragmatic choice when a specific colour is needed.

**Dye** produces the most intense, saturated colour and penetrates deeply. It is primarily an interior product, most often used on polished floors, because most dyes are not UV stable enough for outdoor exposure.

### What’s Included

-   Colour consultation with sample application on your slab
-   Surface cleaning, profiling or grinding as required
-   Removal of existing coatings, sealers or adhesive residue
-   Integral pigment batched at the plant, or on-site stain application
-   Controlled multi-pass application for variegated effects
-   Full neutralising and rinsing of acid stains
-   UV-stable sealer sized to interior or exterior exposure
-   Maintenance schedule and product recommendations

## Common Problems We Solve

### Colour That Wore Off

Surface colour hardeners and coloured coatings wear through in traffic lanes and chip at edges, leaving grey underneath. Integral colour and reactive stain do not do this, because the colour is inside the concrete rather than sitting on top of it.

### Blotchy Results From a Previous Job

Uneven stain almost always traces back to inconsistent surface preparation, or applying stain over residual sealer or curing compound that blocked penetration in patches. Grinding back and reapplying to a properly prepared surface fixes it.

### Grey Interior Slabs

Basement, garage and workshop floors are usually plain grey concrete in reasonable condition. Cleaning, profiling and staining them is one of the highest-value cosmetic changes available on a per-square-foot basis.

### Sealer Failure Over Acid Stain

Acid stain that was not fully neutralised and rinsed keeps reacting under the sealer and pushes it off. The repair is to strip, neutralise properly, rinse until the pH reads clean, dry thoroughly, and reseal.

## How Much Does Coloured Concrete Cost in Toronto?

Colour is an add-on at $3 to $8 per square foot on top of the base concrete or floor preparation cost. Drivers:

-   **Method.** Integral pigment is the cheapest per foot. Multi-layer stain work with accent shading is the most expensive.
-   **Colour depth.** Darker and more saturated tones need more pigment or more stain passes.
-   **Surface preparation.** Existing floors with coatings or adhesive need grinding before anything can be applied.
-   **Neutralising and rinsing.** Acid stain requires a full wash-down cycle, which is labour and water management.
-   **Sealer specification.** UV-stable exterior sealers cost more than interior products.

## Choosing the Right Method

For exterior 

concrete driveways

[/concrete-driveways/ →](/concrete-driveways/)

, 

concrete patios

[/concrete-patios/ →](/concrete-patios/)

 and 

concrete walkways

[/concrete-walkways-sidewalks/ →](/concrete-walkways-sidewalks/)

, integral colour is almost always the right answer. It cannot wear off, it is UV stable, and it survives freeze-thaw and salt better than any surface treatment. Colour also combines well with a textured finish, so many customers pair it with 

stamped concrete

[/stamped-concrete/ →](/stamped-concrete/)

 or an 

exposed aggregate

[/exposed-aggregate-concrete/ →](/exposed-aggregate-concrete/)

 border.

For **interior floors** where a rich, organic look matters, acid stain is unmatched. For interiors where a specific colour is required, water-based stain or dye gives control that acid stain cannot.

For 

polished concrete

[/concrete-polishing/ →](/concrete-polishing/)

 floors, penetrating dye applied mid-sequence is standard, because it colours the concrete before the final resin passes seal it in.

We bring sample coupons to the quote visit and, on stain work, always test on the actual slab. Colour on concrete is a reaction, not a paint, and the only honest way to know what you will get is to try it.

Send us the area, whether the concrete is new or existing, and the look you are after, and we will come back with a written published-rate quote inside two hours.

Published pricing

## How Much Does Coloured & Stained Cost in Toronto?

$3 - $8 per sq ft add-on

### Integral Colour

$3 - $4.50 / sq ft

-   check Iron-oxide pigment through the full slab depth
-   check Uniform, fade-resistant tone
-   check Chips do not expose grey
-   check Standard sealer included

Get a Free Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

Most requested

### Single-Layer Stain

$4.50 - $6.50 / sq ft

-   check Acid or water-based stain on prepared concrete
-   check Variegated, natural mottling
-   check Neutralising wash and rinse
-   check Protective sealer

Get a Free Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

### Multi-Layer Stain

$6.50 - $8 / sq ft

-   check Two or more stain layers for depth
-   check Accent shading and borders
-   check Dye for intense saturated colour
-   check Upgraded UV-stable sealer

Get a Free Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

Colour is priced as an add-on to the base concrete or floor preparation cost. Single integral colours sit at the lower end, multi-layer stain work at the top.

Rates are published up front with no hidden fees. Final pricing depends on site conditions, thickness, reinforcement, and finish. See the full 

published rate card

[/pricing/ →](/pricing/)

.

Why choose us

## Why Choose Best Concrete Toronto for Coloured & Stained?

science

### We Sample Before We Commit

Stain reacts with the concrete itself, so the same product gives different results on different slabs. Testing first is not optional.

layers

### Colour Through the Slab

Integral pigment does not wear off or chip away to grey, which surface-only colour hardeners eventually do.

water\_drop

### Proper Neutralising

Acid stain that is not fully neutralised and rinsed will attack the sealer from underneath. We rinse until the pH reads clean.

receipt\_long

### Published Pricing

$3 to $8 per sq ft as an add-on to the base work, quoted in writing before we start.

Our process

## How Does Coloured & Stained Work?

1.  1 palette
    
    ### Sample First
    
    Colour on concrete never matches the chart exactly. We test on your slab or a coupon from the same mix before committing.
    
2.  2 request\_quote
    
    ### Written Quote
    
    Published per-square-foot add-on pricing in writing inside our 2-hour response window.
    
3.  3 construction
    
    ### Prepare & Apply
    
    Clean, profile or grind the surface, then apply integral pigment at the plant or stain on site in controlled passes.
    
4.  4 verified
    
    ### Neutralise & Seal
    
    Neutralise and rinse acid stains thoroughly, let the slab dry, then seal to lock the colour in.
    

Our work

## Coloured & Stained Projects Across the GTA

Click any image to enlarge.

 

 

## How Best Concrete Toronto Compares

| Factor | Typical Contractor | Best Concrete Toronto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quote turnaround | Verbal estimate, no written number | Written quote inside 2 hours |
| Colour testing | Applied straight from a colour chart | Sampled on your slab before we commit |
| Pigment method | Surface colour hardener that wears to grey | Integral pigment through the full slab depth |
| Acid stain neutralising | Rinsed once, sealer applied same day | Neutralised and rinsed until pH reads clean |
| Workmanship warranty | 1 year or none | 2 years in writing |

Testimonials

## What Customers Say About Our Coloured & Stained Work

4.9 out of 5 across Google reviews

star star star star star

> "Charcoal tone through the whole basement floor. It looks intentional rather than like a coating, which is exactly what we wanted."

Kevin M. Toronto

star star star star star

> "They tested three colours on an offcut before we picked. That step saved us from a mistake we would have lived with for years."

Grace L. Cornell

star star star star star

> "The colour has held up beautifully through a Toronto winter and the sealing schedule they gave us was clear."

Priya S. Markham

Common questions

## Coloured & Stained FAQs

### help How much does coloured or stained concrete cost in Toronto?

expand\_more

Colour is priced as an add-on at $3 to $8 per sq ft on top of the base concrete or floor preparation cost. A single integral colour sits at the lower end, and multi-layer stain work with accent shading sits at the top.

### help What is the difference between integral colour and stain?

expand\_more

Integral colour is pigment mixed through the concrete at the plant, so the colour runs the full depth of the slab and a chip never shows grey. Stain is applied to cured concrete and colours the top few millimetres. Integral gives uniform tone. Stain gives variegated, natural-looking mottling.

### help What is the difference between acid stain and water-based stain?

expand\_more

Acid stain reacts chemically with the free lime in concrete to produce permanent, translucent, mottled earth tones. Water-based stain deposits pigment into the pores, offering a much wider colour range including blues and greens, with more consistent coverage. Acid looks more organic. Water-based is more predictable.

### help Will stained concrete look the same as the sample?

expand\_more

Close, not identical. Stain reacts with the specific slab it is applied to, so age, mix design, finishing method and even the moisture history all shift the result. That is why we always sample on your slab first.

### help Does coloured concrete fade?

expand\_more

Integral pigment is iron oxide and is extremely UV stable, so it does not meaningfully fade. Surface stains and dyes are more vulnerable, particularly dyes outdoors. Sealing protects them, and outdoor work needs a UV-stable sealer and a reseal every two to three years.

### help Can you colour an existing concrete floor?

expand\_more

Yes. Stain and dye are applied to cured concrete, so an existing basement, garage or interior floor is a good candidate. It has to be cleaned and profiled first, and any coatings, sealers or adhesive residue removed, because stain cannot penetrate through them.

### help Can you match a specific colour?

expand\_more

We can get very close with integral pigment, which is the most controllable option. Exact matching to a paint chip is not realistic with stain, because the concrete itself contributes to the final colour. Where an exact match matters, integral colour is the honest recommendation.

### help How do you maintain coloured concrete?

expand\_more

Keep it sealed. Interior floors get a periodic re-coat of the sealer or a floor finish. Exterior work needs resealing every two to three years with a UV-stable product. Avoid de-icing salt on coloured exterior concrete where you can, since it attacks the surface the colour lives in.

### help Can colour be combined with stamping or polishing?

expand\_more

Yes, and it usually is. Stamped concrete uses integral colour plus a tinted release for the antique effect. Polished floors take penetrating dye mid-sequence for even, permanent colour. Both are quoted together with the base service.

### Still have questions?

We answer the phone 24/7 and reply to quote requests inside two hours.

Get a Free Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

## Related Services

grid\_view

### Stamped Concrete

Patterned overlays and pours in stone, slate, brick and wood-plank patterns.

[Stamped Concrete →](/stamped-concrete/)

auto\_awesome

### Concrete Polishing

Diamond grinding up to 1,500 grit, lithium-silicate densification and gloss finishing for homes and businesses.

[Concrete Polishing →](/concrete-polishing/)

shield

### Epoxy-Sealed Decorative Concrete

Decorative concrete with clear epoxy or urethane topcoats for outdoor and high-wear use.

[Epoxy-Sealed Decorative Concrete →](/epoxy-sealed-decorative-concrete/)

![](/images/hero/concrete-crew-in-hi-vis-vests-finishing-a-large-dr.webp)

2-hour response window, 24/7 phone answering

## Ready to Book Coloured & Stained?

Published pricing on coloured & stained concrete, a written quote inside two hours, and a 2-year workmanship warranty.

request\_quote Get a Free Quote

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

call (647) 800-3688

[tel:+16478003688 →](tel:+16478003688)

-   check\_circle 2-year workmanship warranty
-   check\_circle No hidden fees
-   check\_circle WSIB insured, $2M liability