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Problems with stamped concrete turning white like a calcium build up...

by Heather Roning
(Livermore, cA)

Dry stone with color...

Q. I had stamped concrete put in around my pool. It was a rust color stamped concrete. It was sealed professionally, but it has still turned an awful white chalky color. It is beautiful when it is wet, but as soon as it drys it once again returns to the awful chalk color. I don't know if this is what you talk about when you refer to efflorescence. Please look at the pictures below and provide feedback as I so want to get it fixed.

A. It's impossible to tell from the picture if it's efflorescence, poor sealer, or lack of sealer. Normally, if the concrete looks nice when it's wet it will also look nice as soon as it's sealed if the right kind of sealer is used. Solvent based sealers are the best for giving concrete it's luster. It may be that your concrete has a water based sealer due to the environmental restrictions in CA. My suggestion would be to find a solvent based sealer and put some on an inconspicuous area. Wait a few days to see what happens. I think this will solve your problem.

When we install stamped concrete it always looks like junk until we put the solvent based sealer down.