Yes, we supply coloured ready mix concrete. The colour is added as an oxide at the batching plant, so it runs right through the mix rather than sitting on the surface, giving you a consistent, hard-wearing finish delivered ready to pour. Integral colour like this is ideal for driveways, paths, patios, and alfresco areas where you want more than plain grey. Because the oxide is dosed by the batch, every load is mixed to the same recipe for an even result across the whole pour. The table below shows how through-colour compares with the surface methods people sometimes confuse it with.
| Colouring method | How it works | Colour depth |
| Integral oxide, in the mix | Added at the plant, coloured throughout | Full depth, right through |
| Dry-shake hardener | Broadcast onto the wet surface | Top layer only |
| Stain or paint | Applied after the concrete cures | Surface only |
How Coloured Ready Mix Is Made
Understanding how the colour gets into the concrete explains why it looks and lasts the way it does. It is a simple idea done to a precise recipe.
Coloured ready mix is made by adding an iron-oxide pigment, as either a liquid or a powder, to the concrete at the plant while it is batched. The pigment is measured to a set dose for the volume, then mixed through the whole load so every part of the concrete carries the same colour. Because it is done at the plant rather than by hand on site, the dosing is consistent and the colour is even from the first barrow to the last. What arrives is standard pre-mix concrete at the strength you ordered, simply carrying colour all the way through.
Why Through-Colour Beats Surface Colour
The big advantage of coloured ready mix is that the colour is not just a skin on top, and this matters for how the finished slab wears over the years. Surface methods have their place, but they work differently.
With integral colour, the pigment is present through the full depth of the slab, so if the surface is ever chipped, scratched, or worn, there is coloured concrete underneath rather than a grey base showing through. Surface methods like dry-shake hardeners, stains, or paints only colour the top, which can wear, fade, or flake to reveal plain concrete below. Through-colour is also less work, since it arrives ready in the truck instead of being applied as an extra step on site. For a finish that has to look good for years under traffic and weather, colour that goes all the way through is the more durable choice.
The Colour Range and Popular Choices
One of the best parts of coloured ready mix is how wide the palette is, so you can match the concrete to a home, a garden, or a streetscape. The range covers far more than a single grey.
Oxide pigments come in a broad spread of tones, from soft creams, sandstones, and buffs through warm terracottas, reds, and browns to deep charcoals and near-blacks, along with a range of custom greys. Lighter earthy tones suit outdoor entertaining and pool surrounds, while charcoals and darker greys give driveways and modern homes a clean, contemporary look. The final shade is influenced by the pigment dose, the cement, the mix, the weather on the day, and the finish, so it always pays to look at a sample or an existing pour rather than a colour chart alone. When you enquire, we can talk you through the tones that work well for your project and setting.
Where Coloured Concrete Works Well
Coloured ready mix suits almost any decorative slab, and it is worth thinking about where it will have the most impact. A few uses come up again and again.
Driveways and paths are popular in charcoal and grey tones that hide marks and tie in with the house, while patios, alfresco areas, and pool surrounds often use warmer, lighter colours for a softer outdoor feel. Coloured concrete also pairs beautifully with textured finishes, so combining colour with an exposed aggregate surface or a honed finish gives both colour and character in one slab. If you are deciding between finishes, our guide to the benefits of exposed aggregate concrete is a good place to start, and matching the right concrete to your project makes sure the colour sits on a slab built for the job.
Getting an Even, Lasting Colour
To get the best from coloured concrete, a few practical points make the difference between a great result and a patchy one. Most come down to consistency and protection.
Order the whole pour from one supplier and one colour batch, since mixing loads from different sources or days risks slight colour variation. Keep the water and finishing consistent across the pour, because adding water on site or finishing at different times can leave lighter and darker patches. Cure the slab properly and evenly, as uneven drying can affect the final tone. And seal the finished concrete, which both protects the colour from fading and wear and enriches it, deepening the tone and giving a richer look. Our note on why sealing your concrete is essential explains this in full, and it is a step worth planning in from the start with any coloured pour.
How to Order Coloured Concrete From Us
Ordering coloured ready mix is much like ordering plain concrete, with one extra conversation about colour. A little planning gets you the exact look you want.
Work out your volume and the strength you need, then talk to us about the colour, ideally after seeing a sample so you know how the tone will look once cured and sealed. Let us know the finish you are after, whether that is a smooth trowel, a broom finish, or exposed aggregate, so the mix and colour suit it. We batch the coloured concrete to your chosen dose and deliver it ready to pour across the region. Because we batch locally, ordering coloured concrete is straightforward and consistent, so get in touch with your project details and we will help you get the colour and finish right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you supply coloured ready mix concrete?
Yes. We add oxide pigment at the batching plant so the colour runs through the whole mix, and deliver it ready to pour. It suits driveways, paths, patios, and alfresco areas, and comes in a wide range of tones.
Is coloured concrete coloured all the way through?
With integral oxide colour, yes. The pigment is mixed through the full depth of the concrete, so chips and wear do not reveal a grey base. This is different from surface stains or dry-shake hardeners, which only colour the top.
What colours does ready mix concrete come in?
Oxide pigments offer a broad range, from creams, sandstones, and terracottas to reds, browns, charcoals, and custom greys. The final shade depends on the dose, cement, mix, and finish, so it is best to check a sample before ordering.
Should coloured concrete be sealed?
Yes, sealing is strongly recommended. It protects the colour from fading and wear and enriches the tone, giving a deeper, richer finish. Planning the sealer in from the start gets the best and longest-lasting result.
