Hi Terrapots,

I'm not an expert but because I've been researching and working with sealers quite a bit these last few months (I'm doing sample pieces now for our deck project), I would suggest trying an enhancing sealer. If the faux stone is at all porous, it will accept it. Enhancers darken color and seal at the same time. I just did several hundred SF of copper quartzite, which, left natural is very blah. Enhancing it does wonders! If the faux stone isn't porous, it won't accept stain and your only option, I think, would be to paint it. Try a few samples in hidden areas.

Brands I've used for sealing/enhancing are StoneTech, 511 Miracle, AquaMix and I'm currently sampling Aldon's Same Day Sealer and UltraPel from White Mountain (for my precast concrete but they'll work on any stone)

For your flagstone, if you want to keep the natural look use an impregnating sealer (not an enhancer) (all above mentioned make them) Epoxies and Polyurethanes will coat the surface and can cause problems down the road with flaking and peeling. You can also choose a sealer that will give you the wet look. Try a local stone supply but stay away from big box brands. My experiences with those products haven't been good. You do get what you pay for :)

Thanks for that information. I found a couple of saved pieces of the rock which I can experiment on. It looks like plaster or porous cement mixed with gravel or rock. It's not a solid looking piece. The cement is colored but the outside is painted with dark shading, black. I was thinking it may be easier to use a sponge to smear some color over it and then go over it with a little black and wipe off. Enhancing the color would be good although I would just be happy to have the washed out look diminished. I also worry about getting paint on the mortar so this will be a very slow project if I proceed with it. I'll take your list of products and visit a paint store and pick their brains to see what they suggest. Again, thanks for taking the time to give me a few ideas.

Terrapots,

I would stay away from Aldon Same Day Sealer. It ruined a beautiful faux finish stain job I did on my patio, leaving whitish-bluish spots when it dried, instead of clear. The answer for your faux stone deck is to use Deck Kote acrylic paint which is formulated for pool areas. To achieve an antique stone look you would apply a coat in one color and then, using a faux finish sponge roller, very lightly go over it with a slightly different color of their paint. You need to have a feel for "random and uniform" at the same time to get the look. No need to seal. The Deck Kote should last about 5 years. Use TSP before applying.

Should be perfect time ken as it probably needs a new coat of something as the post is 8 years old.