There are two common polymer types used by most decorative overlay manufacturers: ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and acrylic.
Author: Chris Sullivan
Coloring Concrete in Winter Weather
There are many regions where the weather does not seem winterlike but is cold enough to affect concrete placement. This is where cold-weather placement practices become very important. Not following the rules because it does not seem that cold potentially leads to concrete that is weak and substandard.
Funny, Absurd and Just Off the Wall: The Year in Review
Yes, it’s that time of year again. The days are growing shorter and the leaves are off the trees, being blown around — and into your concrete work — by the forthcoming winds of winter.
How Stains and Dyes Color Your Concrete
Do you really understand how the products you use on your decorative projects work? One of my “Seven Steps to Success Before You Start a Project” states that you should “understand the products and process.” Using the product is not enough. You have to really know what it is, what it’s made of, how it works, and how to properly use it.
Fixes for Common Concrete Surface Color Problems
Unfortunately, complaints about how color turns out are an all-too-familiar topic of conversation. Complaints can involve but are not limited to integrally colored concrete, color-hardened concrete, stamped and textured concrete and stained concrete.
Understanding Our Rocky Relationship with Concrete Overlays
Ever notice the broad range of opinions that exist regarding concrete overlays and how they work? Take color hardener, for example — not everyone uses the product, but most agree that it is good and provides excellent results. Why then with overlays does such a spectrum of opinion and emotion exist?
Maintaining Sealed Stamped Concrete
What do you think of when you hear the term "sealer maintenance"? If you are like most in the industry, the first thing that comes to mind is waxing or buffing a previously sealed interior floor. Well, with spring upon us, it’s a great time to talk about another kind of sealer maintenance – maintaining exterior stamped or textured concrete.
Prepping Your Finished Concrete Surface for a Sealer
Surface preparation is a commonly used term in the decorative concrete industry. An argument can be made that it might even just be the most used term in the industry. We hear or read about it most often when dealing with overlays and stains. Grind, scarify, acid etch, etc.
The Allure and the Reality of Polishing Concrete
It has become pretty clear that polished concrete is the hot market in decorative concrete right now. There was no shortage of equipment and chemical manufacturers touting the latest and greatest at the show, with each making a case for why their system was the best option on the market.
The Nanotechnology Trend in Decorative Concrete: Hype or Reality?
Nanotechnology is everywhere. It seems to be the new buzzword in the decorative concrete industry. Now, nanotechnology has become the magic ingredient in any number of sealers, coatings and stains. I This article explores exactly what nanotechnology is and what benefits it brings to the decorative industry.
Recent
Sika Launches SikaWall-3000 Rapid Bond, a fast set adhesive for EIFS installation
ASA’s 2024 Outstanding Shotcrete Project Awards
How Admixture Technology Enhances Decorative Concrete Performance
ACI Launches Mentorship Program for Young Members
Lou Parous Named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
Popular
Consider Clean-and-seal as an Alternative Finish for Interior Concrete Floors
Consider an Overlayment’s Tensile and Flexural Strength
Choosing the Right Concrete Sealer Depends on the Job
Self-Leveling Concrete Compound Can Provide a Shortcut to a Sharp Look
Whiskey Themed Kitchen with Barrels and a Concrete Countertop