It’s that time of year again – the time when I review the hundreds of questions and situations I dealt with in 2010 looking for those special few that made me pause and just think, "Really?"
Author: Chris Sullivan
Proper Preparation Helps Concrete Overlays Stay Strong
The decorative overlay industry has grown exponentially over the last 10 years, and so has the number of failures and problems related to overlay installations.
Color Hardener vs. Integral Color on Smaller Stamp Jobs
As with most things in life, a decorative concrete installer faces many choices when it comes to the products and processes he or she uses on a job. Unfortunately, the choice is often made to take the path of least resistance or buy at low cost versus favoring long-term performance and the quality of the project.
The Benefits of Tried and True Iron Oxide Pigment
The products and finishes in the decorative industry are becoming more sophisticated – polymer-modified toppings, nanotechnology sealers, and sustainable stains and dyes to name a few. But all need to remember the old tried-and-true products that still make up a large portion of the industry, and refresh ourselves on the right way to use them.
Lap Lines and Roller Marks When Sealing Concrete
Sealing concrete can be frustrating! Roller marks and their cousins, "lap lines," are just two of those frustrating problems that can plague professional decorative installers.
New Ways to Sell Decorative Concrete
As adults we learn to communicate using our words when we want and need something. The use of certain words can change the entire intention of what someone is trying to say. For those who sell and install decorative concrete, when was the last time you thought about how words influence your client’s thought process regarding their decision to buy your products or services?
7 Basic Steps to Consider Before Starting any Concrete Project
This is where the seven steps to success before you start come into play. Problems with architectural concrete projects, real or perceived, can all be traced back to a breakdown of one or more of these seven steps.
How To Navigate the Craziness of Troubleshooting
Information has become the currency of the 21st century. Just look at how fast and easy obtaining information has become. Most of us can access the world from a hand-held phone or PDA. In contrast, it seems like providing basic information when you’re the one asking the question can be like pulling teeth.
Become an Expert on Concrete Stains and Dyes
"Be an expert." Avoiding trying to be all things to all people, instead of focusing in on what they are good at and becoming an expert in that one area.This thought comes full circle when you think about how it relates to decorative concrete, especially in the application of stains and dyes.
Busting Some Common Decorative Concrete Myths
Take a look at some of the most common myths, mistakes, and just plain wrong practices the decorative concrete industry has embraced as commonplace.
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