A few years back, L.M. Scofield celebrated its 100th anniversary. Next January, Sundek will celebrate 50 years, and Concrete Decor is about to hit its 20-year mark. While there are numerous other companies worth noting, these benchmarks convey success within our decorative concrete industry. Ten years ago the Concrete Decor Show was […]
Vol. 19 No. 6 – August/September 2019
ICF Safe Rooms Offer Shelter From Natural Disasters
Tornadoes are extremely dangerous natural disasters that can come with little to no warning. People who live in tornado-prone areas, as well as those in hurricane locales, should have a safe place to go when bad weather hits. In the worst-case scenario, not having a proper safe place to retreat to can become a death sentence for homeowners and/or their families.
Concrete Chess Table Stars in Backyard Spa Remodel
Transforming tired and dated backyard retreats into personal and welcoming family havens just so happens to be Scott Cohen’s specialty. This specialty shows itself in a recent project featuring a concrete chess table. “Decorative concrete continues to be a growing trend in our high-end swimming pool and outdoor kitchen designs,” […]
Quartz Versus Limestone: Which sand is better in concrete overlays?
Concrete overlays’ strength comes from combining specific amounts of portland cement, sand, water and polymer. Sand type is an important component in decorative concrete and concrete overlays because overlays are typically applied thinner than standard concrete, yet still need to withstand the forces of foot and automobile traffic. Research and […]
Polished Concrete Helps Deliver the ‘Neighborhood Goods’
What do tennis great Serena Williams, Hollywood movie star Reese Witherspoon and decorative concrete have in common? Answer: They all are players in an experiment in retailing. This came in the form of a new destination in shopping called Neighborhood Goods. Both Williams and Witherspoon brought their brands — the […]
Surface Prep: Eliminating Chances for Concrete Failure
For thousands of years the permanence of concrete has made it an ideal construction and design medium. Architects, engineers and builders have relied on in for centuries. Even the word “concrete” is often used as an adjective to describe the reality, longevity and durability of everything from objects to ideas. […]
Today’s Concrete Overlays are Durable and Good Looking
A baker knows when there’s a disaster in the kitchen. However, sometimes a little bit of icing can go a long way toward redemption. Concrete contractors have a similar option with overlays and an unsightly slab: The overlaid section not only looks better, but the chemistry behind today’s concrete overlays […]
There’s an Overlay for Most Any Occasion
Installing overlays onto existing concrete is a cost-effective way to update concrete surfaces by eliminating tear-out costs, minimizing product expense and reducing the manpower needed to overhaul the look and integrity of the existing surface. Overlays for concrete today run the gamut, so there are plenty to choose from. The […]
Going Beyond Square-edged Countertops
Artisan disliked square-edged concrete countertops, so he made his style of polyurethane edge forms for a decorative edge.
Concrete Forms and Edge Liners Can Simplify the Job
When it comes to forming the edges of countertops, pool coping and steps, a good forms and edge liners are indispensable tools. These will help you do the job both quicker and easier. No more hand chiseling or finagling a texture mat to give you a detailed edge. Some form […]