Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008

Vol. 8 No. 7 – November 2008

A Mountaintop Concrete Countertop

Concrete Countertops Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Concrete Decor Staff Comments are Disabled

We asked Lynda Apple of InConcrete Custom Countertops and Design Elements if the precast tabletop her Flagstaff, Ariz., outfit produced for a ski patrol shack was the highest decorative concrete installation in America. Boy, did we get a response.

Building a Successful Decorative Concrete Business in Winter

One of the first decorative concrete contractors in the Boston area, Bill Guthro built his business in a town known for winter weather.

The New Age of Coloring Concrete

Staining & Coloring Concrete Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Doug Carlton Comments are Disabled

Hang up the phone if you are one of the many decorative concretists that are about to embark on any form of colored concrete. If you are somewhat new to the whole coloring thing, please give this article a close look.

The Growth of Green Practices in Decorative Concrete

Technology Concrete Polishing Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by William D. Palmer Jr. Comments are Disabled

There are new profit opportunities in polished concrete for the decorative concrete contractor. This is a fact, and every decorative concrete contractor should look into polished concrete. However, nothing ever caused more people to go broke than too much optimism and too little planning.

Taking a Concrete Patio To The Next Level

Outdoor Spaces Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by David Searls Comments are Disabled

When a pair of homeowners put their heads together with concrete maestro Tom Ralston, the result was three levels of outdoor grandeur.

Looking Back at the Year in Polished Concrete

Concrete Polishing Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Peter Wagner, CSI Comments are Disabled

Peter Wagner looks back on the industry of polished concrete during the Great Recession all while keeping perspective and hope of the future in mind.

The Science of Thin, Polymer-Modified Toppings

Concrete Overlays & Toppings Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Amy Johnson Comments are Disabled

Polymers aren’t as colorful as pigments, acids and other raw materials used in decorative concrete. But because they help thin cemetitious toppings hold together, they are just as important.

Eco-friendly Reinforcement Fiber for Concrete

Concrete Placing Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Emily Dixon Comments are Disabled

With all the talk about “green” products lately, it’s only natural that somebody has created an eco-friendly reinforcement fiber for concrete.

The synthetic fibers of NyconG, from New Nycon Inc., are made from 100 percent reclaimed post-consumer and post-industrial waste carpet.

Cement Alternatives for Concrete

Concrete Countertops Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Loretta Hall Comments are Disabled

Since manufacturing portland cement damages the environment, more and more concrete makers are giving alternatives a chance. According to the LEED certification system, concrete has several green qualities, including a long lifetime and recyclability. Portland cement, one of concrete’s primary ingredients, is another story.

Marketing and Selling Decorative Concrete

Business & Technology Vol. 8 No. 7 - November 2008 by Sherry Boyd Comments are Disabled

It’s not your imagination — the construction market is currently much more competitive. When opportunities exist, beating the odds to win the job and the increase of price pressures require more marketing tools and salesmanship than at any time in the last decade