“Just apply a decorative overlay and it will hide everything.” Or, “Use acid to strip that sealer.” These are just a couple of the myths or just plain wrong recommendations concrete contractors may have come across recently.
Concrete Coatings
Coatings are liquid or semi-liquid mixtures applied to cured concrete to make it more aesthetically pleasing, improve its durability, boost its longevity and/or reduce upkeep and repairs.
Finding the Sweet Spot Among Acrylic Sealers and Acrylic Urethanes
Contractors have relied on acrylic sealers for decades to protect concrete flooring systems, and for good reason. In the right conditions, these sealers offer optimal durability, stain resistance and a desirable “wet look” finish. However, they have their limitations too and aren’t always the ideal option for high-traffic areas and environments with extreme hazards.
Versatile Building Products: Garage Floor Project
When a pair of specialists from Versatile Building Products made a January trek from California to Oregon to coat a concrete floor, their first concern was the cold.
How to Remove Paint, Rust Stains, Adhesives & Oil from Concrete
Many decorative jobs require cleaning up an existing slab. Here’s a look at products that remove paint, rust, adhesives or grease.
Transforming a Show Room Floor with High-Gloss Metallic Epoxies
The big national chain needed a ritzy floor for one of its new high-end home furnishing stores. A San Diego contactor brought the glamour, including metallics and a pearl finish.
Maintaining Decorative Concrete Garage Floors
A garage floor is one heck of a challenging place for the beautiful artwork and skillful craftsmanship of a decorative concrete application. Hot tires, oil, battery acid, brake fluid and strong coffee make daily assaults on an applicator’s masterpiece.
Moisture Tests in Concrete: Calcium Chloride vs. Relative Humidity
When good floor coatings go bad, moisture is often the culprit.
Even cured concrete can emit enough moisture to blister, cloud or delaminate a coating, especially when a slab with no vapor barrier sits on ground with poor drainage. The manufacturers of overlays, microcoatings, sealers and specialty coatings set moisture tolerance limits for their products.
Choosing the Right Roller Sleeve or Roller Cover
A roller sleeve or cover is commonly thought of as something found in a painter’s toolbox rather than a concrete contractor’s. However, rolling sealants and colors onto (and into) concrete has become an increasingly popular option in decorative concrete applications.
Concrete Artist Creates Online Gallery of Her Work
Concrete artist Emily McClintick has launched a new website showcasing her work. These images are just a taste of what you’ll find on the Concrete Portfolio page of the website.
Achieving the Look of Acid Stain With a Water-based Alternative
Tucked into the stadium that houses the Detroit Tigers, this sports bar features a lush decorative concrete floor.
