The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
I have identified six steps that all successful hunks of stamped concrete have in common. Bypassing one of the six steps will leave a stamping professional a rung short of a true level of potential. Perfection starts well before any color broadcasts across a wet concrete’s surface, and even well before a ready-mix truck arrives.
Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers can sometimes be put in adversarial roles. Because of the low-bid mentality that still dominates most construction sectors in the United States, trust is not always what it should be.
When people compliment Colorado Hardscapes Inc.’s marketing department, I tend to smile just a bit. People often mistakenly think our decorative concrete company operates like a large corporation, with multiple staff just waiting for their next task.
It is easy to understand the benefits of polished concrete. The word about polished concrete is out and we have done a great job of promoting the industry. Polished concrete is growing. The marketing has been great and many contractors are jumping on board. And the consumers are seeing a great product.
Concrete is one of the most revolutionary building materials of modern times. It has given the human race the ability to build sound infrastructures for the masses and has reshaped the world as we know it.
One of the most common questions I get asked is, “What is the best sealer?” My answer to this is, “It depends.” While this may seem like I’m dodging the question, it really gets to the heart of the issue. Selecting a finish solely based on how good it is said to be can often lead to undesirable results.
If I were a contractor I would take “preexisting” projects over new projects every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
A “punch list” is the final review of a project. It is usually completed by the project architect and is most often completed after the project has reached a milestone called “substantial completion.” And for a decorative concrete contractor, the punch list is probably the single largest money-losing piece of a project.
Fiberglass has been used in the precast industry for many years. The use of resin-and-glass mats to make master-mold plugs, keeper molds to hold the shape of rubber molds, and good old-fashioned production molds is standard in the industry.
There’s a lot riding on your price. It’s a reflection of your brand value and the perceived quality of your work. Customers will even use heuristics to determine if your price per square foot is consistent with what they would expect to gain from hiring you.
