The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
One of the biggest innovations in the concrete countertop grinding and polishing industry has been planetary technology – machines that have multiple grinding heads, allowing fabricators to cover a large radius of material at a time and achieve an extra-flat result.
Take a look at a few pictures from the winners of the 2010 Concrete Countertop Design Competition.
Every concrete countertop fabricator is after a smooth, clean finish on his or her work, be it a kitchen island, fireplace mantle or sink basin. Achieving a flat, shiny surface often comes down to the type of grinder that’s used, and with so many machines on the market, many fabricators can feel overwhelmed by the choices.
Three unique looks achieved by seasoned veterans with stamping and texturing tools – an authentic travertine tile look, a cobblestone finish and a patio with hand-tooled brick.
GFRC is a combination of fine aggregate, cement, water, polymer, chemical admixtures and glass fiber. The key to GFRC is the glass-fiber reinforcement. The fibers take the place of steel in a wet-cast mix. They allow GFRC to develop much higher flexural strengths than typical wet-cast concrete, allowing you to cast thinner, lighter sections and pieces.
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.
Thin coatings that can be polished work wonders on new and old floors, but applying them requires knowledge and skill.
This industry veteran doesn’t much care for the label of "artisan." Just call him a good concrete contractor with an eye for color.
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.
As time has gone along, polished concrete has picked up market share and damaged contracting companies at the same time. If the profit margins of this industry do not rebound soon the fear is that polished concrete will become an extremely rare and specialized process.
