Take a look at some of the most common myths, mistakes, and just plain wrong practices the decorative concrete industry has embraced as commonplace.
Topics
New Ways to Sell Decorative Concrete
As adults we learn to communicate using our words when we want and need something. The use of certain words can change the entire intention of what someone is trying to say. For those who sell and install decorative concrete, when was the last time you thought about how words influence your client’s thought process regarding their decision to buy your products or services?
Answers to Concrete Staining Problems, Questions and Concerns
When you think about it, the relatively low percentage of callbacks and problems compared to the overall amount of work performed says a lot about the caliber of installers and the industry as a whole.
Case Studies Anchor a New Approach to Product Training
Almost all manufacturers of decorative concrete systems and equipment offer some sort of training on their products. Whether it is a one-hour watch-and-learn or a three-day hands-on class that people pay to attend, these programs have become mainstream in our industry.
Prepping Your Finished Concrete Surface for a Sealer
Surface preparation is a commonly used term in the decorative concrete industry. An argument can be made that it might even just be the most used term in the industry. We hear or read about it most often when dealing with overlays and stains. Grind, scarify, acid etch, etc.
Color Hardener vs. Integral Color on Smaller Stamp Jobs
As with most things in life, a decorative concrete installer faces many choices when it comes to the products and processes he or she uses on a job. Unfortunately, the choice is often made to take the path of least resistance or buy at low cost versus favoring long-term performance and the quality of the project.
Decorative Overlays Exhibit Various Types of Cracking
In a recent week, I’ve had two overlay projects with cracking. The first project had lots of short random cracks, the longest about 3 inches long. We noticed them the afternoon of the same day the overlay was applied.
Why Concrete Sealers May Leave a Lingering Odor
Is it possible to smell sealer months after application? Someone asked me this regarding a stained and sealed floor in a Colorado residence.
Match the Concrete Mix with the Right Equipment
Too often mixing decorative overlays becomes an afterthought or path of least resistance process. This is the drill and paddle I have used for years, so it must be OK. Worse yet, and I am guilty of this, those of us on the training and manufacturing side default to whatever mixer is provided when we show up for a product demonstration.
Bell Tower in Texas Modeled After Historic European Version
Bruce Williamson, of Carrollton, Texas, and a team from French manufacturer Decopierre used a unique limestone veneer to give this bell tower a historic look.
