The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
Building construction and maintenance has changed a lot since Western Specialty Contractors was founded in 1915. Western has been right there in the trenches the entire time, providing trusted advice about building envelope restoration and maintenance to thousands of people across the country.
The issue of blisters and pin holes occurring on the surface of cast-in-place concrete and resin-based coatings and sealers is well documented, but surprisingly very little is published regarding the same issues in decorative overlays.
Using recycled and natural material, artisan Cindee Lundin worked her magic once again during Decorative Concrete LIVE! at the 2019 World of Concrete.
In decorative concrete, a common question is, “Is it form before function, or function before form?” This question is more complex now — despite the answer, consumers ask if the construction materials used are sustainable. Is there such a thing as a low-carbon swimming pool, a low-carbon countertop or an environmentally friendly polished concrete floor?
The construction industry has witnessed a “purging of the plug.” In particular, polished concrete is undergoing a transformation from equipment formerly reliant on three-phase power (either 208 or 480) to propane power for both grinders and vacuums.
Polished concrete continues to make headway as the flooring choice for grocery chains, big-box stores, museums, schools, restaurants and government buildings, but there’s a recurring problem that keeps rearing its ugly head: joint separation.
Metabo HPT announced today they are joining Generation T, a national movement launched by Lowe’s Home Improvement to address the widening skilled trades gap. Together, Gen T seeks to drive enrollment in skilled trade training and build a pipeline of skilled trade workers to offset the anticipated gap of 3 million jobs by 2028.
Upgrading your jobsite and doubling productivity just got easier with a battery that delivers on the promise of increased power. The Bosch GBA18V80 CORE18V Performance 18V Lithium-Ion 8.0 Ah Battery uses the latest high-power 21700 cells to deliver twice the power and runtime of standard batteries.
Built Robotics and Sunstate Equipment Co. have formed the industry’s first partnership to rent out autonomous construction equipment to contractors around the nation. Built Robotics, founded in San Francisco in 2016, is a leading developer of autonomous equipment, including skid steers, compact track loaders, excavators, bulldozers and more. Sunstate Equipment, founded in Phoenix in 1977, has made a name for itself as a people-first company, with high-quality equipment and dependable service.
ChemMasters, Inc. has announced the introduction of Polyseal EZ Shield, bubble resistant, non-yellowing acrylic curing and sealing compound with penetrating silane “shield” for beautification and protection of decorative concrete. Polyseal EZ Shield is a “low-VOC” product formulated to meet the stringent regulations for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) in states requiring less than 350 g/L VOC’s
