Concrete Decor

Main Valet Concrete Driveway at Caesars Palace

Stamping & Texturing Concrete Staining & Coloring Concrete Vol. 13 No. 1 - January/February 2013 by Natasha Chilingerian Comments are Disabled

Like any concrete surface that leads to the front entrance of a major Las Vegas hotel, the driveway at the main valet area of Caesars Palace is subject to all kinds of wear and tear.

The Challenges of Applying High-Performance Sealers

Concrete Coatings Concrete Sealers Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Chris Sullivan Comments are Disabled

As high-performance coatings become more commonplace in decorative applications, so do the problems associated with using them. Unlike acrylic sealers, high-performance coatings (polyurethane, epoxy, polyaspartic and polyurea) are not as forgiving when it comes to application, or more specifically, reapplication.

The Science of Setting the Right Price for Your Services

Business & Technology Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Jacob Webb Comments are Disabled

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.

How to Fabric Form a Concrete Sink

Tips & How-Tos Recipes Precast Concrete Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Tommy Cook Comments are Disabled

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.

Successful Contractors Offer Good Customer Service

Business & Technology Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Doug Carlton Comments are Disabled

Turning a profit in today’s construction industry is no accident. This is why it is essential — now more than ever — to practice the strong fundamentals that every successful business is built on. I witnessed a perfect example of such a business this fall and it made me rethink my effort as a decorative concrete professional.

Concrete Artisan Prides Himself in Jobs Done Right, No Matter the Cost

Stamping & Texturing Concrete Featured Contractor Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Stacey Enesey Klemenc Comments are Disabled

The president of Artistic Concrete Surfaces, an award-winning company in Olathe, Kan., Mike Denny says that his commitment to quality sometimes drags on the business. “I’d rather lose money on a job instead of doing a job that didn’t look right. I have a good reputation for making sure everything is done above and beyond what people expect."

Tips for Polishing Preexisting Concrete Floors Profitably

Tips & How-Tos Concrete Polishing Business & Technology Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by David Padgett Comments are Disabled

If I were a contractor I would take “preexisting” projects over new projects every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Why Penetrating Sealers Are Sometimes Your Best Choice

Concrete Sealers Concrete Countertops Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Jeffrey Girard, P.E. Comments are Disabled

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.

Buying Diamond Tooling for Concrete Polishing

Tools & Equipment Concrete Polishing Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Jennifer Faller Comments are Disabled

There are as many variables in manufacturing diamond tooling as there are diamond manufacturers. So which specific variables should you concern yourself with and why?

A Man Cave with Water Features and Carved Concrete

Vertical & Carved Concrete Vol. 12 No. 8 - November/December 2012 by Natasha Chilingerian Comments are Disabled

Their still-in-progress project includes a number of concrete features inside the home, the centerpiece being a cast-in-place, carved, stamped GFRC staircase that resembles rock and leads into the basement-level man cave, graced by a sun-and-clouds water feature on the wall next to the staircase.