Concrete Decor's Current Articles

On a regular basis, many of us are asked: “What is the best way to maintain polished concrete?” Is there one method proven to be superior?

In this article, we’ll explore some field testing reviews and compare traditional DIPs (diamond-impregnated pads) to a newer floor maintenance system involving composite resin abrasives (CRAs).

Peace of mind seems to be a rare commodity these days. So, if you could become involved in a program that helps offer that to you and your clients— and possibly helps grow your business, as well— wouldn’t you leap at the opportunity?

Now that summer is here I’m in full design mode on multiple projects that mostly involve basic tile patterns. Since I’m back in major math mode, I thought I’d share a challenging design project I did a couple of years ago for a client in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Multi Surface Urethane #275, from The Goodstuff Products, is a water-based, low-odor, low-VOC, clear urethane finish. Easy to apply and fast-drying, this high-quality finish works well on concrete countertops, floors, ceramic tile, vertical surfaces and other interior and exterior surfaces, including wood and some natural stone.

Fixing Another Contractor's Mistake Whether it's your own work or someone else's, you may be called upon to fix a decorative concrete project gone awry. Trowel & Error is a new column that celebrates the fact that there's always a solution to every decorative concrete problem.

The idea that you can take three connected “squares,” change the color for all three and make them appear to be two walls and a floor is pretty cool.

Back in 1999 when Jim Peterson was attending his umpteenth World of Concrete showcase, he was intrigued with the array of new concrete-related products that he saw in Las Vegas. Yet he was even more amazed that there wasn’t a central clearinghouse that building industry types could tap into to learn more about these new products and techniques once the show was over.

In this world, there are two types of concrete: concrete that’s flat, gray and utilitarian, and concrete that’s been shaped, colored and/or textured — and is considered art.

Don Pinger's second career began with a little dabbling in utilitarian concrete. That was seven years ago, when he was still working long hours in the restaurant he owned. He'd been reading about what people were doing with decorative concrete, and that intrigued him as well.

Quick Release Block Forms for creating large landscape concrete blocks are available in a variety of sizes. Liners can create various rock and stone patterns and last for a minimum of 100+ uses under normal conditions

Fabien Mené, a French native and art collector, never thought he’d find himself working in decorative concrete. It all started after studying art at the Charles de Gaulle University— Lille III. The idea of creating stenciled tables came to him after making bar counters in a class and wondering if he could add a stencil to the bottom of a casing.

To get the look, Ralston scattered rock salt here and there on the fresh pour, along with drops of retardant. After washing away the salt and retardant the next day and attacking the concrete with an acid-water solution and a wire brush, his team had the aged, corroded effect they wanted.

More often than not, decorative resurfacing begins with some type of repair, whether it be patching of small holes before a chemical stain, thin repair of spalled concrete, crack repair, or a full depth structural repair. This article will discuss a project requiring both repair and prevention of recurring cracks on post-tensioned concrete decks.

When members of the Sioux City Skateboard Association lost their good friend Andrew Langin to brain cancer in January 2017, they wanted to do something to honor him. The 40-year-old single father of 13-year-old Sophie was an avid skateboarder, a “bad-ass drummer” and an amazing metal sculptor who had touched so many people’s lives in a good way.

No, it’s not built into the fork of a tree. It’s the grown-up version, with a breathtaking mountain view and lots of decorative concrete.

Portland Cement Association, white portland cement has essentially the same properties as gray cement, except for when it comes to color.

It was not your best-case scenario. A new Army/Air Force main exchange, an indoor mall with multiple vendors and a food court, was slated to open at Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in six weeks. The floor had been ground and polished, the racks staged and the food vendors’ equipment installed.

Metropolitan Concrete, in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights, Michigan, recently completed their new decorative showroom. Leonard Bugli, president of Metropolitan Concrete, says that the new facility will showcase the many techniques that can be achieved with polyaspartics, metalic epoxies, dyes and stains.