Concrete Decor's Current Articles

Over the last couple of years, I’ve written articles on how I use math to break down design layout and my views of color theory. This time, I’m going to share one of the little details that help my projects look amazing — how to properly use a brush.

For both new construction and remodel projects, polishing contractors face similar issues when trying to get concrete not poured at the same time to aesthetically match. This is a major problem in the world of construction.

Stained, integrally colored or other decorative concrete treatments will eventually need a freshening up if not a total do-over.

A researcher is trying to give cement sensing properties with applications in the oil industry.

Who would have thought polished concrete would come to the aid of the U.S. Air Force's newest fighter jet?

It’s a game of inches. That’s the cliché heard about baseball, and often about other sports as well. And why not? It’s a saying that rings true and also applies to decorative concrete and polished concrete, where precision matters down to the millimeter, let alone the inch.

In some cases, people were in fact looking to get a free application of sealer on their driveway, or a buff and wax on an interior floor within the warranty period of our work. However most were just interested in protecting the investment that they made, and wanted our help to ensure that the right products and procedures were in place.

Concrete Decor‘s Technique section is designed to offer readers helpful information on methods for properly preparing concrete surfaces and installing decorative concrete products. This month, we’ll focus on techniques for stamping an overlay

A few colors of dye, some common butcher paper and a little creativity are all it takes to get this handsome mottled finish.

Twelve feet high when stacked and installed, the black panels on either side of the center were poured against fabric. They look somewhat like roughened metal or steel.

Catty-cornered northwest of the Indiana Convention Center, the JW Marriott Art Plaza has become a city landmark and a tribute to Hoosiers statewide since its grand unveiling in March 2010.

Mike Miller reminicses about the times he was asked to help complete a complex concrete projects from his past.

Seeing a finished construction project put to good use is something any contractor welcomes.

Two recent decorative concrete projects on the Strip — for two very high-profile ventures, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and the CityCenter Las Vegas development — illustrate why working in Las Vegas is a unique undertaking.

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.

Ryan Neal of SBR Concrete was hired by a former client to create a basement floor that had to be not only easy to clean, but also unique. The end result was a floor made with hand-shaped rectangular "stones," each individually colored so that no two would look exactly the same.

When decorative concrete is mentioned, typically we’re referring to the booming market in flat concrete. However, there are additional, more specialized niches in the decorative concrete arena: simulated rock formations, typically found in zoos, theme parks and more. Check out some examples in this article.

What's the difference between concrete and decorative concrete? One of the first indicators is whether it has the dull gray color of … well, concrete, or if it incorporates a natural or even not-so-natural hue, tone or shade. Of course, there are also several ways to add color to concrete, depending on the needs and desires of the client.