Vol. 17 No. 4 - May/June 2017
Got Slurry?
If you're doing anything with polishing, drilling or sawing concrete these days, you're likely already using water in your processes. Those hedging on not using wet processes are staring straight at a mandate from OSHA that requires contractors to reduce the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica.
Chris Sullivan discusses the new OSHA respirable crystalline silica regulation and how it may not impact all decorative concrete products.
The Power of Diamond Grit
One of the largest lighting manufacturers in North America has recently moved its product development to a 132,000-square-foot building in Atlanta, Georgia, and the company chose polished concrete as the most cost-efficient and easy to maintain flooring option.
When working with stamped concrete overlays, experts caution you to keep your eye on weather and temperature conditions.
A concrete contractor diversifies his portfolio by adding numerous medallion designs, including fleur-de-lis, by learning the basics of patterns.
The creation of a high quality concrete job starts with proper sub-base compaction. Generally speaking, a minimum of 4-inch rock sub-base is required to support the concrete slab cast on grade. The rock sub-base should provide uniform support to the slab without any soft spots.
It’s no secret that most people think sealers are the Achilles’ heel of decorative concrete. You can do nearly everything perfectly while installing your concrete masterpiece only to have something like a sealer decimate all your good efforts.
Seamless has been coating floors since 1939. Now the company has taken a decorative direction.
A practical and less expensive way to create unique surface treatments for enhanced color finishes on concrete is to add color to the concrete sealer.
Self-levelers offer interior spaces unlimited design possibilities, fast! Through the use of integral colors, dry-shake color hardeners and similar products, fresh concrete need no longer be gray, monotone and drab looking.
Adding a metallic color treatment to interior decorative concrete floors or cementitious overlays is a simple step and adds a very distinctive look with concrete stenciling applications.
Creating the right recipes for your concrete mix will ensure high quality installations with a decorative finish every time.
The Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame is pleased to honor its inductees for 2014: Gary Jones, Frank Lewis and Jon Nasvik. The Hall of Fame will announce the group at the 2014 Concrete Decor Show.
What began as the customer’s modest plan for a concrete slab to go under a jumbo-sized hot tub morphed into a three-tier, 2,700-square-foot stamped concrete patio that integrates a spa with two other focal points: an eating area with wood pergola to house an outdoor kitchen, and a recessed fire-pit area with sitting wall.
It all started when I got a call from interior designer Julie Doran. Been a long time. Where you been? “Second career as a flight attendant, third career as a full-time mom. Now, I’m back into design.” What’s up? “Got a new client. I’m designing a tricked-out outdoor kitchen. I think you may be just the guy to do the countertops.”
For this niche contractor, it's all about the hardscapes.
When it comes to bordering walls, pools and other installations, it pays to get edgy. Here are a few fresh options.
Acid staining is unpredictable by nature, but after years of experience, several of the country’s most gifted artisans have developed techniques that incorporate the stains into tried-and-true effects.
Self-levelers offer interior spaces unlimited design possibilities, fast! Through the use of integral colors, dry-shake color hardeners and similar products, fresh concrete need no longer be gray, monotone and drab looking.