Decorative Concrete Training

An enthusiastic group of contractors (and one architect) looked, listened, learned — and then got out on the floor and spread color and coatings at a Colormaker Floors workshop held at the Institute for American Craftsmanship in Eugene, Oregon.

The class, taught by Gary Jones, started with a slide show of Colormaker projects around the world. Later on, Jones went on to explain different types of toppings and their polymer loadings; tools; floor prep; and coloring with Sgraffino and Rotofino, two Colormaker products.

Then, after practicing on sample boards, the class was ready to take to the floor, where they used the Rotofino topping and a variety of stains and dye washes to create a nautilus shell design, complete with multiple shades of pearlescent color.

With Jones’ easygoing teaching style setting the tone, the students felt comfortable not just practicing what they had learned, but letting their creativity flourish. When all was said and done, they went home with an invigorated idea of how color and form can turn concrete into works of art.