Concrete Decor Archives — Decorative Concrete Tips

Throwing Release with a Brush
How many times have you wished there was a better way to throw the powder release agent down before stamping... besides by the handful? Well, here's another way. Use a tampico mason's brush or cement-koter brush; the type of brush used for applying cementious slurry coats. Use it like a scoop and heap the release on the brush right out of the pail. With an outward flick of the wrist away from your body, cast the release out on the slab; just like your casting out a line to catch that big fish. Watch where and how the release lands; with a little practice you'll be casting like a pro. And who knows... maybe you'll even want to do a little fishing when your done!

Cleaning & Re-Sealing Exposed Aggregate
Exposed aggregate is a common theme around many backyard swimming pools, and it's often a gorgeous accent to poolside appeal. When these surfaces are heavily used and begin to lose their luster, we here at Concrete Decor found a couple of great products that clean exposed aggregate of hard water/mineral deposits and other chemicals that make them look less than appealing.

With new products hitting the market all the time, we found The Profiler by Surface Gel Tek an outstanding method for cleaning these surfaces. Because The Profiler (a muriatic acid in a gel form) lays on the surface of the concrete without absorbing into the cement, it only removes hard mineral deposits from the surface without deteriorating the cement. This helps to keep the exposed aggregate in place. The Profiler actually need only sit on the surface for about 5 to 15 minutes before it can be pressure washed away to the sewer. That's right, the Profiler is also safe for the environment. After 24 to 48 hours of drying time we then apply two coats of clear Ultra Surface Sealcoat 1000 by Concrete Solutions, Inc. Compared to the unsightly, untreated surface, this tip offers a great solution for most of your customers' stained or tarnished concrete surfaces.

Note: the second coat also included a slip resistant additive call Shark Grip. This produt is a powder that mixes into the sealer and applies per manufacturer's specifications.