Concrete Decor's Current Articles

A baker knows when there’s a disaster in the kitchen, sometimes a little bit of icing can go a long way toward redemption. Concrete contractors have a similar option with overlays and an unsightly slab: The overlaid section not only looks better but the chemistry behind today’s overlay offerings often creates a much more durable surface than what was already there.

Concrete overlays’ strength comes from combining specific amounts of portland cement, sand, water and polymer. Sand type is an important component in decorative concrete and concrete overlays because overlays are typically applied thinner than standard concrete, yet still need to withstand the forces of foot and automobile traffic.

For thousands of years the permanence of concrete has made it an ideal construction and design medium for architects, engineers and builders. Even the word “concrete” is often used as an adjective to describe the reality, longevity and durability of everything from objects to ideas.

What might computer users learn when they google the terms “google” and “polished concrete?”

Spanning 480 feet across Interstate 520 in Redmond, Wash., the NE 36th Street Bridge is not your average overpass.

The Decorative Concrete Council, a specialty council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors, recognized the winners of its ninth annual Decorative Concrete Awards competition Jan. 17 at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas.

Contractors and manufacturers share tips for buying and maintaining these essential tools.

A new case study from Dur-A-Flex touts the usefulness of its Poly-Crete cementitious urethane system in the beverage industry. The coating system stands up to beer spills, forklifts, dropped kegs, and all the other trauma that comes with the brewing territory.

Complete replacement of the Terminal Building carpet was being considered, but a surprising discovery revealed that underneath the stained and worn carpet tiles laid a once gorgeous cement-based terrazzo floor.

Whether you're working on a decorative wall in a backyard or the exterior walls of a 15-story building, consider stencils for vertical surfaces.

With a history in decorative concrete stretching back to the 1930s, J&M Lifestyles brings generations of experience and expertise to all of its projects.

From the playground to the locker room, decorative concrete is inspiring teachers and school administrators across the country.

Looking for a way to expand your business’ offerings or add a little more creativity to your life? Either way, the vertical surfaces market may be for you.

A pool in a four-star hotel in Italy gives new meaning to the phrase “deep end.” This pool, known as the Y-40 or “The Deep Joy,” in the Montegrotto Terma region of Padua, Italy, features a plunging crevasse that sinks to 138 feet (42 meters), a depth that could easily engulf a 13-story building.

We asked Lynda Apple of InConcrete Custom Countertops and Design Elements if the precast tabletop her Flagstaff, Ariz., outfit produced for a ski patrol shack was the highest decorative concrete installation in America. Boy, did we get a response.

Let’s get the question out of the way that you undoubtedly are itching to ask: Is it a jungle out there for California transplant Steve Kroo and Concrete Jungle, his Northridge decorative concrete business?

Even a tropical storm couldn’t stop these master craftsmen from lending their artistic touch to the entryway of a new courthouse.

In indoor applications, terrazzo has a ground and polished surface that lends itself to creative design. The use of divider strips allows the material to be mixed in different colors and applied in a process similar to paint-by-number, so you can incorporate designs, logos, borders and just about anything.