Concrete Decor's Current Articles

If done right, polished concrete — and other decorative concrete approaches — offer low-maintenance solutions in interior and exterior settings.

That’s “low-maintenance” as opposed to “no-maintenance” or “maintenance-free.”

I think we can all agree we’d be happy if the decorative concrete industry were bigger. You know, if the pie were just a little bit bigger. What are we doing as an industry to positively influence the decorative market? What are you doing as a contractor, material supplier or manufacturer to help grow the pie?

Since the cranes for a rooftop hardscape project had moved on before the precast concrete furniture was ready, a helicopter was hired to do the heavy lifting.

Networking and new techniques help keep John Belarde’s Seattle-area decorative concrete outfit on the sunny side.

Some materials you handle as a concrete worker can be hazardous to your health, including the concrete itself. Wet concrete can burn your skin, while concrete dust can hurt your lungs.

Acid stain is comparatively pretty safe — but there are still some safety procedures you should consider.

Engrave-A-Crete, which manufactures tools and templates to engrave concrete, has come up with a state-of-the-art solution to help contractors help clients envision designs for their decorative concrete projects.

It's that time of year again - the time when I review the hundreds of questions and situations I dealt with in 2010 looking for those special few that made me pause and just think, "Really?"

Potbelly Sandwich Works had been searching for a flooring system where they could produce the same consistent look store after store. One of their general contractors looked around online and told the Potbelly project manager he thought the Düraamen overlay products would be a good fit.

For the decorative concrete contractor — or any contractor — the estimating stage of any project is critical. Here at the Renew-Crete Systems training seminars, I stress the importance of a complete and thorough estimate.

An expert's tips on how to use these common household items to make your decorative concrete work easier and more beautiful.

In fact, it was recommended that we avoid promoting this product and, if we had to sell it, that the variegated results should be disguised by buffing with a colored wax.

Michael Day of Day's Concrete Floors Inc., North Monmouth, Maine, was hired in 2011 to do some serious makeover work at the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort Hotel in Carrabasset Valley, Maine.

Polymers aren’t as colorful as pigments, acids and other raw materials used in decorative concrete. But because they help thin cemetitious toppings hold together, they are just as important.

Five veteran contractors and artisans provide insight by explaining where their decorative concrete journeys began, how their skill sets grew and how diversification has affected their careers.

Your Stamping Concrete Toolkit needs to contain basic concrete finishing tools as well as tools for stamping concrete. Look at what you should have on hand when doing a stamping concrete job.

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have added polypropylene (PP) fiber to a concrete mix. The technique allows water vapor to escape, preventing pressure from building inside the concrete, making it more fire-proof.

In this Tooling section, Concrete Decor magazine focused on walk-behind models, handheld models, edgers and other tools that can be helpful to decorative contractors on small and medium-sized jobs.

We all know there are times when you just can’t get around stamping in cold weather. Here are some helpful hints.