Concrete Decor's Current Articles

Texas-based VLK Architects is no stranger to being recognized for its outstanding accomplishments when it comes to designing public schools such as the monumental and expressive Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center.

As clients look to increase their home’s curb appeal, they often overlook transforming the mundane mailbox. Considering a home’s curb appeal encompasses everything from the sidewalk to the front door, a monument mailbox can quickly and easily make a big impact in improving a home’s first impression. Here’s what you need to create a monument mailbox and how to do it:

Is there value in having a dedicated trade show for the decorative concrete industry? The short answer is yes. There’s tremendous value in having an industry-focused show. While there are decorative-devoted pavilions at other shows, they are just that — areas within other events.

Got cold feet about offering decorative work in wintry climates? It's being done with great success!

Snowmelt technology is, essentially, radiant heat applied to outdoor surfaces. There are few differences between the two heating techniques, and both can be used to heat low- or high-mass concrete surfaces to melt ice and snow, keeping surfaces safe and clear of icy accumulations.

Before the hand-held Stucco Sprayer, concrete contractors who wanted to work vertically had to settle for one of two extremes – a large, costly pump, requiring a crew of four to six, or hand-stacking. The new sprayer fills a niche between the two.

A California company has created a clever disguise — a concrete product that looks like quarried limestone block.

ST115 is a new standard for the concrete polishing industry that was adopted in fall 2013 by the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association (CSDA). The standard explains in detail how to measure the texture of a concrete surface by using a texture meter.

When Adobe Coatings of Mesa, Ariz., was brought in to create new concrete floors for Christ's Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Ariz., the original plan was to use acid stain for the entire project. One hitch: The 11,000-square-foot project included some balcony space.

David Seils’ master craft, wall relief sculpture, is an art form that dates back to ancient times, when civilizations carved designs into stone walls, buildings and columns. But instead of chiseling away material, the Asheville, N.C.-based Seils builds up his wall sculptures in layers using mortar, a mason’s hawk and a trowel.

Getting to know concrete inside and out will help in properly preparing those surfaces for a topping.

A closer look at the interior and exterior first place winners of the 2010 Concrete Restoration Contest.

Viridian Architectural Design initially wanted to resurface the ground floor of the circa 1875-1895 Fulton County Courthouse in Rochester, Indiana, with terrazzo but the money for the pricey topping wasn’t in the budget. Still, the county wanted that stone look to complement the other floors in the building and polishing was deemed the next best thing.

SAY Si, a teen art center in San Antonio, Texas, is getting a decorative concrete makeover courtesy of the Concrete Decor Show, a trade event affiliated with Concrete Decor magazine. The trade show is more than a month away, but work is already underway — and here's your first look at some finished concrete art at the center.

In 2005, Mesolini Glass Studio was commissioned by the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island to create a concrete-and-glass mosaic map of the island to be placed at the new Rotary Gateway Park.

Specialists in building protection consulting, including concrete restoration work were called to help with The Faucett Brothers Activity Center was a newly opened 60,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility. The center includes two indoor pools, a 6,500-square-foot pool deck and the fast-spreading stain of pool deck mold.

When Ray Anger, owner of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Decorative Concrete Staining & Scoring Inc., came on board as the decorative concrete contractor for the Scottsdale location of Diane’s Beachwear, he took plans for the store’s floor from simple to spectacular.

Need to have a decorative concrete question answered? Ask it!

I am new to acid staining and would like to know the best floor prep for staining on old and new concrete?