Concrete Decor's Current Articles

In decorative concrete, a common question is, “Is it form before function, or function before form?” This question is more complex now — despite the answer, consumers ask if the construc­tion materials used are sustainable. Is there such a thing as a low-carbon swimming pool, a low-carbon counter­top or an environmentally friendly polished concrete floor?

Using recycled and natural material, artisan Cindee Lundin worked her magic once again during Decorative Concrete LIVE! at the 2019 World of Concrete.

Shawn Halverson, CEO of Surfacing Solutions Inc.in Temecula, California, talks about the time some years ago when he took a break from construction after working in the structural concrete industry for about 21 years, beginning in the mid-1970s. Then, this phenomenon called decorative concrete emerged as a major player in the trade, and Halverson became intrigued.

Beyond the beauty of its surface, a well-made pool deck can keep your customers cool and safe.

A total of 42 awards were presented at the 2017 Sundek Awards Banquet during the company’s 33rd annual convention in Hilton Fort Worth earlier this year.

At their showpiece house, the artisans at Flying Turtle Cast Concrete let their imaginations soar.

Unfortunately, complaints about how color turns out are an all-too-familiar topic of conversation. Complaints can involve but are not limited to integrally colored concrete, color-hardened concrete, stamped and textured concrete and stained concrete.

Concrete hoods are an easy sell for customers who are already buying countertops, but this hood - Concrete Jungle’s first - was purchased by a homeowner with a kitchen in mid-renovation who had already committed to granite countertops.

When installing a metallic epoxy system, urethane can be detrimental to a project’s outcome or a welcome addition to its success.

Concrete placement is never easy, with many variables such as wind, sun, ambient temperature and humidity to consider as they all affect each pour. The mix design and consideration of the actual makeup of the concrete and possible additives are just as important.

The go-cart track at the Legoland Discovery Center was another challenging, yet fun, job for Chris Post of Elite Concrete Solutions LLC. The roadway hash marks required him to make a 2-by-4 jig to lay them in an evenly spaced manner all the way around the track.

Transitioning to Decorative Concrete Doug Carlton of Carlton Concrete offers sound advice on how to transition your structural concrete business into one that specializes in decorative concrete applications.

There’s a grinder/polisher model available for just about every task, whether it’s prepping the floor of a big-box store or finishing a basement or small office. Finding the right tool for the job can make a big difference in speed and efficiency, so know what you want before you go shopping.

Artists approach design as a space-filling exercise. As such, the first thing they consider is the format within which they will be working. The shape of the format will radically alter the distribution of elements within it. The elements of design are the simple building blocks artists have to work with.

The Hippo Mixer’s easy tilt feature allows contractors to mix, transport and pour materials with unparalleled ease. With a mixing capacity of roughly 18 gallons (or 240 lbs), its high torque, 16-amp, two-speed motor makes it a natural for mixing self-leveling materials more productively while reducing operator fatigue.

Concrete dyes are tailor-made for color adjustment on staining jobs, and on their own, they offer an endless array of colors. So release your inner artist and give 'em a try!

As a polishing consultant I get to wear several different hats, but by far the largest amount of my time is spent managing polished concrete programs for retailers. Polished concrete is an aesthetically beautiful and valuable flooring solution, but it is fairly specialized.

What caused the crack? And what are the options for dealing with it, since we are going to apply a decorative overlay on the concrete? We talked to multiple contractors about our options, and there are a lot of opinions out there. Chris Sullivan gives several options on how to solve this common problem.