Vol. 11 No. 3 – April 2011

Hi’ilani EcoHouse Boasts More Than Just Breathtaking Views

Perched on a hilltop amidst the tropical rain forests of the “Big Island” of Hawaii, the Hi’ilani EcoHouse commands a view out across the Pacific Ocean that you have to see to believe. It’s your typical island paradise home. But when it comes to cutting-edge carbon neutral design and ecofriendly concrete construction, it is anything but typical.

Water-based Surface Retarder Creates Unique Decorative Finish

SurfEtch from Butterfield Color is a water-based mild surface retarder that, when used with fresh concrete, exposes the sands in the concrete for a unique decorative finish. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, it can add slip resistance and is solvent-free. Best of all, it’s easy to apply for even the beginning contractor.

Temporary Concrete Gig Turned Into Lifelong Career for This Artisan

When Shawn Halverson first tried his hand at concrete installation, he didn’t intend to make it his livelihood. He got into structural concrete in high school after meeting a contractor who was working on a house for Halverson’s parents, and at the time, he viewed the job as a temporary gig.

Sink Molds, Edge Detail Molds, Tools and Fiber Optics for Concrete Countertops from Infinicrete

For the past three years, decorative concrete artisan Jeff Kudrick has been developing his own sink and countertop molds and decorative concrete tools under the brand name Infinicrete, using them regularly in high-profile projects and distributing them through manufacturing companies Cheng Concrete and SureCrete Design Products.