The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
Instead of pouring concrete, concrete installers place concrete where they want it to go. And there are right ways and wrong ways to do this.
When it comes to delivering difficult designs — like this circular plaza that highlights the entrance to the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — you’ve got to have a plan. And we’re not talking just a quick sketch but a detailed drawing that clarifies precisely what joints and finishes are to be placed where.
Any time you’re dealing with integral color, the key to success is getting a nice, even distribution of pigment. The key to that, in turn, is managing the water-to-cement ratio in your mix.
Does the use of admixtures change the intensity of integral color?
Weeping walls are a water feature in which the water trickles down the side of a wall, a piece of glass or a similar surface.
Decorative shotcrete is catching on, and as with any decorative concrete technique, there’s a learning curve. Here, we cover mix design, prep work and more.
Got cold feet about offering decorative work in wintry climates? It’s being done with great success!
Take the pressure off with air-entraining agents with a pressure release.
As part of a public kindergarten renovation project in Villemomble, France, the town approached Eqiom Bétons to present samples of finishing possibilities for the Joseph Gallieni School’s outside pathways. And, in the end, the project turned out just ducky.
You may be enjoying the benefits of water reducers whether you know it or not. Tony Schlagbaum, group product line manager at DeGussa Admixtures Inc. in Cleveland, estimates that 70 percent to 80 percent — maybe as high as 90 percent — of concrete mixes contain some form of water reducer
Concrete finishes are typically intended to be smooth — polished even. There are polishing machines and sealants aplenty to achieve that flawless look. Careful selection and use of plywood concrete forms can also influence the finished appearance and texture. Various specialty and textured panels are available.
