The world's foremost magazine on decorative concrete
Sealers are applied to concrete surfaces to protect them from the elements and extend their useful lifespans. There are two main types of sealers: film-forming varieties that enhance the surface with color and sheen, and penetrating sealers that go into the concrete’s pores and seemingly disappear.
Because of its smoothness and seemingly low-maintenance requirements, polished concrete floors are being requested by increasingly more homeowners and architects. However, this traditional method involves multiple steps of diamond grinding and polishing. Overall, polishing is very invasive. It starts with rougher-grit diamonds and moves to finer grits to achieve a […]
Capitalism is predicated on the idea that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all world. I might want a sportscar while you prefer an SUV. You play softball with the gang on Saturday afternoons while I like to hike nature trails. The same holds true with concrete flooring. While it’d be nice if […]
Looking for a cost-effective flooring system that’s quick to install and easy to keep clean? Then check out Westcoat’s Grind & Seal, a great-looking alternative for polished concrete. The popular system aims to revive and protect plain concrete in commercial establishments from showrooms to restaurants. Depending on the sealer or […]
For such a simple piece of equipment, Fas-Trak Industries Inc.’s Ultra-Trak offers users a lot of flexibility when it comes to applying densifiers and sealers, says Dan Baird, president of Floor Tech Solutions Inc. The automated application system can apply concrete chemicals at a rate of up to 25,000 square […]
Ever since W.R. Meadows launched Decra-Seal Natural in 2018, it secured a unique niche in the penetrating concrete sealer category. The sealer, designed especially for decorative concrete applications, both enhances concrete’s color and repels water. “Without putting a wet look on concrete, it pops the color,” says Jim Becker, product […]
Throughout the course of its lifetime, concrete suffers many different forms of damage. Although concrete sealers add a protective layer to concrete floors and structures to help maximize their durability and minimize moisture permeability, concrete sealer problems can be a source of frustration among contractors. When a concrete sealer doesn’t […]
In recent years the decorative concrete and coatings market has made its way over to the retail market. Retailers have unique needs that they have to address, and decorative concrete and coatings are becoming a more and more popular method for filling those needs. Five of the biggest issues facing […]
Trying to manage ultraviolet light exposure in California isn’t an easy thing to do, particularly when it comes to its effect on concrete sealers. For Napa, Calif., homeowners, contractors were able to get a handle on the situation, creating a countertop for an outdoor kitchen that still looks great more than a year later.
Acrylic sealers range in quality, price and effectiveness. They won’t all produce the same results, so you’ll want to consider the look and qualities important to you.
Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Don’t cut corners and expect quality results. These may sound like clichés designed to get folks to toe the line but more often than not, I’ve found them to be absolutely true.
