The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
Concrete’s natural color can be altered with powder or liquid stains, dyes and colored hardeners, as well as aggregates such as ground glass and stone.
Many companies might have been satisfied with creating a successful coating system that has steadily gained in popularity. Wilmer Rowe, chief chemist of HP Spartacote LLC, is cut from a different cloth. Taking inspiration from some of the staining exhibits at World of Concrete, he began working toward creating stains that would integrate with HP Spartacote’s polyaspartics.
"Be an expert." Avoiding trying to be all things to all people, instead of focusing in on what they are good at and becoming an expert in that one area.This thought comes full circle when you think about how it relates to decorative concrete, especially in the application of stains and dyes.
When a city, school or government chooses to spend a little extra money on decorative concrete, it demonstrates civic pride — and makes that lobby, city pool or roadside a little easier on the eyes.
David Stephenson’s story encompasses everything from AmeriPolish to Wal-Mart to the Cincinnati Reds and Indianapolis Colts and it all began when he discovered polished concrete.
From floors to countertops, coloring and staining concrete has brought a lifetime of memories to this contractor. Columnist and self-proclaimed "concretist" takes us on a trip back to some of his favorite projects over the years.
Mike likes his concrete the same way he likes his breads and cheeses, with every bit of the material exuding something interesting and reflecting the character of the ambient conditions and personalities that shaped it. And he’s not the only one who feels like this.
As complements to stains, as colorants on polished concrete jobs or on their own, dyes are earning a more permanent place in the decorative concrete artisan’s tool kit.
When the 2010 Concrete Decor Show was over, it left something behind — beautiful and entertaining artwork at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. The koi pond mural and Sky Landing balcony are just a few of the exciting new features on which children are playing, thanks to artisans and exhibitors who donated time, materials and creativity.
Evil allows you to appreciate good. The occasional really bad customer makes you appreciate all the more the even more occasional really good customer. Night makes you appreciate the day. Cool makes you appreciate warm.
From the playground to the locker room, decorative concrete is inspiring teachers and school administrators across the country.
