The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
Concrete’s appearance can be altered with stamping tools and textured mats to replicate everything from brick and tile to wood and stone.
There’s nothing like a nice curve, but advance planning is essential. Ask any man and he will confess the more curve the better. Ask any women and she will agree curves are good as long as they flow — no bulging. Ask a decorative stamping crew and they will agree curves can cause loss of sleep at the design and installation phase.
It sounds just a little bit like a pulp science fiction story: While packing up their warehouse to move, workers at a concrete stamp company discover a long-forgotten design for a concrete stamp that is three-dimensional.
Stenciling and coloring go hand-in-hand to create works of art in concrete. Acid- or water-based stains are the most widely used — and most versatile — materials for coloring stenciled projects. Acid stains tend to produce muted, earthy colors, while water-based stains are available in brighter, more vibrant colors.
Stenciled overlays are usually used for relatively large areas like driveways, pool decks, patios and pathways. So how do you place the stencil properly for the most natural-looking result?
A look at the pros and cons of liquid and powder releases. When a contractor decides to apply a release agent to a wet concrete surface to keep it from sticking to a stamp, there are two ways to go: liquid or powder. Each has advantages, but each also causes problems.
A look at sandblasting, stenciled overlays and the new gelled-acid etching techniques.
Among the quirkier success stories of World of Concrete 2006 is a little texture-mat tamper that manufacturer Proline Concrete Tools dubbed "The Billy Banger."
Experts share their knowledge on everything from preparation to application — including how to achieve the most natural-looking colors.
A job that began with a mere 80 square feet of overlay snowballed into a decorative concrete transformation — complete with faux hollow tree — for this restaurant and bar.
Passion, precision, artistry and creativity were all on display at the L. M. Scofield Co. ninth annual Decorative Concrete Awards ceremony. Scofield enlists professionals from the concrete industry to judge submissions based on skill of installation, artistic expression and integration with the overall design intent.
