SurfEtch from Butterfield Color is a new water-based, biodegradable, lowodor micro-etch surface retarder. Applied to the surface of fresh concrete, SurfEtch chemically delays the set of surface mortar while allowing the underlying concrete to harden normally. This allows time to wash the surface, removing the surface mortar and exposing sands […]
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J&M Lifestyles add custom hood
The Custom Concrete Hood from J&M Lifestyles LLC is now part of the company’s standard hood design catalog. The hood is 66 inches wide by 65 inches tall and constructed of lightweight glass-fiber reinforced concrete. The hood is available in a limestone texture and color. The design is sectional — […]
V-Tex Hopper Spray System introduced
The V-Tex Spray System from Benron Equipment & Supply Inc. is a peristaltic squeeze pump designed for interior and exterior use with GFRC (glass-fiber reinforced concrete) and other materials. Known for a short time as the Vortex, the V-Tex comes in two models — the V-Tex 400-G system, a gaspowered […]
Combining Concrete Overlays and PVA Fibers to Fix Cracking
Besides being used to make thin yet durable countertops that don’t easily chip or break, a mix of PVA fibers and ductile concrete does an excellent job of fixing cracks in concrete.
A Two-Sided Tip: Exposed Aggregate on a Corner Wall
Nick Carosi III of Arban & Carosi Inc. brings up an intriguing point when talking about exposed aggregate on vertical surfaces — what if you’re pouring an L-shaped wall piece? Since gravity’s effect on the settling aggregate is essential to the process, how does a contractor make that work?
Become an Expert on Concrete Stains and Dyes
"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.
A Grand Fountain Becomes Retail Space Centerpiece
The Streets at SouthGlenn, a sprawling new shopping destination in south Denver, boasts a block-long urban park with a brick fireplace, tall "legacy trees," gardens and cafes, and a centerpiece: a grand, European-style fountain, more than 16 feet tall with four falls.
An Overview of PVA Fibers and Concrete
High-performance fibers made of PVA, which is short for polyvinyl alcohol, were developed some 20 years ago. When added to concrete or mortar, the fibers develop a molecular and chemical bond with the cement during hydration and curing. The result: concrete with high tensile strength and amazing ductility.
Moisture Tests in Concrete: Calcium Chloride vs. Relative Humidity
When good floor coatings go bad, moisture is often the culprit.
Even cured concrete can emit enough moisture to blister, cloud or delaminate a coating, especially when a slab with no vapor barrier sits on ground with poor drainage. The manufacturers of overlays, microcoatings, sealers and specialty coatings set moisture tolerance limits for their products.
New Surface Treatment Formulated to Keep Ground Cool
As part of its effort to improve the environment through green product offerings, L.M. Scofield Co. has developed Solachrome Integral Coloring Treatment for High-SRI Concrete.
