The world's foremost resource on decorative concrete
It has been said that mistakes in life are what build character, and the same can be said about finishing concrete. Your finishing technique can make the difference between an almost perfect finish with clearly visible blemishes and an artistically rendered hand-troweled surface filled with character.
Some say avoid this combination altogether. But others say it can be done well — as long as contractors are aware of potential pitfalls.
You have, are or will make decisions on your decorative journey, and they will affect you and your family. Our industry, decorative concrete, has so many layers and many types of overlap. This magazine makes it obvious your choices are vast, but make no mistake, each decorative type requires different kinds of training, investment and manpower.
There are new profit opportunities in polished concrete for the decorative concrete contractor. This is a fact, and every decorative concrete contractor should look into polished concrete. However, nothing ever caused more people to go broke than too much optimism and too little planning.
Although aesthetics are certainly a key component in any decorative concrete project, that doesn’t mean function should take a back seat. When a Joplin, Mo., homeowner was experiencing drainage and erosion problems, Jim Snodgrass installed a series of walls and stairways that not only controlled water flow, but was visually pleasing to the rest of the high-end subdivision.
Have you ever asked potential customers to dress like pirates to make a sale? Outdoor-concrete expert Scott Cohen did — and it worked.
All across the country leading decorative concrete contractors are going green — no matter what colors their clients request. Some contractors are emphasizing green marketing messages in their advertising, brochures, Web sites and sales presentations. This article examines two leading contractors to answer the question: Does green marketing give you a competitive advantage that wins business?
The PosiTector 200, a concrete-thickness measuring tool from DeFelsko Corp., is ruggedly simple and affordable, and it is available in two different models. The standard model measures total thickness. The advanced model will measure up to three individual layer thicknesses in a multilayer system, and it also features a graphic […]
The Delmhorst TotalCheck features pin and pinless moisture measurement and a thermo-hygrometer attachment. It can help determine if concrete floors have adequately dried before installing a floor covering. Advanced features of the TotalCheck include corrections for 69 wood species, a calibrated drywall scale, and a reference scale for nonwood building […]
Winners of Concrete Decor’s 2008 Concrete Countertop Design Competition were announced at the Concrete Countertop Institute Conference 2008, held August 21-23 in Sacramento, Calif. Hollow Rock Designs Inc. won First Place, Residential, for a bar top in a condominium in St. Paul, Minn. New Edge Design won First Place, Commercial, […]
