The world's foremost magazine on decorative concrete
As the U.S. economy continues to recover, millions of homeowners and businesses are upgrading their homes and offices. One of the most important construction materials is flooring, though some are in short supply because of high demand or a lack of raw materials. Skraffino Concrete Microtopping offers a seamless, cost-effective, […]
Diamonds are forever, or so they say. But not so much with building interiors where diamonds and other luxury items are displayed and sold. Hence, the need for sophisticated concrete floors using microtoppings. Take the case of the legendary Tiffany & Co. and its longtime flagship store on Fifth Avenue […]
Imagine the convenience and versatility of decorative concrete finishes that you can apply to either walls or floors. Actually, it’s not a matter for the imagination. Such decorative finishes already exist. A more striking facet of these materials, however, may well be their role in enhancing visual effects in certain […]
A thin-set topping or microtopping is sort of like icing on a cake. It can go on thick or thin and be colored all the way through or just on the surface. The topping can be shaped to resemble decorative items. And, aesthetics aside, it can protect the surface beneath it.
These questions came from a couple who were building a new home and wanted polished concrete floors. The main floor is slab on grade, while the second level is slab on an engineered raised subfloor. There were issues during the concrete finishing, which eliminated polishing as an option.
A little-known fact about New Castle, Indiana, (for everyone not a Hoosier) is that it’s home to the world’s largest high school gymnasium. Basketball fever is so rampant in this small town of 18,000 that the community raised the money needed to build a high school gym that seats 9,325 spectators.
There is no shortage of information, or opinion, when it comes to surface preparation for applying coatings or overlays. Read any technical data sheet for a topping or coating and it’s almost always the first thing discussed. Words like critical, must, essential and required are often found in the guidelines dealing with surface preparation.
Concrete finishes are typically intended to be smooth — polished even. There are polishing machines and sealants aplenty to achieve that flawless look. Careful selection and use of plywood concrete forms can also influence the finished appearance and texture. Various specialty and textured panels are available.
Built in Missouri in 1927, the First Presbyterian Church of St. Louis’ sanctuary was recently renovated to modernize its look and feel, while preserving its historic Gothic style. Improvements to the sanctuary’s floor, specifically two rectangular sections under the pews, were vital to this upgrade.
If a concrete foundation is in good shape, it’s less costly and less labor intensive to install a concrete overlay and stamp it than to start from scratch with a new concrete slab.
