Concrete Decor's Current Articles

There is a famous paperback called “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White. Many writers treasure it as a guide to writing clearly and succinctly while avoiding common grammatical errors. The handbook itself is a model of clarity.

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.

This concrete fish prepping table top was made by Michael Dahl, who precast it in a foam mold and used small mixes of different integral colors to create the mottled effect. The top of the sink is ground to expose the aggregate within the concrete.

Flying Turtle Cast Concrete, Modesto, Calif., built this 10,000-pound all-concrete bridge at a homeowner's estate in Woodbridge, Calif. Looks like something out of a fairy tale, doesn't it?

Justin Burd, owner of Tribe One Customs, Oak Hill, W.Va., created this stylish concrete bench for the SAY Si youth arts center in San Antonio as part of a workshop at the 2012 Concrete Decor Show.

Meva is a family owned manufacturer of formwork located in Southwest Germany. A new central university campus with three faculties is being built in Delémont, Switzerland, using Meva formwork. The campus complex is 656 feet (200 meters) long and comprises four offset blocks with four levels each, plus an underground car park and a 9-story tower on the south side.

When this concrete was installed in 1927, the decision makers of this historic hotel wanted the assurance that the building would have the natural look so commonly seen in the High Sierras — and not the look of industrial concrete. And its still delighting guests to this day.

Decorative concrete contractor Tom Ralston has probably never met you, but even so, he suspects you’re waiting too long before cutting your control joints. “Saw-cutting concrete is usually done long after the concrete has been poured or has set up,” he says. “It’s kind of like locking the gate after the horse has left.”

The tragedy created a bond between the boys’ mothers, Milena Sellers-Phillips and Maria Keever. When Sellers-Phillips participated in the search for a murdered girl in 2010, the experience renewed her desire for a public memorial to Jonathan and Charlie.

Challenges arose at the Hawkesbury District & General Hospital when additions were planned. Below ground level was a substrate composed of solid rock with gravel on top. That meant there was no place for accumulated ground water to go, except maybe to seep through the concrete into the building and damage everything that got in its way.

Southern Color, recently bought by Rockwood Pigments, continues its tradition of customer service while it expands nationwide.

In case you had any doubts... surface prep is everything. The most important thing about a microtopping is what lies underneath.

Just like there’s more than one way to make chocolate chip cookies, there are plenty of ways to build concrete homes with satisfying results. Here’s a synopsis of the main options on the market.

Being a successful concrete professional requires more than skill with trowels, colors and coatings. You also need to network. Networking requires investments in both time and infrastructure, but you will almost definitely see an increase in your business if you are thoughtful about your approach.

Complete replacement of the Terminal Building carpet was being considered, but a surprising discovery revealed that underneath the stained and worn carpet tiles laid a once gorgeous cement-based terrazzo floor.