concrete seal it right!...32 world of concrete 2002 booth listings for participants. 40...

VOL.1 NO. 4 • WINTER 2001 • $6.95

Recipes for ColoringConcrete

Seal It Right!

Accuracy/Consistencywith Integrals

Recipes for ColoringConcrete

Seal It Right!

Accuracy/Consistencywith Integrals

CIRCLE #85 ON READER SERVICE CARD


Rock Texture MatsRock texture mats are used by pool

builders, landscapers and concretecontractors to create a natural rockimprinted surface on artificial rock projects.After wet concrete has been formed to thedesired shape and treated with release thetexture mats are pressed into the concrete,then immediately lifted off, leaving behind anatural rock imprint.

Our mats range from smooth to coarse,offering a wide variety of authentic

rock reliefs and patterns in all sizes,providing the artificial rock worker with animprinting tool that will achieve a uniquelynatural finished product.

The Rock Garden(714) 550-9352WWW.THEROCKGARDEN.ORG

2 • Concrete Decor • Winter 2001

Winter 2001 • Vol. 1 No. 4Issue No. 4 • $6.95

Publisher and Editor: Bent O. Mikkelsen

Co-publisher: Ernst H. Mikkelsen

Design and Production: Stephen Stanley

National Sales: Shirley Whitney

East Coast Sales: Lucas Franklin

Writers:Susan Brimo-Cox

Dave CagleBruce Hackett

Stacey KlemencCraig Park

Robert Simpson

Photographers:Tim BottomleyBent Mikkelsen

Advertising Sales and Editorial:Professional Trade Publications, Inc.

1925 Bailey Hill Road, Suite IEugene, OR 97405Tel: 541-341-3390Fax: 541-341-6443

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Concrete Decor The Journal of DecorativeConcrete is published six times a year by

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Concrete Decor • Winter 2001 • 3

ContentsFEATURES12 Stamped Concrete and its… Coats of many colors

Achieving a realistic and “one-of-a-kind” look with stampedconcrete requires a knowledge of colors and some help from theexperts. Included are several exciting formulas.by Stacey Enesey Klemenc

26 Getting Sealers RightEvaluating the Options, Applications, and Cautions will EnsureSuccessful Projects. There’s nothing better or more important toyour job than a quality sealer that’s properly applied.by Craig park

32 World of Concrete 2002Booth listings for participants.

40 ConcreteNetwork.comEverything you wanted to know about concrete, but didn’t knowwho to ask.by Stacey Enesey Klemenc

DEPARTMENTS8 Contractor Profile: Tina Anderson, Tri-Co Floors, La Mesa, CA

From concept to installation, Tina’s company redefinesarchitectural concrete.by Robert Simpson

22 Manufacturer Profile: Solomon ColorsDo you demand accuracy and consistency with integrally coloredconcrete? Learn how one company gives you that and more.by Susan Brimo-Cox

36 Product Profile: Texturetop,™ A Superior StampableCementitious ToppingInside or out, the new stampable topping from L.M. ScofieldCompany offers exciting new opportunities for contractors.by Robert Harris and Bruce Hackett

49 Advertisers Index44 Classified45 Concrete Marketplace04 Decorative Concrete Tips05 Industry News06 Q&A — Ask Concrete Decor46 Product News34 Product Profiles

In the next issue of Concrete Decor: Building DecorativeSteps, Understanding Mix Design, Countertops andTabletops, Stencilling Concrete

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DecorativeConcrete Tips

Some large projects will require more than one pour tocomplete. Whether you are doing an overlay orstamped concrete, matching in to the previous days

work is very important. Having a project look uniform fromstart to finish, will lessen headaches, make happier customersand sell more work. Here at Renew-Crete Systems® we havecome up with some suggestions to help multiple pours go alittle easier.

Before you start applying your material, plan where youintend to stop. A good recommendation is to divide your jobinto areas about 300-500 sq ft. If possible utilize the existingnatural breaks such as control/expansion joints. If the areahas no control/expansion joints, you will need to create yourown stopping point.

Stopping along expansion jointsSelect the control/expansion joint, use duct tape and 36"masking paper to tape off the open side of thecontrol/expansion joint. When you apply the material,gauge rake the stampable overlay mix over the edge of thetape and paper by 2"-3". (Photo 1.) Be sure not to thin thematerial along that edge. Stamp the area when ready andcontinue the pattern over your stopping point (lay the matsright over the tape and paper). After removing the mats,find the control/expansion joint, cut along it with a troweland remove the tape. This should be done directly afterremoving the stamp tool while the material is still soft. Thismethod will make a nice clean material break. This methodalso works well on deco drains, along pool copings and tiles.If this will be a finished edge, when dry, use a rub stone andlightly bevel the edge to avoid chipping of the edge.

Making stopping pointsSometimes there are no expansion joints at which to stop.In this case, you will make a stop and start point using theedge of the mats as a guide. Select an appropriate stoppingpoint, apply your stampable overlay material about one footpast where you want to stop. When the area is ready, startstamping. Continue stamping up to about one foot beforethe end of your material. Leaving the last row ofmats in place, use a square trowel and cut along theedge of the mat scraping the unstamped materialaway from the edge of the mat while it is still soft.Remove the stamps and allow to dry 4-6 hoursbefore applying the next section.

Decorative Concrete Tips is a forum for readers toexchange information about methods,tools,and

tricks they’ve devised.We’ll pay for any we publish.Send details to CD Tips,Concrete Decor,

P.O.Box 25210,Eugene,OR 97402.We look forward to hearing from you!

Matching back inWhether you have stopped along an expansion joint, ormade your own stopping point, starting a new section is veryeasy. Using tape and paper, mask off the dry, previouslystamped material to protect it from any spillage. Now applyyour bond coat with a paint brush along the edge leavingabout a 1⁄4" gap between the bond coat and the previouslystamped area. This will prevent any excess bond coat fromsqueezing up to the surface or onto the previously stampedarea. (Photo 2.)

Be sure to bring the level of your overlay mix even withthe previously existing stamped area. When the material isready to stamp, remove the tape and paper revealing thepreviously stamped area. Carefully study the previouslystamped pattern. Replace the mats over the area matchingthe pattern underneath (be sure to pay attention to thedifferent stamps, red, yellow and blue). (Photo 3.) Now startlaying the mats locking into the old pour and continuinginto the new material. If you stopped along an expansionjoint, when the material is dry, re-cut the expansion jointand be sure to cut at least one inch deep and as wide as it wasoriginally. Detail your joint work with a grinder to removeany visible seams.

— Joe Francis,Renew-Crete Systems, Cocoa, FL

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Michael A.KaitanjianPrecision Stamped Concrete Tools

Michael Anthony Kaitanjian,55, of Whittier, California, losthis battle with cancer at hishome on Saturday, September 8,

2001. He passed away on the day of his 28thwedding anniversary to his loving wifeCathee. Michael spent the last months of hislife welcoming his two new granddaughtersand enjoying quality time with family andfriends.

Mike grew up being a hard worker. Hewent with his Dad on his rubbish route whenhe was young to spend time with him. Heworked as a box boy and service stationattendant as a teenager. In 1970, he beganworking in the concrete industry as a concretepump operator and production manager for alightweight concrete firm. In 1975, he becamea concrete contractor specializing in bothlightweight and stamped concrete. Workingin the industry he loved, friends and family

Industry New

s

began calling him “Cement Mike.” A truevisionary in stamped concrete, in 1987, hefound passion in his work, and he beganmanufacturing Matcrete™ — 3-dimensionaltexturing tools for concrete. His business,Precision Stamped Concrete Tools, startedselling locally and now distributes worldwide.He was so proud of his patterns and designsand seeing their creative use in places like LasVegas, Mexico, Australia, Asia and Europe.Mike’s love of the concrete industry allowedhim to meet many people who shared hisinterests either at the World of Concrete showor over the phone as contractors anddistributors called to find out about hisproducts or how to get the right “look.” Healso had the pleasure of having his familywork with him in the family business. Overthe past few years he had his sons Kris andKyle under his wing teaching them all heknew about the business and stampedconcrete.

?6 • Concrete Decor • Winter 2001

Q:I often have problems getting a stencil to lay flat onthe concrete and stick to it as well. (especially when

the concrete has been imprinted with a rough texture!)Then when the stencil is sandblasted, the definition in thestencil isn’t evident. Do you have any ideas?

A:A tip you might try is to borrow your wife’s blow dryer(after she is finished with it, of course). Once the

stencil has been applied to the surface of the concrete, warmthe stencil using the blow dryer. As the stencil is heated ittends to conform more readily to the rougher textures. Theadhesive on the stencil itself will usually work fine. If it still isnot bonding that well try using a can of the 3M Hi-Strength90 spray adhesive. Along with a cardboard shield you canquickly roll back the stencil, spray the areas that haveproblems laying flat and then lay it back down. (Note: Withthe neat little adjustable nozzle, holding the can 6 to 7 inchesfrom the surface provides a spray fan that’s approximately 2inches wide. This eliminates a lot of unnecessary over-spray.)Lay your stencil back down and press the stencil firmly to thesurface by hand or with a dry painters roller The adhesive istotally dry in 3 to 5 minutes.

Q:In the mountains, there is a growing demand forcolored concrete driveways. Is integral coloring the

way to go since these driveways get driven on bysnowplows with studded tires or snow chains?

A:No. Concrete at higher elevations is exposed to higherlevels of Ultra Violet, Integral color fades over time

unless a UV resistant sealer is applied as a maintenanceprocedure. Scrapes, or scratches are difficult at best, to repairand if they are successfully color matched, they don’t hold uplong in extreme freeze-thaw climates. The positive aspects toan integrally colored driveway is namelycost and the owner typically won’t holdthe same expectations as they wouldwith a more expensive installation.

Stamped concrete driveways that arecolor hardened are easily repaired. Usingthe hardener (mixed with water and abonding agent) to fill gouges orscratches, camouflaging the raw color bydusting on some of the release agent, andusing a spray application for sealer, youcan make the concrete look like newagain. Color hardened concrete alsoseems more impervious to UV at highaltitudes.

As kQ:Got any solutions for that slippery stamped

concrete?

A:Ten or so years ago, new to the decorative concreteindustry, I did a nice little job on a golf course.

Nothing too fancy. The owners wanted to dress up the firsttee, add some concrete and landscaping rather than aasphalt cart path. Sounded like a great idea. I presentedthem with some options and they settled on exposedaggregate borders, 16” wide around the perimeter of an inlayof a brick stamp. Of course I gave them a great price for thejob, you know the sort… cost plus a sign telling the wholegolfing community who did the work. (Or who was gettingworked.) When the job was completed, I was proud aspunch. Perfect exposed Aggregate, not one blow out, notone pebble missing and the same results with my stampwork. Or so I thought.

A few days later, my phone rings, it’s the owner of the golfcourse, at least I think it’s him. His voice sounds different atthe decibel range he is using. Something about two oldduffers slipping on my concrete, jackhammers, andsomething about my contractors license number! This guymust have got up on the wrong side of the bed. Yesterday hewas gushing over the wonderful job we had done.

Today, there are products that help address the issue ofslippery concrete. Nonslip additives in sealers which aregreat for certain installations, commercial interior stain jobs,etc. What about concrete surfaces that get a lot of wear,vehicle and foot traffic, snow and ice on steep driveways orpathways, etc.? Since sealers wear down over time it’s onlyproper to get nervous about some golfer’s cleats greeting yourhind-side!

Not long after the afore mentioned project I began usingcolor hardeners to create a nonslip surface. Once the

concrete was placed, colored and ready tostamp, I broadcast another fine coat ofthe same hardener, or a complimentaryaccent color to the surface to be stamped.What I found was that not only did thesurface have much better traction, thestone I was simulating was even morerealistic because of the rougher surface.After monitoring these types of instal-lations, I have found that even in theharshest climates, — like Vail, Colorado— the “grit” or hardener that was addedjust before stamping held up.

—HB

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Success in the fast-developingworld of architectural concreterequires vision, versatility and

persistence — challenges TinaAnderson, president of La Mesa,California-based Tri-Co Floors has mettime and time again. Anderson’s strategyto build her company by providing goodcustomer service, employee training andproduct research and development haspaid off handsomely. Under Anderson’s

guidance Tri-Co Floors has grown tobecome an innovative leader in specialtyflooring.

Tri-Co Floor’s early entry into thearchitectural concrete businessdemonstrates Anderson’s ability toidentify opportunities.

In 1985 while researching ways to layresilient flooring for a customer plaguedwith poor concrete slabs, Tri-Co beganinvestigating concrete toppings.

Anderson soon realized the research onconcrete toppings could also be appliedto architectural concrete flooring.Following this line of thought, sheincreased the research budget and beganinvestigating coloration and sealers.

Later that year Artflor,™ Tri-Co’sarchitectural flooring system, was addedto the product line. Since then Tri-CoFloors has never looked back-thecompany has grown into one of thelargest architectural concrete flooringcontractors in the country. Intent onexpanding even more, earlier this yearTri-Co Flooring began licensing Artflor™

complete with training, product,marketing and technical support.

“The differences in the company sincethe 1980’s are dramatic. While stillmaintaining the principles of a family runoperation — honesty, good customerservice and reliability — the businessstrategy is aimed at creating opportunitiesthat provide long-term growth, diversifi-cation and profit,” says Anderson.

While creating new businessopportunities Anderson has never lostsight of the basics and is quick todeclare good customer service is thefoundation the company has built itssuccess upon. “Tri-Co’s attitude is dowhatever it takes to make the job right.It sounds corny but our reputation trulydepends on it,” says Anderson.

A prime example of commitment tocustomer service is their response to aflooring problem at a 15,000 square-footentertainment center and restaurantproject in Guam. A couple of monthsafter the project was complete Tri-Coreceived a call that the flooring was notholding up. They immediately sent ateam of installers to Guam to investigate.What they discovered was that chairs inthe facility had protective glides missingand the exposed screws were damagingthe floor. “We had already agreed tomake repairs to the owner at noadditional cost, so we ate some of thecosts, but kept a customer happy.Sometimes those are the sacrifices youhave to make,” says Anderson.

Customer service impressed PennySteward so much, she moved from the


Tina Anderson,Tri-Co Floors

ContractorProfile

ContractorProfile

by Robert Simpson

competition to join Tri-Co Floors. “Ihad done business with Tri-Co Floors forseveral years and knew the company’sreputation. They try to do thingscorrect, and they back their employees. Iknew this was a company of good, moralpeople who do a good job the first timeround. I think it is easier as a sales andmarketing professional to develop long-term customer relationships whensurrounded by people who take pride insatisfying customers, so when theopportunity to join the organizationpresented itself I jumped at it,” saysSteward, sales and marketing manager.

Staff training is another key elementin Anderson’s business strategy. “Well-trained employees are crucial in thesuccess of the company,” says Anderson.New recruits can expect to receive up totwo years training and apprenticeshipbefore they are on jobs withoutsupervision. The training coverseverything from surface preparation toinstallation, with public relations andcustomer service skills thrown in forgood measure. But the training doesn’tend after the apprenticeship-employees

stay current on the new products andtechniques by attending regularlyscheduled in-house seminars.

These training principles permeatethe Artflor™ licensee program.Licensees receive a nine and twelve-

week training modules with additionaltraining and product seminars availablethroughout the year. Anderson isconvinced training provided to Artflor™

licensees will help alleviate some of theindustry’s most serious challenges — a


WOC booth #1932


shortage of quality-oriented profes-sionals and the two-day trainingprograms that make a little bit ofknowledge a dangerous thing.

“If the artistic concrete industry isgoing to last, some quality standardsneed to be developed. I receive betweentwo and ten calls per week regardingrepairs to a competitor’s floor. How longwill end-users, architects and designers

continue to want the product if itdoesn’t stand the test of time? Artflor™

is the largest contribution I can make tothe industry by ensuring quality instal-lations. Architectural concrete is an artform and if a sufficient labor pool isn’tcreated to keep up with demand forquality installations, the product willnot succeed,” says Anderson.

Another key component of Tri-Co’ssuccess is the commitment to ongoingproduct research and development.Though often criticized for the costsassociated with product research,Anderson has proven there is return oninvestment — the 15 years of productdevelopment and research into Artflor™

is paying huge dividends. After studyingthe performance of several self-levelingconcrete formulations, sealers andcolorization techniques Artflor™ hasevolved into a practical, durableflooring system that architects anddesigners associate with quality. The

company’s testimonials includenoteworthy Las Vegas landmarks TheMirage, Luxor and Circus Circus.

Tri-Co’s research program iscurrently investigating ways to controlcolor fading in exterior architecturalconcrete. UV stability has long been aproblem for the industry but if Tri-Co’sresearch proves effective vibrant reds,yellows, blues and purples can beguaranteed. According to Anderson thetechnology is nearing perfection andwill be a first for the industry and awindfall for Artflor™ licensees.

Equipped with well-trained, consci-entious people and a reliable,dependable product, the finalingredient of Tri-Co’s success is anaggressive marketing and promotionsstrategy. Backed by a nationaladvertising campaign and animpressive portfolio of project photos,brochures and testimonials, Andersonand Steward crisscross the countryexpounding the virtues ofarchitectural concrete flooring andthe Artflor™ system.

Their approach is unique; they don’tuse hard selling techniques but prefer toeducate. “We inform clients about thebenefits and limitations of the productline. It is better to let people know inadvance what they are up against ratherthan after the fact. By educating, itallows them to make an informeddecision and increases the likelihoodthey will be satisfied with the endproduct,” says Steward who expects totravel several thousand miles andattend most industry trade shows overthe next year.

With the right mix of people, productand promotion firmly in place it’s nosurprise Tri-Co Floors has excelled in thecompetitive architectural concreteindustry. Add to the mix Anderson’spassion and Steward’s persistence and itseems likely over the next five years thatArtflor™ licensees will be signing upthroughout the country and Tri-CoFloors will be one step closer to becominga diversified conglomerate.


The burgundy band seenhere contains four colors.Contractor Lee Levig sayshe created this customcolor by mixing 30 poundsred,21⁄2 pounds black with15 pounds tan and thenadding a pinch or two ofbrown to make it more ofan earth tone.

See Summer 2001 issue ofCCoonnccrreettee DDeeccoorr —Decorative Concrete Tipsfor the recipe on this insidecolor.

Shown is an integrally(Buff) colored stampedoverlay.Harvest Goldcolor chemical stain wasapplied at diluted ratiosof 3 parts water to 1part stain.The surfacewas also antiqued byadding 2 oz.Charcoalcolored release to agallon of sealer. Thiscoloring techniqueallows the Charcoalcolor to float to the lowareas giving the surfacean antiqued and verynatural stone lookInstaller:Charles Leland,Sure Crete DesignProducts.

Many colorful changes haveoccurred since the early1900s when Henry Ford

boldly stated: “People can have theModel T in any color — as long as it’sblack.” From cars to concrete,applications of color have burst intothe 21st century limelight and vividhues are everywhere. In thecementitious world, creativecontractors should prepare to leavetheir one-color concrete notionsbehind to make way for jobs thatfeature coats of many colors.

Coloring stamped concrete toachieve a multicolored effect can beaccomplished by using many differentmethods, including liquid andpowdered release agents, colorhardeners, colored sealers and acidstains.

Popular combo is tried andtrueAccording to Debbie Bliss, technicalinformation coordinator for BrickformRafco Products in RanchoCucamonga, Calif., the easiest way tocolor stamped concrete is to use a colorhardener and a color release prior tostamping. “The hardener makes thecolor denser and more abrasion

Stampedconcrete and its…Coats ofmany colors


Stampedconcrete and its…Coats ofmany colorsBy Stacey Enesey Klemenc


resistant. If you want to bring out thedetail, go with a darker release.”

Germania Hernandez, salesmanager for SuperStone in Miami,agrees this combination consistentlyproduces realistic-looking surfaces.“Terra cotta, brick red and buff colorhardeners are the most popular colorshere in the South, with a brown stone,dark brown and charcoal release,” shenotes. “The silver, French gray, sungray color hardeners with charcoal,gray and slate releases are very popularin the North.”

Bob Harris, the director of producttraining at Scofield Institute inDouglasville, Ga., who has done plentyof work for Disney, swears by dry shakecolor hardener when the job calls for avery abrasion-resistant hard-wearsurface. “You’ll get much better wear inthe long run,” he says.

If you underapply color hardeners,“You’re going to get spotting, areaswhere dark colors show through,” saysFrank Rusk of Frank Rusk Consultingin Las Vegas. If you overapply, “you’regoing to have an extremely hard timeworking in the color hardener. It’llbecome a big clump and will keepripping apart.”

He suggests mixing two or morepowder releases in varying percentages.“This will leave your competitionbaffled and enable you to matchproject features others might not beable to achieve,” he says. A color helikes, for example, is created bycombining like amounts of Venetianpink with Stedman buff (a goldenyellow) to create a warm peach. “Don’tbe afraid to experiment,” he says. “Youcan mix a lot of colors yourself beforeyou have to special order.”

Rusk says to avoid a scummylooking coloring job you must washaway any remaining color release.When the surface is dry, sweep off theheavy powder, scrub the surface with aslight acid mixture and then pressurewash. Next, apply trisodium phosphateand wash that off. When it’scompletely dry, seal the surface. “This


will give you an authentic 3-D look,”Rusk maintains.

Most contractors broadcast a colorhardener and a color release agent toproduce a two-tone color in the groutjoints and within the pattern’s texture,says Jeff Hartzog, international salesmanager of Specialty ConcreteProducts Inc. in West Columbia, S.C.“After the release agent is washed off,

you have a few options on how tomake the stones different colors.”

Leave no stone uncoloredOne of Specialty Concrete’s mostpopular products is called Stone-Shade, a mixture of sealers, pigmentsand release agents. Available in 17colors, “It can be sprayed, rolled orbrushed onto individual stones to

Shown is a Random Stone stampedconcrete colored with a Beige Creamcolor hardener and a Rose Taupe colorrelease.Sealed with a low-sheenpenetrating sealer to provide softer colorsand a real stone appearance. Installer:Frank Rusk,Las Vegas,NV.


Imprinted withLithotexPavecraftersCedar Parquet,colored with adry shakeLithochromeColorHardenerSteadman Buffand accentedwithLithochromeAntiquingReleaseWalnut. It issealed withScofieldCureseal SemiGloss.

Stone love

When stamping, Californiacontractor Lee Levig likes to

use more than one color as the basecolor, usually different shades of thesame color.

“Let’s say I want to pour a 1,000-square-foot job that’s tan with a darkbrown release. I’ll use 10 buckets oftan color hardener and three bucketsof a different tan. I’ll broadcast thefirst color and then I’ll take the otherthree tans and mottle those in here,kind of a hit and miss technique.Now, we virtually have four colorsdown as the base,” he explains.

“Then, I’ll take a dark or opposingcolor, say terra cotta, and apply ithere and there for highlights. Next,I’ll throw something in there, likeburgundy, that I won’t use a lot ofand I’ll blend it in. This gives me afew areas with ‘imperfections’ thatmake the floor look like a realstone,” says Levig. “How many timesdo you break open a stone and onlysee one color? We’re trying to foolthe audience by creating the bestreplication of stone that we can.”

Broadcasting a color hardener with60 pounds of medium brown per100 square feet over a job’s entiresurface created this gorgeous slatelook-alike.Two other browns —one “two shades darker, like awalnut” and the other “two shadeslighter, like a tan” — were used tomottle the floor’s color by putting“10 pounds here and 10 poundsthere” andbullfloating itall in.Finally,acharcoal colorrelease putthe icing onthe slate.“Thedifferentshades addthe depth,“says concrete creator Lee Levig.“Itmakes the surface look three-dimensional.”


achieve the coloring effects ofpowder-release agents,” Hartzog says.“It’s not opaque; it lets the colorbeneath show through while stillproducing darker highlights.” It’s aquick, easy and economical way toadd additional colors to stampedconcrete and is commonly used torenovate old worn-out stampedsurfaces.

Another way to add color is to sift acolor hardener through pantyhose toseparate the sand from the pigmentand cement. Throw away the sand andmix the colored powder with water tomake a flour-like paste. After you’vepower washed off the release agent,paint the paste onto random stones inthe direction of the grain of the patternyou want to highlight. “Then mist withwater and let the paste settle in thetexture lines and grooves for a morenatural look,” Hartzog says. “When youseal it, the sealer will really bring outthe pigments.”

Gerry Sadleir, vice president ofoperations for San Diego-basedConcrete Solutions Inc. — thecompany that introduced its 1⁄4-inchoverlay stamping system in 1997 —recommends using a mixture ofstamped concrete sealer and liquidrelease agent combined with liquidand powdered antiquing colors tocreate beautiful and natural coloringeffects.

One such method involvesspraying a transparent colored liquidover a textured stamped surface andthen applying a stamped concretesealer. The colored liquid puddles inthe low areas, where the concen-trated color appears darker, while thebase color shows through on the highareas producing a natural antiquingeffect. If you want to antiqueindividual stones different colors,brush on the same colored liquid in acircular or side-to-side motion. Boththe concentration of the liquid andthe way it’s applied (spraying,brushing or both) will determine thefinal result, Sadleir notes.



When coloring and stamping, Rusksuggests using a 50/50 three-quarteraggregate stamp mix that is fly-ash free.“Fly ash slows concrete down but tendsto bead up in black spots causing you touse more color hardener,” Rusk says.

Breaking the moldKen Freestone, director of technicalengineering for Elite Crete SystemsInc. in Valparaiso, Ind., says somepeople are getting away from mixing acolor hardener with a powder releasebecause it’s so time consuming and notvery practical for interior jobs. Instead,they’re turning to acid stains orstyrenated acrylic for extra color.

“Styrene blended with acrylicincreases water resistance and producesmore of a permanent solution vs. acoating,” says Freestone. “With acidstaining, you can get coloring onstamped surfaces within 24 hours vs.waiting a few days. It dries very fast andyou don’t have to allow three to fourdays for the moisture to evaporate.”

For a very mottled, realistic look,Freestone says you can first put down areactive acid stain and then anantiquing acrylic to get various shadesof high and low color.

A basic color wheel islaid out so that theprimary colors areseparated by thesecondary colors.Complementary colorsare direct opposites andlie opposite each otheron the wheel.


Color makes the world go ’round

Acolor wheel is a wonderful tool to help make color choices because itallows you to see the relationship between colors, and to mix and match

them at a glance. It is methodically arranged and comprises three colorcategories:● Primary — Red, yellow and blue. These basic components are to color what

prime numbers are to mathematics. They are used to create all other colors.● Secondary — Orange, green and violet. Each of these is a combination of

two primary colors.● Tertiary — Red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green

and blue-violet. These are made by combining a primary and an adjacentsecondary color.

A variety of color schemes can be created with a color wheel. Depending onthe desired outcome, colors can be grouped to create related, contrasting ordiscordant schemes.● Monochromatic — Use of one color with varying intensities. A tint of a

color is made by adding white. Adding black makes a shade. This colorscheme produces a very contemporary look.

● Analogous — Use of adjacent hues, such as red, red-orange and red-violet.Designers often build color schemes around two or three related colors.

● Complementary — Combining two opposite colors, such as red and green,to create a scheme that seems brighter and more intense. Complementarycolors have drastically different wavelengths and can cause opticaldistortions if they are placed close to each other in a work of art.

● Split complementary — A combination of three colors: any hue and the twocolors adjacent to its complement, such as red, yellow-green and blue-green

● Triadic — A combination of three colors evenly spaced apart on the wheel,such as red, yellow, and blue

● Double complement — Use of two pairs of complements, such as yellow andviolet, and blue and orange

● Alternate complement — Use of four colors: a triad and acomplement to one of the trio, such as red, yellow,blue and violet

● Tetrad — Use of four colors evenly spacedon the color wheel: a primary, asecondary and two tertiary colors,such as red, green, yellow-orangeand blue-violet



Imprinted with the LithotexBrick-Basketweave,colored witha dry shake Lithochrome Color

Hardener Brick Red. It isaccented with Lithochrome

Antiquing Release DeepCharcoal. It is sealed with Scofield

Cureseal Semi Gloss.

Shown is an integrally Buff colored overlay.Theindividual stone colors are created with threechemical stains: Jade,Harvest Gold,and MissionBrown.Stains are diluted at ratios of 3 or 4 partswater to 1 part stain and applied with a paint brush.One coat sealer is applied before grouting the jointsand a second sealer coat after the groutingapplication. Installer:Charles leland,Sure CreteDesign Products


“The drawback to chemical stains isthat instead of covering animperfection sometimes the stain willaccentuate it,” like effervescence or astamp that is off kilter, says CharlesLeland, general manager of SureCreteDesign Products in Dade City, Fla.“Other times the results are killer.”

Acid stains will produce a mottledlook that is somewhat unpredictable.Because it depends upon a chemicalreaction, you never know exactly whatto expect. “But the sweet thing aboutworking with overlays and acid stains isthat ordinarily you’ll get much moreconsistent results than with freshlypoured concrete,” Leland says. Withthe thinner overlay material, “theresults of the acid stain will be moreconsistent because we control what’s inthe bag.”

Leland also agrees that powderreleases are messy. With his company’soverlay system, a contractor puts downabout 1⁄4-inch integrally coloredcementitious material created from achoice of 30 different colors. On top ofthat, most contractors spray a darkercontrasting color. “Antiquing producesa more realistic stone look and does anice job of hiding imperfections. It’slike love; it covers a multitude of sins.”Without the antiquing, most surfaceslook “too plastic,” he says.

Staying within the lines“If you’re willing to experiment, thereare lots of artistic and fun things to do,”says Bliss. “You can use multiple colorstains and hardeners for very colorfulresults.”

If you’re looking for an easier route,Bliss suggests Brickform’s Cem-Coat —a self-priming cementitious coatingthat bonds with existing or cured newinterior or exterior concrete surfaces.This tough water based coating goes onlike paint but the similarity stops there.For existing stamped concrete, you candilute Cem-Coat and spray it on tobring out the relief.

“This opaque coating comes in anycolor you can imagine,” Bliss says, and




Imprinted withLithotexPavecraftersFractured Slate-RandomInterlocking,coloredwith a dry shakeLithochrome ColorHardener Slate Grayand accented withLithochromeAntiquing ReleaseDeep Charcoal. It issealed with ScofieldCureseal Semi Glass.

This job began as a white overlay onthe floor that was cut into a four-byfour pattern with saws.Contractor

Lee Levig taped off every othersquare and sprayed the surface with

a chemical that had metalproperties.Over top of that,he

sprayed a fern green antiquing acidand then sealed these squares.He

colored the remaining squares in alike fashion using a chemical sprayand an amber antiquing acid.Then

he oversealed everything to getthese showroom quality results.This

floor graces the showroom of aparty rental store.

Advantages of variouscoloring techniquesColor hardener — Harder surface,brighter colors.Integral color — Color is all the waythrough the concrete in case it chips.Colored sealer — What you see iswhat you get. One uniform color.Helps protect surface.Acid stain — Penetrates and reactschemically to become a permanentpart of the concrete.

— Germania Hernandez, sales manager for SuperStone

“I hate naked concrete,” says Lee Levig,owner of Concrete Works in the SanFrancisco Bay area,so he often incorporatesdifferent items into his handiwork. The leavesyou see here, for example,came from a treenearby and the imprints were arranged toform a second border to highlight the patioarea.Levig used a solvent-based sealer andhand painted the leave imprints so theywould have a different texture from thesurrounding stamped or broomed concrete.


Rusk, the Las Vegas consultant whoalso is a proponent of the two-by-twosample, advises contractors to “Keep itsquare and make it neat. If your samplelooks good, people will think yourwork follows suit.”

To bring out the colors of concrete,always use a high-quality sealer.“Acrylic-based sealers seem to wear

better than water-based,” Bliss says. Insome situations, she suggests applying awax over the sealer. “If you maintainthe wax, you can get some longevityout of the sealer. I mean, if you’re goingto create a masterpiece, we want tohelp you keep it as long as possible.”

it has a gamut of uses. It can be used toantique a textured surface, touch upcolored concrete or cover the wholeshooting match. “If you have an oldsection of driveway and you’re puttingdown a new addition, Cem-Coat is theperfect product to give the wholesurface one uniform color.”

A clean sweepBefore you start an actual job, considerbasic color schemes. “I use a colorwheel all the time,” says Lee Levig,owner of Concrete Works in the SanFrancisco Bay area, to determine colorsfor selections ranging frommonochromatic and split comple-mentary to complementary andanalogous. “Schemes that work forinterior designers work for concrete,too. Color is all about emotions andissuing the right emotion for the job.”

Another interesting techniqueLevig uses on stamped squares involvesa monochromatic scheme where thebroom direction is different onadjoining squares. “You brush onewidth-wise and the next length-wise.In the morning when the sun comes upthe squares look like a different colorthan at high noon and when the sunsets,” he says. Although the surface isone color, you get a checkerboardeffect from the changing shadowsthroughout the day.

If you use a mottled multicolorscheme with this technique, sunlightand shadows will draw out differentcolors throughout the day. “The colorswill change,” Levig says, “almost like ahologram.”

The perfect cover upMost people in the business contendthere’s really no excuse when a clientcomplains that a job is the wrongcolor; it should have never happenedin the first place. “Colors can makeyour whole job if you choose yourcolors right,” says Levig. “Instead ofhanding a client a chart, I like to pourthree two-by-two-foot samples and letthem choose.”


ColorSelect System different was that it was specificallydesigned with the ready mix producer in mind.

In 1998, the first two ColorSelect systems were installed insouthern California. “We started with a programmable logiccontroller, which evolved into a PC-based system,” Solomonexplains. “In the beginning it was a hard sell — there wereskeptics. [But] the system has also made converts to integralcolored concrete.” Both systems are still out in the marketplace,but the PC system has additional advantages, including theability for a Solomon Color technician to access a ready mixproducer’s ColorSelect computer via modem to deliver acustom formula. Today there are nearly 90 of the systems in use.“Liquid is not a miracle pigment. What the liquid system hasdone is give ready mix producers verification. The system doesall the calculations, and the operator can see from the printoutexactly what went into the truck,” Solomon adds.

Since its debut, Solomon Color’s ColorSelect product hasbeen used in many residential and commercial projects — inflatwork, cast-in-place and tilt-up applications — includinghigh-profile projects like the Stardust Casino, Caesar’s Palaceand the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, as well as Autopia atDisneyland, reports Dube. “We’ve done thousands of cubicyards with this system with very little trouble. We’ve taken asmuch human error out of [the process] as possible,” heobserves. “The design mix is documented. It makes everyone


Making life easier through technology.” It’s apervasive message we hear every day. Often thechallenge is how to apply and integrate new

technologies in industry. The concrete industry is noexception. With its introduction of a computer-based liquidcoloring system, Solomon Colors assumed a lead role in usingtechnology to make life better for the industry. And guesswhat? Even the concrete truck drivers like it!

Solomon Colors is the largest U.S.-owned producer of ironoxide pigments. Based in Springfield, Ill., the company got itsstart in the 1920s. Robert C. Solomon, the operator of thePanther Creek Coal Mine Co., decided that the black,carboniferous slate that lies above the coal seams would makea good color by-product. Solomon Grinding Service got itsstart grinding the slate from the mines, as well as red iron oresfrom Michigan and yellow ochres from Georgia.

For some 50 years, SGS operated as a toll or contractmanufacturer, its products sold by others. But in 1970,Solomon Colors began marketing its own name brandproducts. Then in 2000, the firm sold its pulverizing milldivision to focus on color. Rich Solomon, vice presidentand grandson of the founder, explains that when thecompany was started it used 100 percent natural ironoxides. Today, 90 percent of the color pigments SolomonColors manufactures are synthetic iron oxides. And itscolors come from around the world — from countries suchas China, Brazil and Poland — in addition to variouslocations in the United States. From a basic combination offour iron oxide colors — yellow, two reds and black —Solomon Colors has expanded its color catalog to morethan “500 standard pigment shades and over twice thatnumber have been made for architects and contractorswanting a special color,” Solomon says.

Finding success with liquid colorIntegral color has always offered ready mix producers andcontractors a good mark-up opportunity. But while drypigment can give you very uniform color, it has itsdisadvantages and liability can be high. So, in the late 1990s, ateam at Solomon Colors set out to use technology to makeintegral color easier and reliable. Bill Dube, general managerof Solomon Color’s Pacific Division, was part of the team,which also included systems analyst Mark Gray, companychemist Steve Brown and Vice President of ProductionCharles Kreutzer. Dube says the idea of liquid color pigmentswas not new — a system developed a decade earlier byanother company failed. What made Solomon Color’s

Solomon ColorsBy Susan Brimo-Cox

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Good techniques are key tosuccess with integrally coloredconcrete

The minute you add integral color toconcrete, people look at it differently than

they do gray concrete — their expectations arehigher. Educating your client about integralcolor is important. Be sure to explain itslimitations. But, also, be sure to use goodtechniques. These contractor-recommendedtips can help ensure excellent results:● Make sure the sub-grade is evenly saturated,

otherwise discoloration may occur.● Find a reliable ready mix producer and work

as a team.● Make sure the design mix is duplicated

exactly for consistency in multiple pours (i.e.stick with one brand of cement, one sourceof sand and aggregate, the same amount ofwater and admixes, etc.).

● Be aware that weather plays a role in theresults. Don’t pour if rain is expected within24 hours. Pay attention to temperature andhumidity conditions.

● Use a wood bull float instead of a magnesiumbull float. A wood bull float lets bleed waterevaporate. A magnesium float can seal upwater, which can cause discoloration.

● Integral color is good as is, but you also canachieve aesthetically pleasing finishes byexposing the sand and aggregate in the mix.

● When applying a broom finish, be sure tochange your broom — instead of rinsing it— when material buildup occurs. Extrawater deposited by a rinsed broom can causediscoloration.

● Never spray water on the surface during thefinishing stage.

● Proper curing is important in ensuringconsistent color.

● Don’t use plastic to cover integrally coloredconcrete. Condensation on the underside ofthe plastic can discolor the concrete. Ph

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In Santa Ana, Calif., RichGibson, vice president ofoperations at StandardConcrete Products Inc., hasbeen using the liquidColorSelect System for aboutthree years. He says, “Theseller of the system is thesaving on labor. We do a lot ofcolor — the old process we’veused for some 50 years, butwith dry color there’s a lot ofchance for error. [WithColorSelect], you have one person handling the color, sothere’s less chance for error, as when drivers were involved.”

Accuracy, better quality control and timesavings are otherbenefits observed by Ron Reed, operations manager of NevadaReady Mix Corp. in Las Vegas. “It’s cleaner, there are lessinjuries and we don’t have EPA issues or weather-relatedstorage issues with the system,” he reports. Moreover,“Customers see a better color dispersement. We don’t getstreaking. We can match whatever color [the customer] wantsand there’s no leftover or shortage issues.”

“It’s a win-win for producers and clients,” according toVince Bush, ready mix general manager with Rinker MaterialsCorp. in Las Vegas. From an inventory standpoint to

accountable — the ready mix producer, the contractor and thehomeowner.”

At the ready mix plantThe ColorSelect System went through some initial trial anderror, but product demonstrations are winning over ready mixplants across the country. Because the pigment is pre-dispersedin a liquid form, no admixes are required for dispersion. “Whenit hits the mix, it’s ready to disperse — and it does it quickerthan dry pigment,” Solomon says. Solomon admits, “Overall,dry pigment is less expensive, but you recoup the cost in thebenefits and advantages of the liquid color.”

Craig Tieck, concrete plants manager, San Diego, ofHanson Aggregates Pacific Southwest, describes the self-contained system set up: “The color is stored in four totes. Apump is stationed under each tote with a hose going to apressurized container on a scale. Color is pumped from thetotes to the container and weighed cumulatively. A touchscreen is used to enter the [color] formula, the truck number,the percent loading, the sack content and the yards. You pushthe start button and the computer does the work.” The coloris then discharged into the truck while the normal loading ofrock, sand and cement takes place. “It takes two minutes todo the Solomon process [and] defaults are built into thesystem enabling you to make corrections if an error isdetected,” he adds.


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consistency of the loads to safety advantages, Bush says, “Wewind up with increased sales. We did an open house tointroduce [clients] to the system. We offered an enticement tohave them try it and they have kept buying. Whenever youcan get enhanced value for the client, there’s an enhancedmargin for the producers.”

Comments from the fieldAdvantages of the ColorSelect System also trickle down tothe contractor. “I don’t have to call well in advance and Idon’t have color left over — I just call in what I need and [myready mix producer] batches it,” reports Frank Klemaske,executive vice president of T.B. Penick and Sons Inc. in SanDiego, a firm that has been in business since 1905. Klemaskesays you have to be careful with new products and go througha learning curve, but he hasn’t seen any failures since theybegan using the ColorSelect product.

Elden Peterson, president of Peterson BrothersConstruction Inc. in Babrea, Calif., specializes in decorativeconcrete work — 70 percent residential, the rest incommercial work. He doesn’t use Solomon Colors exclusively,but he says he appreciates the uniformity in color he gets withthe ColorSelect System. He also appreciates the supportiverole Solomon Colors maintains in the industry. “SolomonColors is a good ally for both the contractor and the supplier.The company understands the industry and the pitfalls. Often


it may get squeezed between the contractor and the supplier,but Solomon Colors is diplomatic. The company goes aboveand beyond to get something resolved.”

A holistic approachIts main product line is color pigment, but Solomon Color hasexpanded its offerings to include stamped concrete stamps,color release products and dry shake color hardener tocomplement its color expertise. “We want to offer one-stop-shopping. There are a lot of new techniques for concrete andwe’re always looking for ways to make the job easier forcontractors,” Solomon says.

Working hard to be an industry leader is a lot of work, butSolomon says, “Sometimes you’re at the right place at theright time. In 10 years, we hope to have ColorSelect systemsin every state, so when an architect specifies a specific color itwill be readily available.” With demand for its many productsspreading beyond the United States and Canada, SolomonColors is scheduled to open its second full-production facility,in Rialto, Calif., in April 2002.

Technology. Isn’t it great for business?

(For more information about Solomon Colors and its ColorSelectSystem, call (800) 624-0261 or visit the company’s Web site atwww.solomoncolors.com.)

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factored into cost of project, or required as anafterthought.)

● Are there slippage liability issues to be considered? (i.e.,pedestrian traffic in potential wet conditions.)

● Are there environmental “green” building conditions thatneed to addressed? (e.g., local Department ofEnvironmental Quality standards are required to be met.)

Sealer Selection OptionsThere are two major purposes for sealers. The first is to protectthe concrete surface from moisture intrusion. The second is tohelp create the finish appearance desired for the application. Inaddition, there are other benefits to using a sealer, includinglower maintenance, easier cleaning, efflorescence prevention(i.e., the appearance of white powder residue caused as residualwater in the concrete evaporates leaving the dissolved salts onthe concrete surface), and slippage protection (when additivematerials are included in the sealer mix).

There are two main types of concrete sealers. Thosedesigned to penetrate the concrete, leaving it looking dry, yetwater repellent, and those that form a film on the surface,giving it a wet look. Penetrating sealers are low viscositymaterials that fill the surface pores of the substrate, but do notleave a polymer film above the peaks of the concrete.

Getting SealersRight

Evaluating the Options,Applications andCautions will Ensure Successful Projects

By Craig Park

One of the challenges for a high quality architecturalconcrete installation is the selection of the rightsealer. From chemical staining, coloring, and the

day-to-day abuses these surfaces receive, choosing a sealercan make or break the entire project. So, what do you needto look for in a sealer, and how do you match the right sealerto your type of project and environment?

Architectural concrete is conventional concrete that hasbeen colored, stained, stamped, saw-cut, or sandblasted tocreate a creative effect or to simulate tile, stone or brick. Itcan also be polymer-modified — the addition of a 1⁄8 to 1⁄2inch decorative overlay coating — which can also becolored, stamped or stained to create the desired finish andlook. Clear sealer finishes for these surfaces come in manydifferent formulations and levels of durability, and can beapplied to both architectural concrete and to polymer-modified cement overlays.

Concrete sealers provide added protection and may, ifapplied properly, extend the usable life of an installation.There are many sealer options made from gum resins, linseedoil, silicone derivatives (e.g., silane, siloxane, and siliconate),epoxy, acrylic, urethane, and polyurethane. Less common,and generally more expensive, hybrids like methyl-methacrylate (MMA) and polyurea sealers are also options.Both water-based (typically low-solid penetratives) andsolvenated (typically high-solid, high-build) coatingsolutions are available. Single-component and two- (andthree-) part component mixes are also options to beconsidered.

Choosing the Right SealerThe unique characteristics of concrete and othercementitious surfaces make the selection of a sealer a seriousmatter. Several questions need to be asked before selectingthe appropriate sealer:● To what conditions will the concrete surface be exposed?

(e.g., hot, cold, wet, night condensation, interior orexterior, ultraviolet light, etc.) Will there be a decorativefinish? (i.e., plain, colored, pattern, stencil, or spray-on.)

● What is the condition of the concrete? (i.e., new, recent,old, damaged.)

● What are the schedule and budget for the project? (i.e.,an accelerated application, or adequate time; sealer

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Coating sealers provide betterprotection of the substrate and are easierto clean than penetrating sealers.However, they create a smoother surfacethat is more likely to present a slip hazardunder wet conditions. The incorporationof aggregate particles in the coatingmaterial can help alleviate this potentialliability, but requires a carefulunderstanding of the correct size andproportion of the aggregate relative tothe sealer type selected for the project.

Most penetrating sealers are madefrom by-products of silicone calledsilanes, siloxanes, or siliconates, and aredesigned to penetrate concrete pores.Once applied, they react with thealkaline materials in the concrete mixand the moisture present to form asilicone seal, making concrete water-repellent. Penetrating sealers usuallycost more, but generally last longerbefore repair or reapplication isrequired. Another reason penetratingsealers are popular is, that whenproperly applied, they do not changethe concrete’s appearance.

linked multi-component sealers offerimproved durability and adhesion. Areview of the appropriate projectrequirements should be part of theselection process for each project.

Important Selection FactorsThe single most important factor inselecting an appropriate sealer isdefining the impact the environmentwill have on the particular surface to besealed. Before specifying the sealer, youshould carry out a thorough siteinspection with the customer to assesssuch factors as anticipated type andseverity of conditions (e.g., pedestrian,vehicular, machinery, chemicals, etc.),the condition of the substrate andinstallation environment. Will thesurface be exposed to sunlight orartificial UV sources (e.g., metal halidelighting)? Are there unusual humidityissues to be considered?

The timing/scheduling of the instal-lation may also have an impact on thesealers available for selection. Somesealers allow for quick installation, and


Coating sealers are usually madefrom epoxy, acrylic or urethane-basedcompounds. They form a thin coatingon the concrete’s surface, leaving a wetlook similar to varnish on wood. Theseproducts tend to be less expensive pergallon than penetrating sealers, butneed re-applications more frequently.They also protect against some stainsbetter. However, some coating sealerstend to darken concrete. In addition,they normally require the addition ofaggregates to increase surface frictionand help keep feet or tires from slippingon the finished surface.

Other important considerations andproperties to evaluate when selecting asealer include penetration depth,reactivity to concrete materials, servicelife, water absorption, water vaportransmission, and crack bridgingcharacteristics. Moreover, sealers canhave (or not have) other features thatmay be important to the project,including UV protection, matte, satinor high gloss finishes, coloring agents,chemical-resistance. Newer cross-

project cost analysis should include theimpact of the overall installation time,the life expectancy of the sealer, andhow much additional materials andwork will be necessary for ongoingmaintenance. These are all factorsassociated with the total cost of anysealer application.

It is not necessarily more cost-effective to choose the cheapest sealer,when a longer life cycle option,

therefore keep downtime costs to aminimum, while others require curetimes of one week to achieve fullchemical and mechanical resistance.As a rule, water-based, solvent freematerials allow for simpler applicationfrom a health and safety perspective.

Another factor is the cost of theapplication. Cost considerationsextend beyond the final bill presentedto the owner by the contractor. Pre-


although appearing more expensive atthe initial pricing phase, will be morecost effective for the owner in the long-term than a finish that needs extensiverepairs and recoating year after year.

Similarly, for high-solid coatingsealers (epoxy, urethane andpolyurethane) pricing analysis shouldbe based on mil-thicknessrequirements for the installation,which can vary manufacturer tomanufacturer for the same“recommended” square footagecoverage per gallon of sealer. Oneother important factor related tocalculating the actual cost of multi-component mixes is that the result ofthe combined solutions may be lessthan equal to the “gallon” stated in thecoverage specification due toallowances for mixing.

Surface Preparation is KeyMost problems with sealers can bepointed to two factors. The first is theover-application that causes curingproblems, peeling and blush, and the


Comparison of Sealer FeaturesSilicon Epoxy Acrylic Urethane Polyurethane

Interior ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

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second is failure to perform theappropriate surface preparation thatcauses failure in adhesion.

To address the first issue, thecontractor should insure that theinstallers are familiar with the productthey are installing, and that they havereceived the manufacturer’s instructionsand training on the best methods toapply the product. One area ofcomplete agreement among concreteexperts is that when it comes toapplication, following themanufacturer’s directions is essential fora good installation. There is littleflexibility when it comes to concretesealers. Shortcutting the manufacturer’sinstructions will virtually guaranteelater problems. Application conditionand thickness specifications should befollowed closely, and multipleapplications should followmanufacturer’s guidelines for interimcuring periods.

To achieve the best results for asurface preparation, the concrete should

The recommended approach is toscrub the surface thoroughly with a floormachine using an aggressive nylogritbrush. Follow this with an application ofa good commercial cleaner, but do notlet the cleaning solution dry on thesurface. Rinse thoroughly to remove anypossible detergent residue. Rinsing witha pressure washer is ideal.

Surfaces that have been acid-stainedmust be properly pH-neutralized with astrong base solution and rinsed as well.Water-based sealers applied to animproperly neutralized stained surfaceare subject to premature failure. Afreshly placed polymer concrete overlayrequires no surface treatment.

Temperature is another factor in asuccessful sealer application. It isimportant to measure the surfacetemperature of the area to be sealed.Sealers will tend to dry faster thandesigned if applied to a hot surface. If thesurface is too hot, the sealer may notpenetrate properly, spread to therequired thickness, and or bond.

be structurally sound, clean, and wellcured. The concrete surface shouldhave the texture of medium-gritsandpaper and should have no visibleefflorescence. For a new project, theconcrete should be as free frommoisture as possible before applying acoating system. Hollow areas and voidsshould be filled with either acementitious repair compound or aresin-based material, like an epoxy.

Most experts agree that the biggestenemy of concrete floors is moisture.The best way to prevent moistureproblems with new concrete is not tominimize the curing process — no lessthan 28 days. This curing period alsoallows time for the pH to neutralize.

It is important that the concretesurface be thoroughly dry and clean ofany residues that might inhibit sealantpenetration. Likewise, concrete surfacesto be finished with a coating sealer mustbe free from unwanted contaminatesthat may weaken the adhesion of thefinished application.

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The normal flowing and curingcharacteristics of sealers are changed ifthe surface temperature is too cold aswell, and can have a negative effect onpenetrating and spreading. In addition,the components of a water-based sealerthat is allowed to freeze can separate,preventing the sealer’s chemical bondwith the concrete. Thawing andremixing is rarely sufficient to re-blendthe mixture.

Because it is highly alkaline, aconcrete surface can adversely reactwith a variety of coatings, such asalkyds or oil-based materials. Primarycoating properties that affect theircompatibility with concrete surfacesinclude tolerance to alkalinity,moisture sensitivity, cure shrinkage,elasticity, viscosity, and permeability.

Health and Safety ConcernsAriseTypically the client will rely on thecontractor for direction regarding theaddition of a slip-resistant treatment.Considering the potential harm andliability that can occur out of a slip andfall accident, a careful and proactiveapproach is best. As a rule, any exteriorsurface to be sealed, or any interiorsurface that will be exposed to wet oroily conditions needs slip-resistanttreatment. Surfaces with severe slopesare not good candidates for polymercoatings.

Occasionally, the customer willresist the idea of a slip-resistanttreatment fearing that the surface willbecome more difficult to clean.Engineering slip-resistance involveschoosing the right size particle to beimbedded in the coating film and theproper spacing of the particles. If theslip-resistant treatment is properlyengineered and executed, surfacecleanability will not be reduced.

The size and type of aggregate useddictates the aggressiveness of the slip-resistance (based on the coefficient offriction), so it is advisable to install atest patch before the completeapplication to assess the correct level.

Typically, synthetic polymer particlessuch as acrylic or polypropylene beads(known as “sharks teeth” or “alligatorteeth”) are mixed into the coating forresidential and light commercialapplications. For heavier use areas,bleached aluminum oxide particles,colored quartz or glass beads arerecommended. Whichever additive ischosen, it should be selected based onthe thickness of the final coating, andthe reactive compatibility with sealer.

As customer awareness and demandfor “green” buildings increases,concerns for reducing emissions ofvolatile organic compounds (VOCs)and reducing odors has become a majorfactor in the selection and applicationof concrete sealers. Between therequirements of local Departments ofEnvironmental Quality and morebuilding owners seeking certificationunder the Green Building Council’sLeadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED™)criteria, selection of sealers with VOC-compliance has become a morestringent requirement. Avoidingsealers containing aldehydes, amines,ammonia, carboxylic acids,isocyanates, and phenols is highlyrecommended.

The Results of Doing ItRightIt is important to understand thenature of each particular decorativeconcrete surface to ensure appropriatesurface preparation and sealerapplication. Properly selected andproperly applied, concrete sealers andcoatings add value, beauty and strengthto the concrete surface. Taking thetime to determine the right solutionwill avoid future problems and ensure ahappy customer.

Craig Park is a free-lance writer based inSan Francisco. He is an architect bytraining, and serves as a managingprincipal for a national engineeringconsulting practice.



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Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BoothPortland Cement Association .03365Pearl Abrasive Co . . . . . . . . . .03464Multicoat Corp . . . . . . . . . . . .03467Vexcon Chemicals Inc . . . . . . .03549Increte Systems Inc . . . . . . . . .03637Knaack Mfg Co . . . . . . . . . . . .03649Pro-Seal Products . . . . . . . .03664Euclid Chemical Co . . . . . . . .03761Excellent Coatings Inc . . . . . . .03765Sherwin-Williams

Stores Group . . . . . . . . . . . .03873Advanced Concrete Tools . . . .03923Kraft Tool Co . . . . . . . . . . . . .03931Versatile Deck Coatings . . . .03966Vinylex Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . .04014Blastrac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .04049Sawtec Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . .04049Spraytech Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . .04071Precise Forms Inc . . . . . . . . . . .04323ChemRex Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . .04375Quickrete Companies . . . . . . .04411Diamond Products . . . . . . . . . .04439Bosch Power Tools . . . . . . . . . .04611DeWalt Industrial Tool Co . . . .05111Ford Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05417American Concrete

Institute Intl . . . . . . . . . . . .05611Western Forms Inc . . . . . . . . . .05871Symons Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06049


Seminars: January 8-12, 2002Show: January 9-12, 2002

Morial Convention CenterNew Orleans, Louisiana USA



Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BoothAmerican Concrete

Contractor Association . . . .06514VIC International Corp . . . .06701Glaze ‘N Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06702Soff-Cut International Inc . . . .06733White Cap Industries Inc . . . . .06755Cobblecrete International . . . .06807Stampcrete International . . . . .06823Fitzgerald Formliners . . . . . . . .07052RAFCO Products . . . . . . . .07260Quick Imprint Systems Inc . .07307The Nox-Crete

Products Group . . . . . . . . . 07561EDCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07637Professional Trade

Publications . . . . . . . . . .07856L M Scofield Co . . . . . . . . . .08338Dow Chemical Co . . . . . . . . . .08415Patterned Concrete

Industries Ltd . . . . . . . . . . .08518Stegmeier Corp . . . . . . . . . . . .08525MAR-FLEX Waterproofing . . .08536Ardex Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .08615Marshalltown Trowel Co . . . . .08641Kwik Kerb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08834Duckback Products Inc . . . . . .08861Solomon Colors . . . . . . . . . .09049Surecrete Design Products . .09058Innovative Brick Systems . . . .09160Protecrete Div Applied

Concrete Technologies . . . .09230Fritz-Pak Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . .09621Kemiko Concrete Stains . . . .09660Polytek Development Corp . . .09715Bayer Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09727Smooth On Inc . . . . . . . . . . . .10007QC Construction Products . . .10113Curb Tec Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10152Davis Colors . . . . . . . . . . . .10415Cemex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10436Butterfield Color . . . . . . . . .10453Decorative Concrete

Finishes Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . .10519Dynamic Color Solutions . . . .10524Joe Due Blades and Equipment 10801Engrave-A-Crete Inc . . . . . . . .10852


Register online at: www.worldofconcrete.com

http://www.worldofconcrete.com


Product ProfilesSpray-TopFaster than a concretefinisher … more powerful than a cementitious overlay … ableto cover surfaces with only one coat ... It’s Spray-Top,asuper new product from Concrete Solutions Inc.

If there’s a faded, stained or discolored concrete job on the docketthat you’d like to quickly and easily remedy, check out Spray-Top

from Concrete Solutions Inc. This revolutionary, cementitiousmaterial is designed to be sprayed over concrete and other surfaces witha specially modified paint gun. And like a thin coat of paint, it willconform to the finish of the smooth or textured surface, changingonly the color.

Unlike many of the other resurfacing materials on the markettoday, this polymer-modified cement requires no special skills toapply and no extensive training to use. If you can operateconventional painting equipment you can apply Spray-Topalong with the best of them. This versatile product can be usedto resurface smooth, broom-swept or stamped concrete to alike-new condition — with one thin coat. When surfaces areproperly prepared or treated with the apprpriate prime coatsealer, as specified by Concrete Solutions, Inc., Spray-Topeasily covers unsightly cracks, oil or rust stains, discol-oration or other surface blemishes.

After Spray-Top is sprayed over stamped concrete,contractors may opt to use a simple antiquing methoddeveloped by Concrete Solutions to give the job more depth ofcolor, followed by a topcoat of stamped concrete sealer. The resurfacingproduct also may be used prior to applying an acid stain on interior floors. For moreinformation, call Concrete Solutions at (800) 232-8311. Spray-Top will be debuted at theWorld of Concrete in January 2002.

TexturetopSee article on page 36!

PRODUCT

PROFILE


Saw KartSaw Kart from Engrave-A-Crete

From the guys who claim several world titles, including the“World’s #1 Manufacturer of Decorative Concrete Cutting

Equipment,” comes this innovative accessory called SawKart. Justassemble your standard portable circular saw with a SawKart to cutpatterns and designs. Even beginners can make straight cuts and perfectcircles with the center pivot accessory. Use the front pointer to follow achalk line then flip it out of the way when not needed. Machined fromsolid block aluminum, SawKart is rigid, accurate, and smooth rolling.Non-marking polyurethane wheels have bronze wheelbushings which are long lasting in grittyconcrete cuttingenvironments. Call Engrave-A-Crete, Inc. (800) 884-2114or visit them on-line atwww.engrave-a-crete.com andwww.k-crete.com.



http://www.engrave-a-crete.com

http://www.k-crete.com


Savvy concrete contractors havebeen closely watching therecent explosion in popularity of

decorative concrete toppings, andmany are learning the skills required toget a piece of this hot new marketniche. In both exterior and interiorapplications, the use of stampabletextured toppings is turning drab,damaged concrete slabs into attractive,durable floors and surfaces that addvalue and appeal to commercial andresidential properties alike.

While much has been written aboutthe use of self-leveling overlaymentsfor interior commercial applicationssuch as casinos, malls, hotels, and officebuilding lobbies, these self-levelingmaterials will not accept imprinting,stenciling or texturing, nor are theyappropriate for exterior installations.Consequently, there is an opportunityto use topping products that aretrowelable and stampable, that holdtheir shape, and that can be usedindoors or outdoors.

For exterior or interior applicationswhere imprinting or texturing isdesired, L.M. Scofield Companyintroduces Scofield™ Texturetop,™ atrowelable cementitious toppingavailable in two types that quickly cureto create attractive, durable, abrasion-resistant concrete floors and surfaces.

In residential markets, trowelablecementitious toppings such as ScofieldTexturetop are ideal for exterior useson driveways, pool decks, andsidewalks, and for interior applicationsranging from workrooms andentryways to utility rooms and

Scofield introducesScofield™Texturetop,™a superior stampablecementitious toppingBy Robert Harris and Bruce Hackett

Texturetop

PRODUCT

PROFILE

Theconsistency ofScofield™

Texturetop™

mortar allowsthe contractorto evenlydistribute theproduct overthe installationarea by using agauge rakespreader.

Lithotex™ Pavecrafters™

Embossing Skins arethin,flexible and easy touse,producing a uniformtexture over the entiresurface of a Scofield™

Texturetop™ installation.


screened porches. In commercialenvironments, uses for ScofieldTexturetop are numerous, includingauto dealer showrooms, upscalerestaurants, theme parks and resorts,and virtually anywhere texturedresurfacing is desired.

Scofield, a leader in architecturalconcrete products since 1915, offersworldwide availability of ScofieldTexturetop in two types. ScofieldTexturetop Stencil Grade offerspremium performance at depths fromfeatheredge to one-eighth inch (1⁄8"),while Scofield Texturetop StampGrade provides superior performanceat depths from one-eighth inch (1⁄8") tothree-quarters inch (3⁄4"). Both types arecomplex, precisely engineered,polymer-modified cementitiousformulations produced by a proprietarymanufacturing and intergrindingprocess that ensures consistently highquality.

Both types of Scofield Texturetophave numerous benefits compared toother topping materials, including high

Immediatelyfollowing thegauge-raking,theuse of a long-handledsmoother ortrowel results ina smooth finishwhich will thenaccept Lithotex™

Pavecrafters™

imprinting toolsand embossingskins.

strength, excellent resistance tomoisture and freezing/thawing, and anappealing range of standard andcustom decorative colors. ScofieldTexturetop is easy to mix andeconomical to install. Contractorssimply add the bagged mix topremeasured water, mix and place,according to manufacturer specifi-cations. Either type of ScofieldTexturetop provides fast setting and

rapid strength gain, which permits fast-track installations, an importantconcern for many customers.

Scofield Texturetop Stencil Grade isdesigned for applications where variousstencils — brick, stone, and a variety ofstencil patterns — are desired. ScofieldTexturetop Stencil Grade is appliedwith a broom, squeegee, trowel, sprayeror air-driven hopper gun over the topof a paper stencil and allowed to stiffen

CIRCLE #09 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE #49 ON READER SERVICE CARD


Texturetop — and, indeed, to anycementitious topping — is propersubstrate preparation and the absenceof any severe moisture problems.Through the use of grinding,shotblasting or similar equipmentfollowed by thorough cleaning, looseparticles and other contaminants areremoved, leaving a sufficientlyroughened profile that will providesuperior adhesion for the topping. Ifthe substrate is highly porous, Scofield™

Bondaid™ Primer must be applied priorto installing Scofield Texturetop to sealthe surface and promote adhesion.

Cracks or joints in the existingsubstrate will telegraph through theTexturetop topping as they do withother cementitious products.Consequently, since the substrate andtopping must move together,contractors must honor the cracks andworking joints in most cases byextending them up through the fulldepth of the topping by sawcutting,tooling or forming.

Just as with any cementitiousproduct installed outdoors, weatherplays an important role when installingeither type of Scofield Texturetop inexterior applications. Ambient andsubstrate temperatures must be inacceptable ranges, and wind and rainmust be minimal or absent.

For any kind of Scofield Texturetopinstallation, Scofield recommends theuse of tools and equipment marketedby Wagman Tools. The mixingbuckets, gauge rakes, smoothers andhand trowels offered by Wagman haveproven track records in numeroussuccessful installations of ScofieldTexturetop.

Following installation, Texturetopsurfaces can be chemically stained withLithochrome® Chemstain,™ if desired,which reacts with the surface of curedTexturetop toppings to producepermanent, translucent, variegatedcolor effects. All Texturetop surfacesshould be sealed or coated in order toprotect the surface and make periodicmaintenance easier. Scofield offers arange of products that provide the

for several hours. Upon removal of thestencil, the result is an attractive,decorative pattern made from thedurable, cementitious topping.

Scofield Texturetop Stamp Gradecan be imprinted by the use of Lithotex®

Pavecrafters,® a system of mat-typeimprinting tools and thin, flexibleembossing skins. Scofield TexturetopStamp Grade is installed at a thicknesstwo times as deep as the deepest profile

of the embossing skin or imprinting toolbeing used, which ensures a layer ofpaste between the texturing tool andthe concrete substrate. Because timing iscrucial to successful imprinting, theTexturetop mortar should be allowed tostiffen until it is sufficiently rigid tosupport stamping operations, yet remainplastic enough to imprint properly.

Absolutely essential to thesuccessful installation of Scofield



skills, increase business and improveprofitability.

Robert P. Harris is Director of ProductTraining of The Scofield Institute, part ofL.M. Scofield Company. He is also anACI Certified Instructor. BruceHackett is a freelance writer whocontributes regularly to Concrete Decor.

necessary surface protection andimprove appearance: Scofield™

Cureseal,™ Cementone® Clear Sealer,the Scofield™ Clearcoat™ system, or, ininstances where additional color isdesired, Colorcure® Concrete Sealer.

Scofield Tech-Data Bulletinsrecommend protecting the beauty ofinterior applications of ScofieldTexturetop through the on-going use ofa compatible, slip-resistant, emulsion-type, commercial floor polish. TheWorldwide Scofield-Johnson WaxAlliance was created to providecustomers with the best possibleproduct-specific maintenanceprograms.

As demand for textured toppingsincreases — be it exterior or interior,residential or commercial, renovationor new construction — concretecontractors are discovering anexcellent opportunity to broaden their

GlossaryStamp Grade: Thick (1⁄8" to 3⁄4") type of Scofield Texturetop designed to beimprinted or textured with imprinting tools or embossing skins.

Stencil Grade: Thin (featheredge to 1⁄8") type of Scofield Texturetop designed tobe used with stencils of various patterns. Also can be used as an additionalbondcoat underneath Scofield Texturetop Stamp Grade.

Gauge rake: A long-handled, rake-action tool with adjustable settings that,once set, allow for uniform distribution of Texturetop mortar on top of thesubstrate.

For more detailed information abouthow to install Scofield Texturetop,contractors can attend hands-onworkshops at the Scofield Institute,where step-by-step instruction isavailable in the procedures andequipment required for properpreparation, installation andmaintenance.

Contact: 1-800-800-9900 orwww.scofield.com


http://www.scofield.com


ConcreteNetwork.comEverything you ever wanted to know about concrete,

but didn’t know who to askby Stacey Enesey Klemenc

Back in 1999 when Jim Peterson was attending hisumpteenth World of Concrete showcase, he wasintrigued with the array of new concrete-related

products that he saw in Las Vegas. Yet he was even moreamazed that there wasn’t a central clearinghouse thatbuilding industry types could tap into to learn more aboutthese new products and techniques once the show was over.

On his way home to Los Angeles, he realized he hadfound a niche that needed filling. So Peterson, a former vicepresident of a major concrete contractor in Riverside, Calif.,jumped on the e-wagon and set off to establish a Web site onthe Internet frontier. He sketched a layout, hired the bestWeb design firm he could find and — voila — in June 1999ConcreteNetwork.com sprang to life.

For its debut, Peterson wrote eight jargon-free, easy-to-readarticles on different concrete topics. “I aimed — and still aim— at writing in layman’s terms, giving good information in anontechnical manner,” says Peterson, adding that today thesite covers 46 concrete topics and is continually expanding.Initially, he adds, his target audience was landscapers,architects, builders, remodelers and others associated with thebuilding community who were not directly involved withconcrete but wanted to know the basics.

Surveying the siteFeedback has been positive from day one. There has been asteady demand for subscriptions for the Concrete Source, afree e-mail newsletter for building industry professionals.“We were right about our approach,” says Peterson. “Evenprofessionals like topics discussed in a nontechnicalmanner.”

But it was a big surprise, says the Web site founder andcompany president, to learn that a huge amount of the trafficthat visited the site were concrete contractors exploringother uses of concrete with which they weren’t familiar.

Peterson, who is also a partner with a company thatprepares foundations for roughly 3,200 tract homes a year,says there are many contractors out there who work in fiveor six areas and are constantly researching other businesslines. Concrete contractors are a breed, he says, that “like tostay informed.”

During the site’s first month, it had just over 1,000 hits. InMay 2000, the site had 30,000 visitors. By May 2001, the

“I love this site. It isDEFINITELY the most

informative and interestingsite that I’ve come across!Good links, lots of pictures,

associations,books,magazines. And it’s set up

nice.Easy to navigate. I like theway the pictures open anotherwindow,that way I don’t losewhere I’m at on the home

page.“Good job, Jim,and whoevermay have helped you with it. Inow have a link to your site on

my ‘navigation bar’ — one click = good info!”

Kirk Taylor

Concrete.The remarkable new old material.

Visit our award-winning website atwww.ConcreteNetwork.comor call toll free 866-380-7754

Kitchen Countertops

Concrete Tub Surrounds

Custom Flooring

Concrete Interiors

DEX Studios

Richard Smith Custom Concrete

Find these innovative concrete products, and thousands more, in

one remarkable place. In fact, over 100,000 visit our compre-

hensive website monthly looking for information, products, and

service providers. We can give you the ideas, the information, the

inspiration, and even help you find the perfect contractor to

make your dream a reality. Discover the possibilities.

Discover the possibilitiesAmerica has rediscovered concrete. Concrete has always been

energy-efficient, durable, cost-effective, abundant, and enviro-

friendly. But it is now drawing serious attention from leading-

edge designers, architects, builders, artisans, contractors, and

in-the-know consumers. Kitchen countertops, bathroom fix-

tures, and custom floors are hot, and the future of concrete is

bright!

Special offer for Contractors: Free Web Page ($500.00 value!)Join our network of concrete artisans and contractors.

ConcreteNetwork.com will build, host, and maintain your ownpage on the worldwide web. It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s FREE!Showcase your work to the world. Call today for details.


http://www.ConcreteNetwork.com


address, a photo gallery and a link toits Web site. “We provide everythingto help people connect with thecontractors themselves,” says Peterson.“We are not — and we do not want tobe — the middleman. We want tofacilitate direct contact.”

Peterson says he is in the business,however, of building, hosting andmaintaining sites for concretecontractors, providing the foundation necessary to link toConcreteNetwork.com. “We think it’s aunique selling proposition,” he says.“There are lots of people who can buildyou a Web page but how many can helpyou be found in such a direct way?”

From start to finishManeuvering through the site easily iscrucial to this dot-com’s success. “Wereally aim to serve our site visitors byhelping them get to what they need asfast as possible,” Peterson says. Nopasswords are needed and you won’tsee an irritating pop-up ad or a bannersplashed across the page, he adds,


numbers had climbed to 100,000. Andthey’re still mounting today.

Solid footingsFrom engraving methods and concretecountertops to tilt-up concrete andwaterproofing, the site contains nearly650 accurate and jargon-free articlesand resources written by experts andprofessional writers. Besides the widevariety of concrete topics addressed,there are features and opinions sectionsthat cover a gamut of business andbuilding industry matters, as well as aconcrete equipment marketplacewhere you can buy and sell new or usedequipment. And the information isconstantly changing: The user-friendlysite is updated weekly every Friday.

During the year 2000, several newsections were added to the site to givecontractors the resources they need tohelp run field or headquartersoperations. Peterson also added anindustry calendar that highlightsconcrete industry shows, training,seminars and general building events.

This past January, he introduced adirectory — organized by geographicalarea and specialty. “Basically, as thetraffic grew we started to understandthat if we provided the information on atopic but not the means to get the jobdone, we were only doing half of the jobfor the visitor,” says Peterson. “So weadded our directory,” which lists severalhundred concrete contractors, expertsand other industry suppliers in morethan 50 categories in 164 metro areas.

For a small monthly fee, thedirectory lists a company’s description,phone and fax numbers, e-mail

“ConcreteNetwork.com is our top

source of referredtraffic.”

Bruce McIntoshPPoo rrttllaanndd CCeemmeenntt

AAssssoocciiaattiioonn



C O N C R E T E C O L O R S

WOC Booth #10415

Since 1952, contractors have relied on Davis for the best concrete colors.

Make sure your Ready Mix supplier offers genuine Davis Colors TM • Contemporary & Classic Colors • Over 500 Distributors Nationwide • For Application and

Technical Information Visit Our Website at daviscolors.com

Ready Mix Operators:See our new ChameleonTM pc-operated, automatic color

dosing system at www.daviscolors.com/chameleon/

©2001 Davis Colors 01/2001

T e l : 8 0 0 - 3 5 6 - 4 8 4 8 F a x : 3 2 3 - 2 6 9 - 1 0 5 3 w w w . d a v i s c o l o r s . c o m

because ConcreteNetwork.com’smission is “to deliver relevant and easy-to-understand information… from aWeb site that is fast and easy tonavigate.”

Peterson says his company haslearned that folks — whether they’recontractors or consumers — still wantto transact business as they alwayshave: “person to person. The Internetis simply a tool to make anintroduction to start the process,” hestresses. His site is designed so peoplecan quickly locate the informationthey need, easily digest the facts andpick up the phone and call someone intheir area who can do the job.

For instance, there are about 20short articles on acid-etched stainingthat explain how stains work, detailthe surface preparation necessary,discuss colors and so on. “It basically

walks a person through the wholeprocess of acid-etched staining,”Peterson says. In a way, “It’s just likeshopping for a car. You research on theInternet, print out some specifics andwalk into the dealer’s showroomknowing what you want.”

Peterson says he getsoverwhelmingly positive feedback fromhis clients. “They tell me that Internet

buyer are ‘a different bird.’ They aremuch more educated prospects whohelp the contractor skip a lot of prelim-inaries. They’ve already researched thecolors and patterns they want. Whenthey call the contractor, they knowwhat’s going on.”

And it pays off. “In seven out of 10phone calls, it’s the real deal,” saysPeterson. As a matter of fact, he adds,one contractor in El Cajon, Calif., whowas “listed in eight areas on our site,asked to go down to six because he wasgetting too many calls.”

“Just a quick note tocommend you on

this site. It is one ofthe most well

thought out,usable,informative

collections ofinformation I’ve

ever seen,withoutall the useless flash.”

JimCCiissccoo SSyysstteemmss IInncc..

http://www.daviscolors.com/chameleon


Classifieds

Products for Coating Concrete

Training available in:• Art Deco

• Interior overlays & 1/4" stamp overlays• Knock-down finishes

Call 800-995-1716or visit us online at www.super-krete.com

Giving away Profit!

What’s NEW with• Imprinted Concrete• Concrete Stains• Self Leveling Overlayments•Texturetop™• Concrete Sealers• Specialty Tools Equipment• Application and Product Training

For more information call

1-800-938-41481-541-938-4005 (fax)

www.dcsystemssupport.com

Are you currently lookingto fill a position

in your organization?••••••••••••••••••

Well, why not place that jobopportunity in Concrete Decor?

••••••••••••••••••Turn to the people thatknow products best...

TheCONTRACTORS!

To place an ad call toll-free

877-935-8906or 541-341-3390

FAX 541-341-6443

• Classified Phone Hours8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (Pacific Time)

Monday–FridayClosed Saturdays/Sundays/Holidays

• Classified DeadlinesPlacement, corrections and cancellations

must be made three weeks prior topublication print date. (Please call for

deadline information).

• Advertising Rates“Introductory Special”

$99.00 per column inch. This allows youup to 35 words per inch. Payment must

accompany ad material.

• Ad Sizes21⁄4" x 1" equals one column inch. All ads

must be in whole inches.

• TypesettingAds are set in 8-point Helvetica type with

9-point leading. We will set your typeexactly as you send it to us. Although weretain the right to edit your type, do notrely on us to do so! It is the advertiser’s

responsibility to ensure that all informationis correct.

We provide advice on:Product Selection, Trouble Shooting, Training,Maintenance, Installation, and much more.We have experience in:Stamped Concrete, Acid Stains, Form Liners,Overlays, Integral Color, and many more...

Call us at(813) 909-2242

www.AC-Consultants.com

It’s time to learn how to apply oneof the best and easiest concrete

polymer overlay systems!Our training facility in Colorado Springsconducts national training for ELITE CRETEtwice a month. Our instructors are highly-trained contractors with years of experience.

Learn how to apply:• Thin Stamped Overlays• Hand Carved Stone Overlays• Antiquing — stamped, handtroweled, and

more...• Acid Staining techniques for plain concrete

and overlay systems.• Spray Systems like splatter texture,

knockdowns, and custom logos.• Marketing and Start-up Tips

You will graduate with a portfolio of useful ideasand samples to promote your new skills.

Visit our web site for maps and class dates:www.elitecretesolutions.com

Or contact us by e-mail or telephone:[email protected]

(866) 863-5167

AlternativeFFIINNIISSHHEESS

• Staining concrete since 1993• References available• Acid stain floors, walls, counter tops, etc.• Decorative scoring (sawcuts)• Custom colors, color grouting• Clear coat sealers• Waxing, highspeed buffing

On the job training at your site

Wes Vollmer Concrete(210) 655-5940 Design

Specialist

www.alternativefinishes.com

Decorative ConcreteConsulting and Training

Decorative ConcreteConsulting and Training


ConcreteMarketplaceis a paid listing of quality-related products.If you would like more information about anyof these products, circle the appropriatenumber on the reader service card foundbetween pages 16 and 17 of this issue.

Advanced Polymer TechnologyArchitectural Toppings and Resinous Flooring

1-(866)-4FLORIC435-6742


Polymer Modified Cementitious CoatingsStainsResinous FlooringWaterproofing Membranes



Triple-S Chemical Products, Inc.3464 Union Pacific Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90023

Concrete stain is a chemical reaction with concrete minerals. To decorate patios, floors, living rooms, entranceways, sidewalks,

exteriors/interiors.

Call: 1 (800) 862-5958 • Web: www.concrete-stains.comCIRCLE #87 ON READER SERVICE CARD

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http://www.miracote.com

Product New

s

The Profiler™ Offers Exciting New Usesfor StencilsSurface Gel Tek, LLC has joined Artcrete, Inc. indeveloping a revolutionary new way of stencilingtextured patterns onto concrete.

Until now, stenciling concrete was left to the profes-sionals. The specialized equipment and necessary skillrequired to stencil textured patterns onto concrete hasalways been a limiting factor as far as who can andcannot participate in this very lucrative market.

You can now get the same result as the professionalswithin minutes, eliminating the need for costlyequipment, sand clean up and disposal. Patterns,borders and custom logos are easily achieved withprecision on both vertical and horizontal surfaces.

The combination of Faux Brick® Stenciled Patternsand The Profiler™ gelled acid, make sandblastingstenciled patterns in concrete obsolete.

For more information, call Artcrete, Inc at (318)379-2000 or Surface Gel Tek, LLC at (480) 970-4580.(See ad in this issue.)

Transform Concrete with Real MetalCoatingPlateAll, an innovative decorative metal coating,provides artisans access to a realm of the extraordinary.Mark Foreman of Bomanite of Northern California, anarchitectural craftsman and consultant, will attest tothat. Mark applied PlateAll’s brass onto this ten-footexterior logo in Northern California, creating a stunningeffect. (www.bomanite-norcal.com, 877-653-9111)

PlateAll Metal Coating is a combination of aspecialized polyester resin mixed with a composite metalpowder and a catalyst. When the mixture is put into aconventional spray gun, it may be cold sprayed onto mostany substrate, including concrete, creating a seamlessmetal surface of aluminum, brass, bronze, chrome, copper,iron, nickel-silver, or stainless steel. PlateAll may also bepainted, rolled, or poured on as well.

The process of using PlateAll can be accomplishedwith ease and creates a permanent bond with thesubstrate when properly prepared for adhesion. UsePlateAll on stucco-coated EPS systems such asarchways, crown moldings, cornices, columns, mantels,

and other architectural elements.Create a magnificent bronze orbrass design on a floor, a wall, or aconcrete countertop that is “real”metal. Imagine PlateAll outdoorson a fountain, a concrete gardensculpture, or ordinary concretegarden tiles, perhaps with acopper or nickel-silver finish witha patina effect.

For more information about PlateAll Metal Coating,call Cheryl in Sales and Marketing (925-945-6723; 888-756-2556), or call PlateAll (301-977-7701; 877-862-7501), and check out our website at www.plateall.com.(See ad in this issue.)

A Not-so-New Kid On The BlockConcrete Coatings Incorporated (CCI) has become oneof the most innovative decorative concrete coatingsproduct manufacturers in the marketplace today. Withmore than 10 years in the polymer industry, foundersAlan Christensen and Troy Harris have developed acomplete line of manufactured products for contractorsseeking to provide innovation and lasting décor for anyconcrete surface, residential, commercial, or industrial.They created their product line based on many years ofactual installation experience themselves.

CCI’s main product line is a complete acrylic system forspray and trowel applications. It is available in 28 standardcolors, with custom colors and color matching servicesavailable. A stampable version is soon to be released. Inaddition to their acrylic products, they also manufacture acomplete line of Acid Stains in 11 colors, and an entireportfolio of epoxy products form general purpose epoxies toconductive and ESD (Electrostatic Dissipating) materials.

Since all of the products are designed to worktogether, the resulting effects are truly one-of-a-kind,and literally transform any concrete substrate into atruly decorative yet durable surface.

CCI has even developed a method of installing epoxycolor quartz and stone logos with very fine detail,providing the ability the install a custom logo in themiddle of an epoxy quartz or stonefloor. “We are a decorativecoatings company” states AlanChristensen, President, “and sinceepoxies historically were notcharacterized as decorative, we feltthat there was a lot of potential indeveloping ways of making them that way. So we appliedwhat we already knew, and it was a perfect fit.

CCI training seminars are offered monthly on a firstcome-first served basis, and kept small (less than 20people) for personal one-on-one instruction. CCI is a firmbeliever in sales through instilling confidence. “A properlytrained customer is a customer for life” says Christensen.

From their impressive product selection to their no-nonsense approach to business and customer service,CCI appears to be unique in every way. For moreinformation on becoming a CCI dealer, you can contactthem during regular business hours at 800-443-2871, orvisit their website at www.concretecoatingsinc.com.(See ad in this issue.)


http://www.bomanite-norcal.com

http://www.plateall.com

http://www.concretecoatingsinc.com


Exciting New Training Videos from SkookumFloors USAIn a business of few second chances, the better educated andprepared you are the less likelihood you will be, of makingmistakes. When dealing with Architectural ConcreteFlooring installations you only have one chance to get itright. Mistakes are sometimes irreparable and extremelycostly. The Skookum Video Guide was designed with thecontractor in mind. Whether learning the trade yourself ortraining new employees and staff, these videos will give you asolid foundation of techniques, tips, and application methodsdesigned to help your jobs progress smoothly. The videos arebroken down into three main categories:● Acid Staining/Dying/Topical Coloration● Toppings/Overlays/Resurfacing● Sealants/Coatings/Finishes/Maintenance

The information included in these videos is based on somestandard products and systems available on the market today.These videos cannot replace the hands on practice required totruly become an expert, but are an excellent way to visualizecomponents and systems being applied in a realistic setting.

We will take you step by step through the Preparation,Application, Decoration, and Specialty Finishes required fora successful installation. The ultimate goal of these videos isto ensure that architectural concrete flooring remains a floorcovering of choice. For designers, architects, developers and

owners the standards in this industry must remain high andquality installations more common than not. These videoswill help to answer your questions and begin to allow you tounderstand the systems and processes involved. Where youtake it from there relies on your own capabilities and yourimagination. (See ad in this issue.)

Learn Polished Concrete with theConcreteMedicVIC International Corporation has been in business for over 24years teaching companies how to polish and maintain hardsurfaces. Its original focus was on the polishing of marble andgranite. In recent years, it has expanded its markets to includeceramics and concrete. The first commercial polished concretejob of 44,000 sq. ft. was done nearly seven years ago in LasVegas using the VIC system, which at the time was a totally wetprocess. More recently, with an introduction at the World ofConcrete five years ago, VIC began a dry polishing of concretesystem. We are unique in our ability to provide the customerwith different ways of polishing concrete depending on thedesired results and investment that the customer wants tomake. We do not sell franchises, but instead encourage thepotential customer to use these funds in the initial investmentof equipment and abrasives. Our line of products for theremoval of coatings and the polishing of concrete is broad toinclude a choice of seven different floor machines and a widevariety of diamond tooling and chemicals, with the latter two



products being sold under ourConcreteMedic trademark.

Seminars are held on a regular basisat our Knoxville facility. Our productsare technically supported by a team ofnine dedicated and experiencedtechnical sales experts. For moreinformation call (800) 423-1634 or fax(800) 242-1141 or [email protected]. (See ad in this issue.)

World of Concrete booth #6701.

achieving outstanding quality,durability, and performance of thestained floor installation.

For a complete guide to installation,color charts, and product samples, pleasecontact Empyrean Labs, Inc. toll free at(800) 457-9098 or by fax at (972) 485-8430. (See ad in this issue.)

STONE-SHADE™ HighlightingColor DispersionsSTONE-SHADE™ is a speciallyformulated blend of solvents, acrylics andproprietary ingredients designed foradding authenticcolor detail tostamped andtextured concretesurfaces. STONE-SHADE™ is appliedto several individualslates, bricks orstones in a stampedconcrete project to set them apart fromthe normally colored areas creating thenatural effects of real masonry surfaces.STONE-SHADE™ can also be used to


EMPYREAN LABS, INC.Designed

for Performance

Manufacturers ofAcid Stains and Sealers

Toll Free: 800.457.9098 Fax: 972.485.8430

EMPYREAN LABS, INC.Designed

for Performance

Manufacturers ofAcid Stains and Sealers

Toll Free: 800.457.9098 Fax: 972.485.8430

Private Label Concrete AcidStains Now Available For TheProfessional Installer —Direct From theManufacturerEmpyrean Labs, Inc., a manufacturer ofacid stains and sealers for architecturaland decorative concrete, hasannounced it has made its productsavailable to the professional installer,effective October 1, 2001. Empyreanhas been a private label manufacturer ofacid stains and sealers, with principaldomestic and off shore markets.Empyrean Concrete Stains are nowavailable in eight “Designer Series”colors, with additional colors availableon special request.

Empyrean Concrete Stains aremanufactured primarily for commercialand institutional projects, includingrestaurants and retail installations. Acomplete line of sealers, includingsolvent and water based productsmanufactured especially for thedecorative concrete market, offer theprofessional installer several options in



Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page # . . . . . . . . Reader Service #

Architectural Concrete Consultants . . . . . . . . Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . —Alternative Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . —Ardex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01Arizona Polymer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03A.W. Cook Cement/CemTec . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05Benron Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07Blastrac/Sawtec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09Butterfield Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Chem Coat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Concrafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Concrete Coatings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17ConcreteNetwork.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Concrete Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Crossfield Products/Miracote Div. . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Davis Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Decorative Concrete Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Elite Crete Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . —Elite Crete Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Empyrean labs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Exaktime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Floric Polytech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Golden Look International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Kelly Moore Paints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Kemiko Concrete Stains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Larson Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Okon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Plateall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Polystone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Quick Imprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Rafco-Brickform Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Rare Earth Labs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Renew-Crete Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Rock Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Sawtec/Blastrac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Scofield, L. M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Seal Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Shave Away Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Silver Back Sealants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Simple Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Skookum Floor Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Slip Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Solomon Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77Southern Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Specialty Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Surface Gel Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Super-Krete Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . —SureCrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover . . . . . . . . . 85Triple S Chemical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Versatile Deck Coatings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89VIC International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91White Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Classified ads are on page 44.PM — Product Marketplace is on page 45.

Advertiser Index

refurbish old stamped concrete surfacesmaking them look like new again

STONE-SHADE™ is available in 17colors that will easily distinguish yourwork from the competition. For moreinformation call (800) 533-4702 or e-mail us at [email protected]. (See ad in this issue.)

Tough Shell-593Tough Shell-593 is an excellentalternative to solvent-based sealers dueto its low odor, and VOC compliance.Tough Shell-593 is easy to apply andprovides a tough and durable wearsurface. Tough Shell-593 is a premiumand durable sealer that was developedspecially for stamped, chemically stained,decorative and architectural concrete.Tough Shell-593 can be used on interiorand exterior applications.

Some of the benefits of Tough Shell-593 are:● Non yellowing● No chalking/blushing● VOC compliant● Easy clean up● Prevents efflorescence● Prevents dusting/spalling● Non whitening● User friendly

Due to its unique properties, ToughShell-593 exhibits great resistance to oil,gas and most household chemicals. Theproduct excels on concrete floors, brick,and acid stained surfaces. Tough Shell-593 is widely used in restaurants, nursinghomes commercial offices and warehousebuildings, auto dealerships, parkinggarages, and many other installationsthat require a tough and durable sealerwith minimum maintenance.

The Tough Shell-593 is packaged in 1,5, or 55 galloncontainers and isavailable forimmediate shipment.For more informationplease call Chem-Coat Industries, Inc.(800) 511-2769. (Seead in this issue.)


http://www.scpusa.com

CIRCLE #63 ON READER SERVICE CARD World of Concrete booth #8338

concrete seal it right!...32 world of concrete 2002 booth listings for participants. 40...

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