At the World of Concrete,
huge crowds watched as creative concrete contractors
demonstrated the leading edge of the decorative concrete
market
by
Joe Nasvik
At
a time when other segments of the concrete industry are struggling
to keep busy, the decorative concrete industry is growing
and evolving. One reason is that decorative concrete can be
used in many areas of concrete construction. New commercial
projects (although currently a struggling market) continue
to specify decorative treatments, existing properties are
willing to spend money for rehab work to stay interesting
and in good repair, and homeowners, despite their current
frugality, are still willing to upgrade their homes and living
spaces with decorative concrete.
The Taylors transferred
an image, along with graphics, onto plastic and then
ingeniously transferred It to the slab. Through careful
handwork the design was cut into the concrete surface
and colored.
Plouffe and Roman completed
a stencil sandblast patterned slab. They used stainschemical
and solvent-and color hardener broadcast on the freshly
placed concrete to provide the coloring.
But another reason for the excitement
about decorative concrete is the seemingly infinite
possibilities. To showcase the most interesting work
being done today, CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION magazine and
the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)
through its Decorative Concrete Council (DCC) sponsored,
for the first time ever, a demonstration on artistry
and creativity using decorative concrete as the medium.
Thousands of World of Concrete 2003 visitors came to
the demonstrations over 3 days and saw decorative concrete
work that should allow them to be more creative with
their own offerings.
Gary
Jones is applying a coat of overlay
cement.
Before the show started,
our volunteer team cast a 10x10-foot slab for each presenter.
Those artists who would use diamond saws and polishing
equipment needed very hard concrete to achieve the best
results. Mike Clokey, manager of quality control for Nevada
