Products, Vendors, CAD Files, Spec Sheets and More...
Sign up for LAWeekly newsletter
It?EUR??,,????'???s everywhere! It offers its surface to the Contractor like canvas to an oil painter, allowing the blending of art and nature. It is only limited by ones imagination. I?EUR??,,????'???m speaking of ?EUR??,,????'??Decorative Concrete?EUR??,,????'?? of course.
Decorative concrete got its start with rock salt of all things. Just before the cement kicked and became concrete, the contractor would broadcast rock salt across the surface. When the concrete was cured, the salt was washed off leaving small holes. The rest is history?EUR??,,????'???..from stamping to Flattooing?EUR??,,????<??? it has become the flooring of choice. And why not, it?EUR??,,????'???s already there, it?EUR??,,????'???s durable and very long lasting and it doesn?EUR??,,????'???t require shampooing. When you mix reactive stains and colorants with graphics there is literally no limit to what can be created.
Most people think of floors when discussing decorative concrete. Even though it has been available for many years, as an alternative to carpet, wood, laminates, etc., as you can see in these pictures, it can also be gorgeous and functional as counter tops, tables and even wall art.
Decorative concrete goes anywhere. Even if your existing pad has been damaged by stains, glues and mastics, grease and oil, etc., overlayments can give you a brand new canvas. These products are designed to be very durable because they have liquid or powder polymers in them allowing them to go down thin and be long lasting.
To enjoy a successful project, it is best to have a clean surface to apply them to. This means any loose concrete, grease/oil, glues and mastics must be removed. Tek Gel?EUR??,,????<??? for Profiling is a great product for surface preparation. My research tells me 80% of all overlayment and coating failures are directly related to inadequate surface prep. It?EUR??,,????'???s the same as anything else; do your ground work first and your project will be a success.
Various methods of Decorative Concrete include Stamped, Sandblasting and etching.
A brief (and I do mean brief) description of these are:
This method requires freshly poured concrete or an overlayment. The contractor imprints or stamps images into the concrete just before it kicks. Various colors can be added to the cement before floating or troweling and/or can be broadcasted on the top before stamping. Broadcasting produces a cloud of powder and is messy. There are many images that can be imprinted but usually they are variations of brick patterns and they are made of a thick cardboard. Lettering is usually not stamped. This method requires training and an overhead inventory of stamping mats and other tools. Stamping and etching can be combined.
This method usually requires the concrete to be colored and sealed first, then various grades of sand is blasted into the surface creating images. Sandblast templates, a thick adhesive vinyl, are necessary in order to take the blast of the sand. They offer a wide variety of images including lettering. This method requires extensive training. The templates are ordered per project so no inventory is needed; however, the sandblast equipment is expensive and bulky and is usually towed in. This method creates silica dust, even when a vacuum is used and is very noisy.
Etching can only take place on unsealed surfaces. This is a benefit that allows the contractor to make any adjustments on the colors before sealing. The gelled acids react with the lime, calcium and salt in the concrete. Etching is limitless and works on horizontal and vertical surfaces equally well. The thin vinyl templates offer literally unlimited creativity. This includes all corporate logos and trademarks, any lettering and decorative borders, centers, etc. Because the template is a thin vinyl, the cost is reduced. This method is easy to learn and requires no expensive equipment, does not generate any silica dust or noise pollution. A few examples of Flattoos?EUR??,,????<??? are seen in the following pictures.
Decorative concrete offers the flexibility of incorporating the organic nature of landscape designs with unlimited graphics and lettering and when etching, is not limited to existing fonts. All graphics can be project driven. What this means is sometimes a contractor is in the position to give his/her input after the project has already started. Surface Gel Tek often takes the role of the contractor?EUR??,,????'???s ?EUR??,,????'??Art Department?EUR??,,????'?? allowing the contractor, the architect and the customer to work together to add graphics at the last moment.
Graphics often reflect the geographic location, for example, you will find a lot of Southwestern designs in Arizona but perhaps more water themes on the coasts. Graphic expressions can use the artistic points, line, shape, texture, etc. to compliment existing designs and enrich the architectural motif. They can be incorporated to include mixed medias such as wood and metal.
Golf courses are a perfect example of an opportunity to incorporate stained concrete and graphics, where they could be pleasing to the eye and informative at the same time. Private homes can utilize the same technology by adding subtle borders or the family crest or identifying plants around the home or in the garden.
Often products are specified because the Architect has had success with them in the past. I have found that General Contractors and Architects are usually open to discussing why certain products are being used and will listen to advise from the contractor that is applying them.
The opportunities are limitless and can turn a beautiful project into a ?EUR??,,????'??one of a kind?EUR??,,????'?? project. Decorative concrete takes minimal planning but it does take planning, therefore, it is helpful that the contractor is part of the product and graphic planning to assure a successful outcome.
60 to 80: Degrees, the ideal temperature for concrete in most applications for proper hardening to occur during the crucial first days.
1 1/2: Hours, the maximum amount of time recommended between batching and placing concrete.
5: Minutes, the minimum charging speed recommended when adding Mix-Ready bags of coloring to concrete.
Source: Davis Colors
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
Sign up to receive Landscape Architect and Specifier News Magazine, LA Weekly and More...
Invalid Verification Code
Please enter the Verification Code below
You are now subcribed to LASN. You can also search and download CAD files and spec sheets from LADetails.