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Divine Intervention in Concrete Overlay Design

A multicolored, polished overlay with a heptagonal centerpiece unifies the seven sides of this unusual church floor layout

Project submitted by Gregory Hryniewicz, Hyde Concrete, Annapolis, Md.
By Anne Balogh, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist

Project Photos:
Hyde Concrete Annapolis, MD


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The seven-sided floor layout directs the eye to the front altar of the church.

Hyde Concrete Annapolis, MD


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The seven aisles, which join at the center, are a white overlay loosely seeded with a darker stone. For the remaining area, an uncolored gray overlay was used. Aluminum divider strips separate the various sections.

Hyde Concrete Annapolis, MD


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The integrally colored dark-gray centerpiece was surface seeded with white marble and Mother of Pearl.

Hyde Concrete Annapolis, MD


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Another view of the floor, showing the entryway to the church.

Project Challenge
To install a decorative, multicolored, polished overlay for Wallace Presbyterian Church in College Park, Md. The 4,000-square-foot project was complicated by a seven-sided floor plan and the need to create a unifying centerpiece.

Design Goals
The main area of the church originally called for polished concrete. But because of flaws in the existing subfloor, Hyde Concrete proposed the use of a self-leveling overlay, polished in a similar fashion to concrete. In coordination with the architect, Hyde developed the unique pattern and color scheme.

Secrets to Success

  • To permit polishing, Hyde used a custom-blended calcium-aluminate overlay placed at a ¼-inch thickness, versus a thinner microtopping.
  • To separate the different colors, ¼-inch aluminum divider strips were glued to the floor before the overlay was placed.
  • To enhance the floor, the entire surface was seeded with decorative aggregate, with white marble and Mother of Pearl used for the centerpiece and darker stone used for the white aisles.
  • Polishing equipment equipped with special resin abrasives designed for fine grinding of self-leveling overlays was used to grind and hone the surface to a high sheen. Workers then applied a penetrating sealer and concrete conditioner to the surface and passed over the area with a high-speed burnisher for a final finish.

Products Used

Special Awards
Second-place winner of a 2010 Decorative Concrete Award from the Decorative Concrete Council
Category: Polished overlay, over 1,500 square feet

Decorative Concrete Contractor
Gregory Hryniewicz
Hyde Concrete
Annapolis, MD 21402
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