Glosssary of Decorative Concrete Terms

Provided by The Concrete Network

www.concretenetwork.com

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D

darby - A longer version of a hand float, ranging in length from 2 to 4 feet. Useful for leveling problem areas.

decorative aggregate - Richly colored natural stones, such as basalts, granite, quartz, or limestone, used to enhance exposed-aggregate concrete or decorative toppings.

decorative concrete - Concrete that has been enhanced by color, pattern, texture, or a combination of ornamental treatments.

degreaser- A chemical solution for removing grease, oils, and other contaminants from concrete surfaces.

delamination - A separation of a coating or topping from a substrate or the layers of a coating from each other due to poor adhesion. Or in the case of a concrete slab, a horizontal splitting or separation of the upper surface.

densifier - A penetrating liquid chemical hardener applied to concrete to help solidify and densify the surface and provide extra protection from water penetration and staining. Often recommended for polished concrete, because hard concrete produces a better polish.

diamond grinding - A multistep grinding procedure for producing polished concretesurfaces. Contractors use a floor polisherequipped with diamond-segmented abrasives, progressing from coarser to finer grits until the desired level of sheen is achieved. (Also see dry polishing, wet polishing.)

dry polishing - The method most commonly used for polished concrete. The floor polisher is hooked up to a dust-containment system that vacuums up the dust fromdiamond grinding of the surface. (Also seewet polishing.)

dry-shake color hardener - A mixture of coloring pigments, cement, aggregates, and surface conditioning agents. Applied as a dry shake to stamped concrete or stamped overlays to produce a colorful, wear-resistant surface.

drying shrinkage - A decrease in the volume of concrete as it dries, due to loss of moisture. See also plastic shrinkage cracks

dyes - Translucent color solutions containing very fine pigments that penetrate into the concrete surface. Will not chemically react with concrete (like acid stains will). Both water-and solvent-based dyes are available, with colors ranging from soft pastels to bolder hues such as red, blue, and orange.

E

edger - A tool used on the edges of fresh concrete to provide a clean, finished edge.

engraving- The use of special tools and equipment to cut or route out patterns and designs in hardened concrete. Usually the concrete is stained first to give it color, so the routed areas look like grout lines.

efflorescence- A crystalline deposit of salts (usually white in color) that forms on the concrete surface when soluble calcium hydroxides leach from the concrete and combine with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. On colored concrete, especially darker tones, these white deposits can be particularly unsightly.

epoxy injection - A method for sealing or repairing cracks in concrete by low-pressure injection of an epoxy adhesive.

epoxy resins - Organic chemical bonding systems used in the preparation of protective and decorative coatings for concrete, adhesives for injection of cracked concrete, or as binders in epoxy mortars.

epoxy terrazzo - A poured-in-place topping for concrete substrates that goes on at a thickness of 1/4 to 3/8 inch. The epoxy resin matrix can be pigmented to achieve an unlimited spectrum of colors and is often seeded while still wet with decorative aggregates or color chips.

etching gel - A gentle etching medium often used with adhesive stencils to lightly etch designs in concrete surfaces. The material is thick enough to be applied by brush, permitting controlled application.

evaporation retarder - A waterborne, spray-applied film that temporarily reduces moisture loss when applied to the surface of freshly placed concrete.

expanded metal lathe - A sturdy but flexible diamond mesh often used as a framework or support system for concrete sculptures, faux rock, and vertical stamped concrete.

exposed aggregate - A decorative surface formed by removing the surface mortar from a concrete slab (either by scrubbing, pressure washing, or abrasive blasting) to expose the underlying aggregates. (Also see surface retarder.)

F

faux rock - An artificial rock formation sculpted or molded from concrete and then textured and colored to replicate the look and feel of natural rock. Popular applications include waterscapes, zoo exhibits, landscaping, and theme parks. (Also see glass-fiber reinforced concrete.)

feather edge - To smoothly, seamlessly blend the edge of a topping or repair material into the existing concrete.

fibers - Tiny filaments made of polypropylene, polyolefin, nylon, polyethylene, polyester, or acrylic used alone or in conjunction with rebar or welded wire mesh to reinforce concrete.

finishing - Leveling, smoothing, compacting, and otherwise treating the surface of newly placed concrete or concrete overlays to produce the desired appearance and service properties.

film-forming sealer - A type of sealer that blocks the penetration of water and contaminants by forming a barrier on the concrete surface. May also impart a gloss or sheen, which enhances colored or exposed aggregate concrete. See also membrane.

film thickness - The depth of the film when wet (wet film thickness) and the final depth when dry (dry film thickness).

flashing (or flash broadcasting) -A technique for applying accent colors of dry-shake hardenerto concrete surfaces before stamping. Results in subtle, natural-looking color variations.

flexural strength - The ability of hardened concrete or an overlay to resist failure in bending.

float finish - Surface texture (usually rough) obtained by finishing with a bull float or hand float.

floor polisher - A walk-behind machine used in the production ofpolished concrete. Most machines are equipped with a planetary drive systema large primary polishing head (from 17 to 36 inches in diameter) fitted with three or four smaller satellite heads that hold the diamond abrasives. When the machine is operating, the satellite heads rotate in the opposite direction of the primary head to eliminate linear grinding marks in the floor. (Also see diamond grinding, dry polishing, wet polishing).

fly ash - A byproduct resulting from the combustion of ground or powdered coal; sometimes used as a cement replacement in concrete.

form liner - Material used to line the interior face of formwork in order to impart a smooth or patterned architectural finish.

fresno - A largetrowel(about 2 to 4 feet in length) used for finalfinishing after bull floating. Long handles (like those used for bull floats) either clip on or screw into the blade.

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