Building Products

Etching concrete with a gel acid is the most effective solution. And it works!

If you have concrete sidewalks that have worn down  and become slippery, this the remedy to prevent slip and fall accidents. The causes of slippery sidewalks are due to two main reasons:

1. Foot Traffic will wear down concrete over time.
2. Algae buildup from wet sidewalks that never dry.

For years the solution has been liquid acid which will create a profile on cementitious surfaces. The problem is handling the hazardous material and the lack of control. The results are ineffective. Sand blasting is another solution that works but with obstacles . Price is the first. A few years ago Sandblasting was as high as $1.50 per square foot. It is down to about 80 cents psf but still way above the price of using a gelled acid which is under 20 cents psf.

Additionally sand blasting requires expensive machinery and 3 people to operate. Plus cleanup is a mess.

Concrete etching with a gel acid is simple, effective and LEED qualified. And it’s also used in a system called Flattoos, which has created a cottage industry with graphic design on concrete floors. Vist www.etchingconcrete.com for more information.

Flattoos

Master stone wall builder, Mike Minto of Conanicut Stoneworks of Rhode Island, recently launched his new company website.

Conanicut Stoneworks is based in Wakefield, near the coast between Newport and Westerly. Their specialty is natural stone wall design and construction the way it has been done by the old school master builders in New England.

Over the years the company led by Mike Minto has expanded into numerous types of projects using the same techniques used in stone wall design and construction. They have an extensive portfolio of projects including patios, walkways and pool decks utilizing local granite and stone.

Other projects include outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fire pits, wine cellars and driveways.  They adhere to design that blends in with the local environment. According to Mike, “if the project stands out we haven’t done our job, we want our projects to look like they have been part of the landscape for years.”

Conanicut Stoneworks also builds custom wine cellars, stone benches and beautiful stone lamps.  For more information click Rhode Island Stone Wall

Enforce Coverage Group Partners Patrick Ryder and Patrick Scanlon

Enforce Coverage Group run by NYS Workers Comp Insurance specialists Patrick Ryder and Patrick Scanlon recently launched a a website with a breakdown of the most competitive rates in the industry.

Most businesses are not aware of the complexities of their policies until they actually have a workplace accident. Then the policy owner finds out what is really in their policy. It turns out that just because you have a policy does not mean that coverage is comprehensive.

Workers Compensation Insurance is categorized by Classification Code. In New York there are over 300 of them. Many trades have numerous classifications and pricing based on risk. There are insurance carriers with different risk appetites for each trade. It is common to be overpaying and underinsured. This is one area of insurance that requires specialization. Just because someone sells insurance does not mean they are experts in your field.

Enforce Coverage Group has a list of over 300 NYS Workers Comp Rates and price comparisons.

Model – Bosch Power Box PB 360S

Power – 26 Watts, 12 Volt, Lithium Battery

Features -  360 Degree Sound,  4 speaker & Subwoofer, Inputs for MP3 Palyer and CD

It just doesn’t pay to cut corners. If you are looking for a heavy duty jobsite radio that lasts and performs, the Bosch Power Box 360 is the best choice among a sea of portables. According to the reviews, the performance is top notch with lots of 5 star ratings. We own many Bosch tools and have found it’s always a waster to buy inferior products. And when it comes to music while working, only quality sound is worthwhile. Inferior static sounding models deserve the sledge hammer.

If you are looking to buy the best Jobsite radio the Bosch PB360s is it!

Reviews

Amazon- It is a fantastic piece of technology

Home Depot – loved it so much I had to buy one for my son

Home Depot – you have to go with the Bosch

When it comes to decorative concrete, Engrave-A-Crete has the designs available in their new idea book. The book can be downloaded free by clicking here.

This new book showcases the possibilities when combining stains, dyes and the state of the art engraving tools in the Engrave a Crete line. As you can see from the photos here, you can transform the ordinary, into extraordinary value enhancing designs for both residential and commercial properties.

Take an existing piece of concrete and create brick tile cobblestone and flagstone patterns. This process is completed on existing concrete surfaces so no need for an overlay that can chip or peel off. Just an existing slab is all that is needed. When you see the possibilities you’ll wonder why anyone has drab gray concrete.

The decorative concrete idea book shows samples of interiors and exteriors including custom logos and all kinds of unique designs.

Concrete Etching Products

One of the most effective concrete etching products available is HD 24 or Tek Gel for Profiling. The results are similar to shotblasting or grinding the floor at a fraction of the cost. As the name implies HD24 is 24% acid and Tek Gel for Profiling has 20% acid. Comparatively most liquid acids are below 10% before manufacturers suggested levels of dilution.

HD 24 will profile the surface to about a level equal to 80 grit sandpaper and the Profiling Gel to 120 grit.

If you are looking to clean concrete of mold, algae or rust these products have no equal. They are highly effective as you can see in the photo. For epoxy coatings in a garage they are ideal. The profile created is exactly what you need for coatings to stick. If you are planning on using a liquid acid, you can count on coating failure. The purpose of etching is to increase the amount of surface area for epoxies to stick to. Liquid acid solutions are completely ineffective.

These gels are very safe to use. You can get on your hands without injury though it’s always recommended to use gloves. You can use inside as well as out side. For indoor use, be sure that the area is extremely well ventilated.

For more information and ordering click here.

San Diego Retail Store Floor Coatings

Contact Gerry Sadler at 619-987-4721

Concrete Solutions based in San Diego is a manufacturer of retail store floor coatings that have been installed worldwide. Their product line includes their Ultra Surface Acid Stain and Epoxy system which is an industrial high performance system with unlimited decorative options.

You may have seen their products on the floors of many auto dealers, restaurants, medical facilities and retail stores.  Though headquartred in San Diego they hold training classes for contractors at training facilities in Las Vegas and Chicago.

Their coatings are applied over concrete with tremendous abrasion resistance and low maintenance. In restaurants and commercial kitchens their coatings are easy to clean and wear extremely well. Coatings are seamless and can applied up to the top edge of moldings eliminating bacteria buildup in corners or where the wall meets the floor.

Call Gerry Sadler for information about which system is appropriate for your floor at 619-987-4721

Compact Cordless Drill

I was searching around on the Tool King website looking for a compact cordless drill and stumbled on this deal.

I’ve owned Milwaukee tools for a long time. They’ve worked for me and last a long time.  If you’re in the market for a new drill and a few accessories check this out on their website. The price at $359.99 is down from their list of $467.00 which is still the cheapest I’ve seen for this package.

Tool king has a lot more compact cordless drill kits and tons more tools on their website. Just click the banner.

How To Remove Rust Stains From Concrete

In this project a marina in Baltimore had been searching for the solution to how to remove rust stains from concrete. In this case it was a lot more than rust stains.

The concrete had years of mold, alage, rust and other contaminents that turned the concrete black.  Over time the marina had tried many remedies but to no avail, nothing worked. Finally they brought in various contractors and tested different methods and solutions.

The solution to how to remove rust stains from concrete was finally achieved with a gelled acid developed by Surface Gel Tek of Mesa Arizona. It turns out that cleaning rust stains, mold and algae is a simple process using the gelled acid. Acids actually work to remove rust stains and algae from concrete but they settle back into the concrete immediately. To effectively clean concrete with acid requires tremendous labor and a lot of acid.

Gelled acid solve the problem. When the gelled acid is applied and left to sit for 15 minutes the rust and algae comes free from the concrete but is contained in the gel. Now the gel can be easily cleaned and removed along with the rust and algae and if you get on your hands and clothes not a problem. The strongest, HD 24, is only 24% acid.

As you can see in the photo it works. 40,000 square feet was cleaned like new. Plus the fact that the Surface Gel Tek Gelled Acid is ASTM (American Society of Testing Methods) certified and is water soluable and considered a green product.

For more information about how to clean rust stains from concrete contact Surface Gel Tek at 480-970-4580 or visit the Surface Gel Tek website.

San Diego Garage Floor Epox

Concrete Solutions in San Diego manufactures Ultra Surface Color Flake epoxy for resurfacing your garage floor or any concrete commercial surface.

(Contact Gerry Sadler of Concrete Solutions 619-987-4721)

In addition to adding value to your home a resurfaced garage floor will create a clean bright room. The process is to profile the floor with a shotblaster then repair any defects in your garage floor including cracks. Coatings are applied with variations of gray or tan and decorative flake added. In areas like San Diego where the garage floor is an entrance to your home a decorative coating will help prevent dirt from being tracked in.

The Ultra Color Flake System protects your garage floor from moisture vapor, hot tire wear and yellowing from sunlight.

For more information about resurfacing your garage floor in San Diego contact Gerry Sadler of Concrete Solutions at 619-987-4721 or visit their web site Concrete Solutions