Get Fortified with Fiber Vol. 7 No. 4 • June/July 2007 • $6.95 Special Effects With Stains The masters reveal their secrets Getting Edgy New border tools and stamps Kitchen Countertops: Safety First II • www.ConcreteDecor.net • Aug./Sept. 2006 June/July 2007 | www.ConcreteDecor.net | 1 Publisher’s Letter Dear Readers, My wife’s grandfather is turning 98 years old in a month or June/July 2007 • Volume 7 so. Having lost his wife a couple of years ago, Papa, believe it or Issue No. 4 • $6.95 not, still lives at home by himself. On a recent visit to Papa we sat, as usual, in his family Publisher: Bent O. Mikkelsen room talking about a lot of things, like the way things used to Co-Publisher: Ernst H. Mikkelsen Editor: Wendy Ardolino be and, for obvious reasons, our concern for his health. During Editor: John Strieder our conversation Papa told me in a matter-of-fact tone of voice Translation Editor: Eduardo Morales that he had suffered a heart attack a couple of weeks earlier. Shocked by the news, I asked Creative Director: Patrick Hunter if he had seen a doctor or spent time in the hospital following that ordeal. Papa responded Web Design: Mark Dixon by saying “Oh yes, one night. My legs feel numb but I’m getting better.” Pressing for more Writers: Andrew Amrhein Susan Brimo-Cox information, he added, “… when I had the heart attack I was afraid I was going to die Christina Camara – however, a moment later, I became afraid I wasn’t going to die.” Saddened as we both Doug Carlton were by his news, this announcement caused us to laugh at the ordeal. Laughing seemed Elizabeth Gillette Loretta Hall to help us shed some discomfort with this conversation. Amy B. Johnson We both realized, I think, that his response to this crisis — sharing a laugh with Stacey Enesey Klemenc someone else — was the way we often respond to threatening situations in life. Brian Nolan Sue Marquette Poremba In my youth, my parents made sure that I acknowledged my elders whenever possi- Rob Spiegel ble. As uncomfortable as it was at the time, my greeting others and making them feel wel- come was a part of my parents’ routine in training each of their children to show respect Business Manager: Sheri Mikkelsen and appreciation for others. And so, with each new acquaintance in my life, there came Editorial: Professional Trade Publications Inc. the challenge of making my introduction. 228 Grimes St. The challenge of teaching my own children social etiquette is also a big job. While Eugene, OR 97402 our daughter, the oldest, is quick to make new acquaintances, Matthew, our one in the Tel: (541) 341-3390 middle, would rather crawl into a hole and hide than face the uncomfortable task of meet- Fax: (541) 341-6443 ing new people. 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Subscriptions: USA (one year): $22.95 Canada (one year): $32.95 Other countries: $64.00 All prices in U.S. dollars Bent Mikkelsen, Publisher Subscriber Services: (877) 935-8906 Circulation and Professional Trade Publications Inc. Administration: P.O. Box 25210 Eugene, OR 97402 Tel: (541) 341-3390 Get access to the Concrete Decor archives Fax: (541) 341-6443 [email protected] Enter the access code shown below to gain Concrete Decor now features the industry’s ul- access to Concrete Decor’s online archive of ar- timate online “search” tool for fi nding just about Concrete Decor™ The Journal of Decorative Concrete is pub- ticles. anything related to decorative concrete. Start lished eight times a year by Professional Trade Publications Inc. Bulk rate postage paid at Lebanon Junction, Ky., and by logging on to www.concretedecor.net. At the Login: Aggregate additional mailing offi ces. top of the page simply enter a keyword such as This password changes monthly. To continue “stencil,” “integral color,” “admixture” or “rock ISSN 1542-1597 receiving both the print magazine and access to features.” In less than a second we’ll search our archives, start your subscription today. Con- © 2007 Professional Trade Publications Inc. All rights more than fi ve years of articles and information reserved. No part of this publication or its Web site may crete Decor is the industry’s foremost magazine from the pages of Concrete Decor and provide be reproduced without written permission of Professional on decorative concrete. you with an extensive list of results. Trade Publications Inc. 2 | www.ConcreteDecor.net | June/July 2007 June/July 2007 | www.ConcreteDecor.net | 3 Concrete Decor June/July 2007 • Vol. 7 No. 4 Features 28 Artisan in Concrete: Michael Littlefi eld, Custom Concrete Design, Wells, Maine Once 5-year-old Michael Littlefi eld touched uncured concrete, he couldn’t keep his hands off it. Today, his obsession is his livelihood. by Stacey Enesey Klemenc 34 Choices in Fiber Reinforcement You won’t fi nd this kind of fi ber in bran muffi ns — learn about the fi ber additives that strengthen concrete. by Loretta Hall 36 Countertop Maintenance From “food-safe” to “sacrifi cial coating,” kitchen concrete countertop maintenance will have you upgrading your vocabulary along with your tool kit. Here’s how to speak the language. by Christina Camara 40 Border Tools and Designs Classic Native American patterns, wild horses, tropical fi sh: today’s border-stamp makers are living on the edge. by Sue Marquette Poremba 44 Special Effects With Concrete Stains The nation’s best decorative concrete artisans have years of experience laying down color combinations that glow, spark and shimmer. Even better, they’re willing to share their secrets with you. by Susan Brimo-Cox 50 Hands Across The Ocean: International Training As decorative concrete goes global, American experts take the lead in showing contractors around the world how it’s done. by Rob Spiegel On the Cover: This panel was created at a training class held at the Decorative Concrete Insti- tute. DCI owner Bob Harris comments: “I was teaching saw-cutting techniques and after I demon- strated saw-cutting many of the students practiced their skills. I started adding color to this panel while teaching. We used acid stain and both water-based and solvent-based dyes.” Learn more about color and techniques from many of the industry’s well-known experts on page 44. 4 | www.ConcreteDecor.net | June/July 2007 Departments 2 Publisher’s Letter 10 Industry News 18 Carlton’s Corner: Customers who need handling. by Doug Carlton 21 Business Strategies Relationship marketing to grow your business. by Brian Nolan and Andrew Amrhein 22 Project Profi le: Griffi ths Home, New Braunfels, Texas A simple innovation yields a wealth of intense effects at an attorney’s home in Texas hill country. by Elizabeth Gillette 53 Technology: New Polyacrylate Terrazzo by Amy B. Johnson 56 Tooling: Curbing Machines 60 Product Profi le: CT-8 Cleaner and Toughener from Smith Paint Products 62 Product News 70 Association News 72 Concrete Marketplace 78 Classifi ed Ads 80 Final Pour: Pottery With a Twist 6 | www.ConcreteDecor.net | June/July 2007 ONLINE AT concretedecor.net In The Archives Can’t fi nd it in this issue? Visit our online archives. There’s a complete library of stories and how-tos cover- ing all the hottest trends in deco- rative concrete, including more on topics featured in this issue, such as concrete countertops and special ef- fects with stains. Training and Events As the international training story in this issue attests, training is a boom- ing business in the decorative con- crete fi eld these days. Online, scroll through an array of opportunities offered around the United States. There may be a seminar taking place right in your neighborhood. Buyer’s Guide and Product Index Use the online Decorative Concrete Buyer’s Guide to fi nd products that make ordinary concrete extraordi- nary — for example, border stamps and tools like those described in this edition of the magazine. Search by type of stamp tool or by brand name to discover what a company makes and how to get it. Concrete Decor E-Newsletter Sign up for this online publication, which highlights new products and offers a sneak peek at upcoming is- sues. There are opportunities to get your name and your story into the pages of this magazine, plus much more. 8 | www.ConcreteDecor.net | June/July 2007 Industry News prerequisites and points needed to meet the demands of the Leadership in En- ergy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. It was in- troduced at the AIA 2007 National Con- vention and Design Exposition. Developed and administered by the United States Green Building Council, the LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.