Location: Castle Rock, Colorado

Project: Eco-Friendly “GREEN” Decorative Concrete Floor System

Installation by: Double Diamond Homes

Material Supplier: Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Total Sq Ft: 1,200  sq ft

Products Used: SureCrete Micro-Topping (trowel down), Eco-Stain, Water Based Polyurethane

When choosing a Eco-friendly “GREEN” flooring system for your home or office in the greater Colorado area you may want to look to Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They carry the latest in concrete product technology for contractors and Do-It-Yourself homeowners who are looking to apply Eco-friendly “GREEN” decorative concrete systems. One company out of Colorado Springs, Double Diamond Homes,  recently used one of these systems. Lets look at this project and see WHY the owner of this property made an excellent choice in choosing a “GREEN” concrete flooring system.

The 1,200 sq ft home in Castle Rock, Colorado was looking to achieve a smooth concrete floor to compliment the color scheme and pattern chosen by the owner. The project began with the proper evaluation of the substrate. This particular home was new construction, so although the floor was a little dirty, there were no real stains, residues or glues to contend with. The reason Double Diamond Homes choose to use SureCrete’s Micro Topping was to change the floor from gray to white, giving more pop to the colors of the concrete stain. In addition to the white color of this trowel down micro topping, it is also Eco-friendly due to its Zero VOC single component mix design.

Once the micro topping had dried, they began the coloring and pattern creation stage. Looking to fulfill the Eco-friendly “GREEN” flooring system request they choose Eco-Stain for the coloring process. As the name sounds, it is environmentally friendly, Zero VOC and uses NO water or chemicals for cleanup, like typical reactive acid stains. With 29 UV-stable colors to chose from the client choose Espresso and Beechnut.

This particular concrete stain only sees the concrete porosity, there is NO chemical reaction. This unique attribute allows the concrete stain to bring the natural trowel marks of the micro topping to life, offering a gorgeous modeled floor affect. Once Eco-Stain had dried they were on to the sealer stage of the Eco-friendly decorative concrete floor system. Typical acrylic concrete sealers could have been used but would need more maintenance, for tis reason the Colorado contractor and owner of the home choose to go with a Polyurethane concrete sealer. Knowing that they would be moving in soon they had concerns of s strong solvent smell from the sealer. Addressing this concern and keeping with the Eco-friendly “GREEN” flooring system they recommended Dura-Kote Water Based Polyurethane. This sealer meant the “GREEN” criteria due to its low VOC makeup and also provided the owner with the aroma free application they requested due to their quick turnaround time needed.

Dura-Kote Water Based Polyurethane comes in satin and gloss finishes. For this application they choose the glossy finish. Two coats of the Water Based Polyurethane were applied to manufacturer specifications. Although light foot traffic is allowed after 12 hours, it takes most polyurethane concrete sealers 3-5 days to reach full cure and become a more scratch resistant finish. The end result was a beautiful floor that is not only functional, easy to maintain, pet friendly but the entire process was done to meet the Eco-friendly “GREEN” Decorative Concrete design by the homeowner in Castle Rock, Colorado.

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Location: Canon City, Colorado

Project: Staining a concrete retaining wall

Installation by: Anderson Thompson

Material Supplier: Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply

Total Sq Ft: 324 sq ft

Products Used: Orange Blossom & Oak Eco-Stain plus SureCrete Water based Clear Acrylic sealer

A concrete retaining wall is an important, functional element to your home. For many though, it is a blank canvas waiting to have someone bring it to life. That is exactly what happened to a homeowner in Canon City, Colorado. With such beautiful scenery surrounding his home, his retaining wall block was a large white eye soar that stood out. After searching online and finding Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply, they realized they could bring their backyard retaining wall to life and do it in a way that was environmentally friendly!

The team at Two Sisters DCS, explained the pros and cons of traditional reactive acid and acrylic based stains offered by many companies. Realizing they did not like the sound of chemical stain or the uniform paint like look of acrylic stains, they choose to go with an environmentally friendly stain called Eco-Stain. This product offers 29-UV stable colors and uses the concrete retaining walls natural porosity to give the modeled and variegated stain look desired. To finish off the installation they choose a low VOC sealer from SureCrete Design, Hi-Gloss Clear WaterBase Sealer. Since the homeowner did not want to take on this project, Two Sisters DCS offered some local contractors, which were qualified for this application.

The process of installation was to thoroughly clean the retaining wall via a pressure washer and SCR. Once the retaining wall was clean, the team with Anderson Thompson Group, sprayed on the two colors of Eco-Stain with a HVLP gun hooked up to a compressor. This technique allowed for an even amount of material, and reduced  the amount of concrete stain being applied. This gave the opportunity to minimize runs and uneven or splotchy  modeling on the concrete retaining wall. After the stain dried, which is typically 30-60 minutes, they then applied the Waterbase acrylic sealer. The sealer was a wise choice as it locks down the color and provides a protection against staining from the soil and other minerals in the ground and water.

Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado but offers concrete products and supplies to all of Colorado including Canon City. For more information please contact them at 1-719-661-8978.

Location: Houston Raceway Park, Texas

Project: Eco-friendly concrete stain and sealer

Installation by: Stamped Artistry

Material Supplier: Stamped Concrete Products of Houston

Total Sq Ft: 8,500

Products Used: Eco-Stain, Dura-Kote Water based Urethane

The VIP room at the Houston Raceway Park in Texas receives high traffic volumes due to its use with NHRA Competitions and  as a banquet hall. Therefore the owners were looking for a floor that would wow its patrons while being a smart maintenance option. There choice was a Eco-friendly concrete stain and a durable sealer coat for wear and abrasion protection.

The team at Stamped Artistry of Houston began by properly prepping the 8,500 sq ft concrete floor. They used a product called SCR (Super Concrete Renovator) by SureCrete. This product cleans, degrease’s and profiles the concrete in one step. Once this product was sprayed on the concrete floor, they scrubbed it mechanically with a floor scrubber with black pads. They followed that step up with water and wet-vacced the remaining off the floor. The disposal of this product is also a benefit, as it is an Eco-friendly concrete cleaner.

Now that the concrete is clean and profiled, they began the coloring process with a penetrating water based concrete stain called Eco-Stain.

This product is UV-stable and comes in 29 colors. The choice for this floor was Autumn Gold. This concrete stain was applied with a pump up sprayer. Besides the color choices and UV-stability of Eco-Stain, its speed of application makes it and ideal choice over reactive acids. Once this concrete stain dried, which in most cases is 30-60 minutes, it is ready to be sealed. No need to neutralize, rinse or clean up.

The final stage was to choose and apply a concrete sealer that could hold up to the traffic pattern of the raceways patrons. There choice was the Dura-Kote Water Based Polyurethane. This product is a 2-part concrete sealer that is 57% solids with a VOC of 72 gms/L, making it an excellent Eco-Friendly concrete sealer. Another benefit is that it has NO aroma that will cause issues for the buildings tenants.  The concrete sealer was applied with a 3/8″ nap non shedding roller, like a mohair.

The end result was a beautiful concrete floor and addition to the Houston Raceway Park!

If you are using a typical stain you normally encounter a reactive, polymer, water based or dye that can deliver a variety of different color effects. Eco-Stain is a product unlike the above listed. The 29 UV-stable colors work on any surface that has porosity. There is NO reaction to the surface. It is a water based pigment that penetrates a porous surface through the absorption of moisture. As the surface absorbs the moisture out of the product it penetrates and leaves the pigments in the pours of the substrate. With this feature you have no clean up, no neutralization just a small drying window and the ability to seal. Here are some trick and tips for use of Eco-Stain on Concrete Countertops

Pre Cast Concrete Countertops (No slurry, veining or difference in porosity)

• Profile your surface with  a dilution of water and SCR (Super Concrete Renovator) before any applying Eco-Stain. In most cases a dilution of 3 parts water and 1 part SCR is ideal.

Pre Cast Concrete Countertops (with slurry, veining or difference in porosity)

• Using a rough sand or grit, remove any excess concrete or burrs that are undesired.
• Wash piece with diluted SCR, rinse and allow to air dry, usually 30 minutes is fine.
• Fill holes or veins with Xtreme Series Slurry mix and allow to dry.
• Lightly sand excess slurry with 400 diamond pad or equivalent sand paper.
• Apply LD 1800(Lithium Densifier) to the surface of your piece, with clean water rinse LD 1800 off the surface before it dries on the concrete( approx. 20 minutes)

NOTE: LD 1800 will help give the areas that are slurried and the existing countertop the same density therefore allowing the stain to absorb more evenly.

Now you are ready to apply Eco-Stain. Methods of application include; HVLP, Cup Sprayer, sponge, rag, or flooding the surface.

NOTE: If desired color is not achieved, the stain can be removed using a dilution of SCR and water 3/1.  Reapplication of slurry and densifying may be necessary before staining again.

Once the desired look is achieved, seal using a SureCrete recommended penetrating sealer.

We hope that you enjoy this stain as much as we have!