{"id":7391,"date":"2016-08-08T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2016-08-08T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/?page_id=7391"},"modified":"2018-06-14T23:02:20","modified_gmt":"2018-06-14T23:02:20","slug":"dcu-glossary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/dcu-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"DCU Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Go-To Guide of Glossary Terms<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

When starting a decorative concrete project, there are more than a few things to remember. These courses have been designed to teach you proper methods and techniques. Along the way, you\u2019ll hear a lot of industry terms that may not sound familiar. For that reason, we\u2019ve compiled this go-to glossary of common decorative concrete terms.<\/p>\n

A<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Abrasion resistance \u2013 <\/strong>How a coating resists friction, rubbing, and scratches.<\/p>\n

Accelerator <\/strong>\u2013 A chemical added to shorten set up time of a concrete coating.<\/p>\n

Acetone <\/strong>\u2013 A common concrete solvent.<\/p>\n

Acid etching<\/strong> –<\/strong> Application of muriaticacid to deep clean a concrete surface. Often used for driveway sealing.<\/p>\n

Aggregate<\/strong> \u2013 A granular material like sand, rock, or gravel that is added to concrete to improve performance.<\/p>\n

B<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Bond <\/strong>\u2013 How well a material adheres to an existing surface.<\/p>\n

Bonding agent<\/strong> \u2013 Adhesive agent used to increase bond to existing surface. Also known as Primer.<\/p>\n

Broadcast <\/strong>\u2013 The act of hand tossing epoxy color flakes or other material to evenly disperse for added texture.<\/p>\n

Broom Finish<\/strong> \u2013 Pushing a broom over freshly placed concrete to achieve a certain texture.<\/p>\n

Build <\/strong>\u2013 The wet or dry thickness of a particular coating.<\/p>\n

C<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cementitious –<\/strong> A material containing Portland cement <\/strong>or having cement-like properties.<\/p>\n

Coating system <\/strong>\u2013 A complete system requiring different coatings to be applied to attain a durable floor coating.<\/p>\n

Compressive strength \u2013 <\/strong>The maximum compressive stress a concrete coating or flooring system can withstand.<\/p>\n

Color chips (or Color Flakes) –<\/strong> Plastic chips that vary in color and size, for broadcasting<\/strong> onto freshly placed epoxy <\/strong>flooring systems to produce multicolored effects and\/or provide texture.<\/p>\n

Control Joint <\/strong>– Sawed or tooled groove in a concrete slab to regulate the location of cracking.<\/p>\n

Coverage rate <\/strong>\u2013 The area that a specific portion of a coating will cover once it dries. It\u2019s important to know the coverage rate of a material when estimating the amount of material you\u2019ll need to complete the job.<\/p>\n

Crack chasing – <\/strong>Routing out cracks in concrete with a saw or angle grinder before filling with a repair material.<\/p>\n

Curing <\/strong>\u2013 The process of proper hardening for fresh concrete slabs. Proper curing leads to stronger concrete.<\/p>\n

D<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Decorative concrete<\/strong> \u2013 Concrete that has added, color, patterns, texture, or combinations of these modifications.<\/p>\n

Delamination<\/strong> \u2013 When a coating separates from the substrate due to poor adhesion.<\/p>\n

Densifier<\/strong> \u2013 A penetrating liquid that helps solidify and densify the surface of polished concrete.<\/p>\n

Diamond grinding \u2013<\/strong> A multi-step grinding process to create polished concrete floors. Diamond grinding discs are used to grind the concrete down to prepare it for subsequent polishing.<\/p>\n

Dry polishing<\/strong> \u2013 The most common method of concrete polishing. Uses a floor polisher with a dust-containment system to vacuums up dust created by diamond grinding.<\/p>\n

Drying Shrinkage \u2013<\/strong> Shrinking of concrete as it dries due to loss of moisture. Also known as Plastic Shrinkage.<\/p>\n

Dyes<\/strong> \u2013 Solutions containing very fine pigments that penetrate into concrete\u2019s surface and fundamentally changes the color. Available in many different color options.<\/p>\n

E<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Edger<\/strong> – A tool used on the edges of fresh concrete to provide a finished edge.<\/p>\n

Efflorescence<\/strong> – A crystalline deposit of (usually white) salts that forms on the concrete surface.<\/p>\n

Epoxy injection<\/strong> \u2013 Sealing and repairing cracks with a low-pressure injection of epoxy adhesive.<\/p>\n

Exposed aggregate<\/strong> \u2013 The concrete left after removing the surface mortar through shotblasting or grinding. This is the surface you want to start with before applying a coating for flooring system.<\/p>\n

F<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Finishing –<\/strong> Leveling, smoothing, compacting, and otherwise treating the surface of newly placed decorative concrete floor.<\/p>\n

Floor Polisher<\/strong> \u2013 A walk-behind machine used in the process of concrete polishing.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>G<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grinding<\/strong> \u2013 The process of preparing concrete using abrasive stone tools to remove any previous coating.<\/p>\n

Grout Coat<\/strong> \u2013 The first coating layer that is later covered by a top coat and is only seen through gaps in the top coat.<\/p>\n

H<\/strong><\/h4>\n

High-Build <\/strong>\u2013 A protective or decorative coating that produces a thick film with a single coat.<\/p>\n

Hopper Gun –<\/strong> A gravity-fed system for spray application of coatings.<\/p>\n

J<\/strong>oint<\/strong>– Where two concrete surfaces meet.<\/p>\n

Joint Filler<\/strong> \u2013 A compressible material used to fill concrete joints.<\/p>\n

K<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Knock-Down Finish<\/strong> – Applying a decorative topping with a hopper gun<\/strong>, then using a trowel<\/strong> to knock-down the material, producing a smooth or lightly textured surface.<\/p>\n

M<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Magic Trowel \u2013 <\/strong>Specialized trowel used to apply cementitious products.<\/p>\n

Marbleize \u2013<\/strong> Giving concrete surfaces the look and gloss of marble through decorative concrete techniques.<\/p>\n

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)<\/strong> – Information sheets that explain pertinent chemical ingredients, product handling and safety guidelines.<\/p>\n

Mil<\/strong> – A measurement equal to 1\/1,000 (0.001) inch used to denote coating thickness.<\/p>\n

Mixing Station<\/strong> \u2013 A designated work area for mixing material before moving the mixture onto the floor.<\/p>\n

Moisture Vapor Transmission<\/strong> \u2013 Moisture vapor migrating through a concrete surface due to outside pressures. Often found in basement walls, floors, and other sub-grade areas.<\/p>\n

N<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Neutralize<\/strong> \u2013 The act of returning concrete to proper pH levels after acid etching.<\/p>\n

Notched-Squeegee<\/strong> \u2013 A rubber squeegee with notches on one or both sides. Used for smooth and consistent spreading of epoxy or low-viscosity coatings.<\/p>\n

O<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Overlay<\/strong> \u2013 A bonded layer of material placed on an existing concrete surface to create a decorative concrete design.<\/p>\n

P<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Penetrating Sealer \u2013<\/strong> A sealer that penetrates into concrete pores to increase water repellency.<\/p>\n

Permeability \u2013<\/strong> How much a membrane or coating allows penetration by a liquid or gas.<\/p>\n

pH Test<\/strong> \u2013 A common test performed on concrete surface to determine acidity and alkalinity levels. Often performed before applying sealers or coatings.<\/p>\n

Plasticity<\/strong> \u2013 The mold ability of freshly mixed concrete.<\/p>\n

Polished Concrete<\/strong> \u2013 A high-gloss concrete floor finish using specialized floor grinders and polishers.<\/p>\n

Polyaspartic<\/strong> \u2013 A fast-curing aliphatic polyurea coating that can be applied to concrete over a wide range of temperatures.<\/p>\n

Pot Life \u2013<\/strong> The amount of time a material is useful after it is opened.<\/p>\n

Profile<\/strong> \u2013 Preparing a concrete surface to get the necessary degree of roughness.<\/p>\n

Primer<\/strong> \u2013 The initial coat of material on a concrete surface to improve bond of subsequent coats.<\/p>\n

Pump-Up Sprayer<\/strong> \u2013 Airless sprayer used to apply sealers.<\/p>\n

S<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Sample Board<\/strong> \u2013 A smaller sample representation of a decorative concrete installation. These can be made for cheap and better show potential clients what you can do on a larger scale.<\/p>\n

Scaling<\/strong> \u2013 When hardened concrete flakes or chips off, often due to freeze-thaw cycles.<\/p>\n

Sealer<\/strong> \u2013 Liquid-based material used to protect a decorative concrete design.<\/p>\n

Set \u2013 <\/strong>When concrete loses its plasticity and becomes rigid.<\/p>\n

Shotblasting<\/strong> \u2013 A form of concrete preparation using iron shot that is rapidly thrown at concrete to open up concrete\u2019s pores to allow better coating penetration.<\/p>\n

Skim Coat<\/strong> \u2013 A top layer that is applied very thinly.<\/p>\n

Spalling<\/strong> \u2013 When concrete breaks away at joints<\/strong> in floors or slabs.<\/p>\n

Stamped Overlay<\/strong> \u2013 A concrete stamping method using stamps over existing concrete. A cementitious topping is applied at a certain thickness over top the existing concrete to replicate the look of stone, brick, or tile.<\/p>\n

Stenciled Concrete<\/strong> \u2013 A decorative flooring option that uses concrete stencil tape and layered application to create the look of brick, stone, or tile without grout lines or installation of the actual materials.<\/p>\n

Substrate<\/strong> – An existing concrete surface that you can build upon.<\/p>\n

Surface Preparation<\/strong> – Preparing concrete surfaces before resurfacing or applying a decorative coating. This is an incredibly important part of the decorative flooring process and includes acid etching, shotblasting, and grinding.<\/p>\n

T<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tack<\/strong> – The stickiness or adhesive properties of a material.<\/p>\n

Technical Data Sheet<\/strong> \u2013 A document that contains important specifications and manufacturer guidelines for product usage. Technical Data Sheets include such data as coverage rates<\/strong>, recommended applications, product limitations, surface preparation<\/strong> guidelines, mix ratios and required mixing times, pot life<\/strong>, application procedures, cure times, performance data, and precautions. Refer to these documents if you have any concerns.<\/p>\n

Trowel<\/strong> – A flat, broad-bladed steel hand tool used to provide a smooth, flat finish.<\/p>\n

Trowel Finish<\/strong> – The smooth or lightly textured surface finish obtained by troweling.<\/p>\n

V<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Vapor Barrier<\/strong> – A layer that is impervious to outside water pressure placed under a concrete slab to help prevent moisture vapor transmission<\/strong>. Common vapor barriers include rubber sheeting.<\/p>\n

Viscosity<\/strong> – A measure of a liquid\u2019s fluidity. The more viscosity a sealer or coating has, the less it flows.<\/p>\n

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)<\/strong> – Organic chemicals that easily vaporize at normal room temperatures. Some VOCs can be hazardous when inhaled.<\/p>\n

W<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wet Polishing<\/strong> \u2013 Concrete polishing that involves water to cool the diamonds while eliminating dust. Not as common as dry polishing, because it creates a tremendous amount of slurry (a soupy mixture of water and cement dust) that must be cleaned up and disposed of.<\/p>\n

Workability<\/strong> \u2013 How easily concrete or other cementitious<\/strong> materials can be mixed, placed, and finished.<\/p>\n

Working Time<\/strong> – The amount of time available for placing and finishing<\/strong> a cement-based material before it begins to set<\/strong>. This depends on factors such as moisture and temperature.<\/p>\n

X<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Xylene<\/strong> – A common solvent used with many solvent-based concrete sealers. High odor, highly flammable, and not legal in every state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Go-To Guide of Glossary Terms When starting a decorative concrete project, there are more than a few things to remember. These courses have been designed to teach you proper methods and techniques. Along the way, you\u2019ll hear a lot of industry terms that may not sound familiar. For that reason, we\u2019ve compiled this go-to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25893,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7391"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25893"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7391\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/decorativeconcreteu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}