Decorative Concrete Overlay

This PDH or CE course discuss how decorative concrete overlays suffer from an identity crisis of sorts. They fall far short in product recognition when compared to the better-known decorative disciplines of stamped and stained concrete, yet they have much greater market potential. They arguably offer the most variety in color and finish, as well as the best opportunity for future growth, yet are just not that well known outside of the decorative concrete arena.

Learning Objective:

In this PDH or CE course the student learns Decorative overlays can trace their roots back to commercial and industrial polymer-modified cement-based toppings introduced in the 1950s. Over the next 40 years, technological advances in dry ingredients and polymer technology led to stronger and more durable systems. Most of these were utilitarian, with little focus on the decorative market. By the mid to late 1980s, manufacturers started offering complete overlay systems targeting the growing decorative market segment. Those early-generation systems have evolved into the wide offering of decorative overlays available on the market today, including systems that work for both interior and exterior applications, on vertical and horizontal surfaces, and at thicknesses ranging from that of a credit card to an inch or more.
“Decorative overlay” is actually an umbrella term that covers a wide variety of products and systems intended to provide a decorative finish over an existing substrate. The general categories that fall under that umbrella are thin-section microtoppings, thick-section stampable overlays, selfleveling overlays and polishable toppings. Within each of these product categories are numerous individual products and systems designed for specific applications.

Review the quiz before studying the course.

Course Content

Course Author: Franco F. Davati, P.E