In-ground lighting for concrete
With Tahoe Lighting, concrete professionals can artistically weave light into walkways, patios, paving stone driveways, walls, porches, and so much more. Available in several styles, these low-voltage systems are easy to install and require low power. They can also be used for plazas, roadways, airports, shopping malls, showroom floors, and pool decks. Tahoe Lighting, 888-548-8246, www.tahoelighting.com.
Beautifies and protects surfaces
Trojan Color Sealer combines a penetrating polyester sealer with specially formulated dye to beautify and protect concrete and masonry surfaces. It is not a paint that will easily wear away. Once sprayed or rolled on, it penetrates the surface and provides a UV-resistant dye stain that is absorbed into the concrete. It is available in 20 different colors as well as a satin finish. Eco-Wares, div. of Envi-rosafe Mfg., 866-874-8070, www.eco-wares.com.
Interior concrete topping for floors
Self-drying and trowelable, Ardex SD-M is a portland cement-based topping that's installed in an ultra-thin-coat system for fast resurfacing and smoothing of indoor subfloors. It can be integrally colored or used with topical dyes and stains to provide an attractive concrete surface over all types of interior concrete, cementitious terrazzo, ceramic tile subfloors, and other toppings and underlayments. Ardex Engineered Cements, 888-512-7339, www.ardex.com.
Mineral composite flooring
For a seamless, natural stone appearance that is bonded directly to concrete slab, MasterPiece Granitech is a unique alternative to tile flooring. Intended for interior work, this cultured granite floor surfacing blends distinctive granite design work into a colorful, durable, monolithic polymer flooring system. Although ideal for new construction, its lightweight composition and thin-set characteristics make it adaptable to retrofit and renovation projects. Polymerica Inc., 800-762-1678, www.polymerica.com.
