Blog Post

Acrylistain

  • By 7016640727
  • •
  • 17 Feb, 2018
  • •

Superior Stained Concrete

Next up is the Acrylistain system.  This is Concrete Technology of Hawaii's take on stained concrete, but taken to a higher level.  Unlike lithochrome or acid staining, we're not staining the original grey concrete, nor does the slab need to be new or fresh to accept the color.  We actually use our polymerized acrylic concrete as a canvas for staining.  All of CTi's colors are available, as well as custom ordered colors.
The Acrylistain system is perfect in and around the house.  We can provide a superior stained look on new or old concrete. Using the same materials as the Hallmark system, you get all the benefits including, but not limited to UV, fade and chemical resistance. You get more than double the strength of standard concrete and a sealed surface that protects your concrete against the elements and is much easier to maintain and clean.  Much like the Hallmark system, we can incorporate patterns and borders as well.
Kona Lanai.  Sandstone skim coat  with desert beige, chocolate and forest green.
As always, clean and bare concrete is the goal.  Devoid of paint, grease, dirt or anything else that may interfere with the bond of our products.  Cracks are repaired based on the severity of the crack.  New cuts are made where necessary to alleviate tension and expansion/contraction.  By the time we complete the demolition/preparation phase, the slab should more or less be like new.  

With outdoor projects, we can acid wash and pressure wash. We use a 4 to 1 solution of muriatic acid and water. We pressure wash every inch of the area with over 4000 psi and neutralize the solution with sodium bicarbonate.   Inside the home or business we always grind with vacuum assisted grinders to clean and open the pores in the surface of the slab.  This maximizes our chance for a mechanical and chemical bond.   
Koloko Lanai.  Acylistain burnt sienna, desert beige and chocolate.
In instances of excess moisture or efflorescence, we may need to treat the slab with a waterproofing agent.  In concrete slabs where moisture barriers have not been installed prior to pouring the slab and excess moisture occurs in the substrate, hydro-static pressure may cause efflorescence.  Essentially, this is water from under the slab pushing the salts and chlorides to the surface.  Water usually finds the path of least resistance, typically up cracks or joints, but this is the number one cause of delamination of coatings or tile or anything that requires a bond to the concrete.

So what do we do?  A penetrating sealer applied by airless sprayer that forms a hydrogel membrane and effectively fills the matrix inside the slab.  The added benefits are that this treatment also densifies the concrete and protects the embedded steel.  This same stuff is used to seal swimming pool shells on upper floors of hotels and other high rises.  It seems I may need a future blog on just efflorescence and how we treat it.   
Kohala Coffee Mill Acrylistain Floor.
Now that things are cleaned and treated and masked, we are ready for application.  We'll start with a thin skim coat of our polymerized acrylic concrete, mixed with our color of choice, much like our Hallmark application.  An initial skim coat isn't always necessary if the concrete slab itself is in good condition and no pattern or borders are being installed.  Should we decide to install a skim coat, we sand and sweep it once it has dried.  Then patterns and borders can be laid out and masked.

Next or perhaps first, we trowel out the texture coat in typically a light shade of color.  Either a light grey for cooler looking themes or a light beige or sandstone for warmer color schemes.  We can put a lot of texture or a little depending on traction and or cleaning needs.   This is all done by hand for a totally custom look. 
Acrylistain gazebo in blue and teal.
Once the texture coat has dried completely (within minutes in direct sunlight), we give the job a scrape or possibly a rock-mop where needed.  Time for color.  We use the same acrylic that we mix into our other coatings and mix it with water this time.  So, no acid or neutralizing.  This is especially nice inside the house or business.  The color is sprayed on in layers with pump sprayers until we achieve the desired results.  As things dry, the darker colors seep into the lower parts of the texture and blend naturally.  This color coat needs to dry overnight to evaporate as much moisture as possible.

Sealer time.  A couple of different options here.  Indoor or outdoor are considerations.  Amount of traffic.  High gloss or satin finishes.  We have options for different tastes.  The surface needs to be completely dry from the day before then 2 coats of clear industrial grade sealer are applied by roller.  Glazes are also available for a glass like finish indoors.
Kona Mountain Coffee in Kona.
Clean foot traffic is possible the next day.  Furniture and vehicle traffic can return in 4 to 7 days depending on the sealer and environmental conditions.  Depending on the amount of texture, the finished Acrylistain can be mopped clean.  Outside, pressure washing is great.  We recommend simple dish detergent for the toughest messes.  Like the Hallmark system, Acrylistain is resistant to mildew, staining and most chemicals. 

Ask Concrete Technology of Hawaii about the Acrylistain system when you call for your free estimate.  Dress up your lanai, your living room or even your business.  Get the look of stained concrete with far more vibrant colors that lasts for years and years.  Add a pattern or some borders for a truly custom and unique look.   
Waikoloa residence interior Acrylistain with tile pattern.
As always, feel free to leave comments down below.  I'm happy to answer any questions you might not find in the FAQ up above.  Pictures of more acrylistain projects can be found in "Our Work" up above and also at our corporate site here http://www.designcti.com/PhotoGallery.aspx.    CTi is available in all 50 states and I believe 22 different countries.  Concrete Technology of Hawaii is your only source for these incredible products in the State of Hawaii.  Call Today for a Free Estimate. 

Wood Look

By 7016640727 • 01 Mar, 2019
No warp, no rot and no splinters.  That's right, this is all created using Concrete Technology of Hawaii's modified concrete systems.  Its all custom textured and colored by hand.  The wood look is available indoors and out.  It can be applied with a rough texture or a smooth high gloss finish.  With all the durability of our custom concrete systems and available in countless color combinations, the wood look is an exciting new addition to our line of applications.  

Reflective Floor System

By 7016640727 • 13 Jun, 2018
Concrete Technology of Hawaii's Reflective Floor System is a relatively new product in our line of floor coatings.  Ideal for home, commercial and industrial interiors, this super fast curing epoxy coating is highly durable and absolutely stunning.   

Utilizing our Rapid Armor (soon to be EZ Armor) epoxy, the Reflective Floor System achieves a smooth, high gloss finish with a beautiful 3 dimensional effect within.  The pictures don't really do it justice, but I'll do my best to explain the product, some benefits, a little about the application process and show you a few examples along the way.  Be sure to check out the video at the end of this post.

Stone Classics

By 7016640727 • 07 Mar, 2018
This week we have Concrete Technology of Hawaii's Stone Classics System.  This one is similar to the Acrylistain system in its application with some differences in the coloring techniques.  We utilize the same materials as the previous 2 systems; Hallmark and Acrylistain, so once again you get all the benefits of our polymerized acrylic concrete coatings without the cost and headaches of actual stone.  All of CTi's colors are available as well as custom colors so we can compliment some of the colors in and around the home or business or we can come up with something totally unique and custom.  Twice the strength of standard concrete and resistant to UV, fade, chemicals and staining.  This alternative to stone stands the test of time.

The Hallmark System

By 7016640727 • 08 Feb, 2018
The Concrete Technology Hallmark System.  This is probably our most popular application due to its beauty of course, durability and versatility.  It can be applied to any existing concrete, new or old.  It's great for outdoor use because we can achieve a few different texture options.  We can leave it rough for steep driveways or sidewalks where extra traction is required or we can use a knockdown technique for a smoother surface, ideal for pool decks or other concrete surfaces in and around the home.  It can also be applied to stairs and walls.  I'll show some examples of both down below.  

Like all of our systems, The Hallmark System is available in dozens of standard colors, but again we can also have colors custom ordered for a minimal additional cost.  Patterns are available as well.  From simple tile patterns or borders to custom hand-laid flagstone patterns.  Logos and stencils can be incorporated as well.  The design opportunities are limited only by the imagination.  

Garages and Durafleck 5000

By 7016640727 • 08 Feb, 2018
Over the coming weeks, I plan to outline our different products here in this blog.  Seeing as we've started this year with a number of garages, I thought I'd begin this series with a few of them and our Durafleck 5000 product line.   

We can apply any one of our different products to a garage floor, but I usually recommend the Durafleck 5000 system for its ease of cleaning, resistance to chemicals and obviously visually pleasing, granite-like appearance.  Like many of our other products, it is great in other parts of the home and commercial areas as well.  Kitchens, basements, hospitals and workshops can all benefit from this durable coating.  Its available in about 30 different standard color combinations, but custom colors are available upon request as well.

Hawaii Island Living + Design Show

By Alika • 20 Jan, 2018
Welcome to the newly designed Concrete Technology of Hawaii Inc. website.  We're excited about the new look and hopefully a more streamlined experience navigating our site.  I'm still in the process of migrating over some of our best content from the old site as well as updating some of our more recent work. 

 I plan to use this space to share information regarding our specific overlay systems, new products and current jobs.  Feel free to comment with any questions and I'll do my best to answer in a timely manner.  A lot of questions can be answered in our FAQ's section, so be sure to check that out.   

Finally, we will once again be attending The Kona-Kohala Building and Design expo at the Sheraton Hotel in Keauhou.  However, said expo has been renamed as The Hawai'i Island Living + Design Show.  It takes place on February 17 & 18.  I hope to have a few new sample boards for the show and its a great chance to get hands on with our amazing products.  So stop by, talk story and see how Concrete Technology of Hawaii Inc. can transform your dull, grey concrete into a work of art.
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