The Color Chronicles

Blogging the events, training, product news and more for Solomon Colors, Inc.

Make a Better Looking CMU Wall

CMU stands for Concrete Masonry Unit. These are standardized concrete blocks commonly used through the construction industry.

1952-Panther-Creek-Mine-No5
Site
Solomon Colors

An Account of the History of Solomon Colors

Robert C. Solomon was born in 1882. His father, also named Robert, was orphaned during the Civil War. Robert C. Solomon went to work as a coal miner at the age of thirteen.

The Use and Benefits of Mortar Color

In most masonry walls, mortar makes up between 7% and 20% of the visible surface.

Ultrafiber-500-In-Concrete
Site
Solomon Colors

Why Hydrophilic Fiber Matters

Anyone even remotely familiar with UltraFiber 500 is aware of the long list of benefit and features associated with it.

Calculating Yards of Concrete for Color

Calculating yards of concrete is vital for a successful job. It is one of the most fundamental skills a concrete contractor must have.

Color Matching

When color doesn’t match, especially when the mismatched slabs are side by side, panic often sets in.

Colorful Infrastructure: How Colored Concrete Can Make Your City Look Better

Typically, when people think colored concrete, a couple things come to mind. First, they think of residential pool decks, patios, and more.

Decorative Concrete Patio
Site
Solomon Colors

Concrete Finishes for Patios

There are many concrete finishes for patios on the market today. Each one comes with its own unique appearance. Concrete finishes for patios also have their own list of utility pros and cons.

Decorative Concrete Porch
Site
Solomon Colors

Decorative Concrete Patio Ideas

Everyone struggles with concrete patios ideas. There are so many options for finishing concrete that the average person can have a hard time deciding.

Best Penetrating Concrete Sealer for Decorative Concrete

Choosing the best penetrating concrete sealer comes down to the details of the application.

Decorative Concrete Sealer
Site
Solomon Colors

How to Apply Concrete Sealer

Sealer is an important part of decorative concrete. Sealer is also the biggest source of technical issues and failures.

How to use Tinted Sealer to Correct Color

Tinted sealer has a wide range of useful applications. It can be used as a primary color and as a repair product.

VOCs and Concrete Chemicals

VOCs are on everyone's minds, these days. Ever changing regulations mean the industry must contentiously adapt.

Broom Finished Concrete
Site
Solomon Colors

Many Ways For Finishing of Concrete

There are dozens of methods for finishing concrete. Most of these can be decorative and all of them are durable.

Paper Concrete Stencil
Site
Solomon Colors

Stenciled Concrete is Economical and Beautiful

Stamped concrete driveways, patios, and sidewalks are what most people think of when it comes to decorative concrete.

Winter Care Of Decorative Concrete
Site
Solomon Colors

Decorative Concrete Care in Winter

Concrete care in winter is important to master in much of the country. Without proper concrete care, in winter decorative concrete can face serious threats and damage.

Stained Concrete: Pros and Con

Concrete stains are an excellent way to color existing concrete. Using the right color concrete stain creates beautiful accents, highlights, and continuous color.

Grey Decorative Concrete
Site
Solomon Colors

Designing for Grey Stamped Concrete

Grey stamped concrete is under-appreciated. With all the colors possible, sometimes grey is the most versatile.

Tips for Sealing Stamped Concrete

Stamped concrete driveways, patios, and sidewalks need sealer to maintain long and attractive use. This sealer protects the concrete from stains, discoloration, and moderate wear.

Concrete Stamped Steps
Site
Solomon Colors

Next Level Stamped Concrete Steps

Stamped concrete steps add value to stamped concrete projects. Texturing stairs adds to the cohesiveness of the design.

Types of Stamped Concrete for the Home

Stamp textures can be divided into several categories based on the pattern type. Each pattern type mimics a traditional paving material.

How to Get Stamped Concrete Over Existing Concrete

People frequently ask how they can get stamped concrete over existing concrete. Tearing out and replacing concrete is costly and invasive.

Outdoor Concrete Countertop
Site
Solomon Colors

Concrete Countertop Ideas

Concrete is apopular and trendy materials choice for countertops. Concrete countertops are apremium alternative to marble, granite, and quartz.

After-Concrete-Overlay
Site
Solomon Colors

Repairing A Concrete Driveway with Decorative Overlays

Cracked concrete is everywhere. For the enterprising contractor, every damaged driveway, sidewalk, or patio is a business opportunity.

The Need For Cool Concrete

Cool concrete isn't just neat. It's literally cool! Who hasn't had the experience of sprinting over a scorching hot concrete pool deck?

Concrete-Spray-Texture
Site
Solomon Colors

Opportunities with Concrete Spray Texture

Concrete spray texture is an incredibly flexible finish option. When considering how to texture concrete, spray textures offer several Key Benefits to the contractor and project owner alike.

Concrete Staining: Colors and Designs

Colored stains are a key part of modern decorative concrete designs. Choosing the right color concrete stain is important, but so is choosing the right design. There is far more diversity to the color stain and design available than most people suspect.

Why Is Stamped Colored Concrete So Popular?

Textured concrete as we know it has been around since the 1970's. For decades, it has consistently been one of the top paving choices in many parts of the country.

Stamped-Concrete-Driveway
Site
Solomon Colors

How to Stamp Concrete With Unique and Natural Colors

Have you ever heard the complaint that stamped concrete looks fake?

Integral Color & DAY1 in Tilt-Up Construction

This structure was part of the expansion for the Wells Fargo campus in Chandler, AZ.

Exposed Aggregate is a Blast from the Past

Fashions are cyclical. What was considered out of date a few years ago is now popular again.

Why Gray Matters? The Reason for Gray Pigment and Hardeners

Look at the Solomon Colors and Brickform color cards. You will find several gray options. That may be confusing.

Decorative Concrete Adds Value For Concrete Producers and Suppliers

Value Added is the cornerstone of a successful business. In order to make money, on a good or service, you have to be able to sell it for more than it cost you.

6 Steps When You're Considering Stamped Concrete

There’s more to a successful stamped concrete project than finding a contractor and writing a check.

Decorative-Stamped-Concrete
Site
Solomon Colors

7 Reasons Contractors Should Do Decorative Concrete

“Decorative concrete seems like too much work! Why should I do it?” This is something we hear from contractors all the time.

Interior Commercial Floor
Site
Solomon Colors

More Than Just Looks: 7 Reasons Beyond Appearance to Use Decorative Concrete

We often spend time talking about how good decorative concrete looks. It is an aesthetically driven product.

The Color of Money: Commercial Floors and Color

Creating and designing retail spaces is a difficult task. Build cost, maintenance cost, durability, and visual design must all be weighed to maximize the utility and effectiveness of the space.

The Eternal Debate: Color Hardener vs Integral Color

Few debates are as intense as the one between color hardener and integral color.

The Many Patterns of Stamped Concrete

Textured concrete is diverse. The architectural concrete industry has developed thousands of patterns that can be used in a near infinite range of applications.