Cuviello Concrete In the News

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Concrete Contractor Magazine, March 2010:
Bennett High School, Salisbury Maryland

Although the James M. Bennett High School in Salisbury, Md., will not be submitted for certification through LEED, the Wicomico County Board of Education knew that all future schools built in the district would have to earn LEED certification.

With maintenance budgets shrinking and LEED in the back of the owner's mind, the architect set out to find a flooring solution that fit into LEED requirements, would be aesthetically pleasing and would require less maintenance than traditional VCT (vinyl composition tile). The solution was to use the existing concrete sub floor and mechanically process and highly refine the surface to a polish with diamond abrasives for a polished concrete floor.

Technical Articles for the Trade, Written by Jim Cuviello

Concrete Contractor Magazine, December 2014:
The Secrets to Specifying Bonded Abrasive Polished Concrete on New Construction - Why Specifications Alone will Not Ensure a Successful Installation

Concrete Contractor Magazine, March 2016:
Managing Owner and General Contractor Expectations - Great Expectations

Concrete Contractor Magazine, December 2017:
Understanding the New Polished Concrete Appearance Chart

Concrete Contractor Magazine, January 2008:
An Introduction to Concrete Processing - A look at the basics of concrete grinding, honing and polishing

With the concrete polishing industry still in its infancy, much of the terminology is used incorrectly. "Concrete polishing" is frequently used out of context; most often the correct terminology is "concrete processing," which describes a process not much different from other industries putting material such as stone, metal and optical lenses through a like process.

Concrete Contractor Magazine, January 2009:
Tips for Decorative Concrete Contractors on Polished Concrete - Planning the Finish

The success of a polished concrete surface doesn't rest solely with the concrete processing steps. Careful planning of the project from mix design through final protection will help a contractor achieve a successful end.

Concrete Contractor Magazine, May 2009:
Concrete Grinding and Polishing - Choose the Right Equipment

Selecting equipment to grind, hone and polish can be a daunting task. There are several factors to take into consideration, among them the equipment's power requirements, weight, motor size, overall dimensional size, working dimensions and direction or directions the abrasives rotate.

Concrete Contractor Magazine, January 2010:
Know Your Abrasives for Polished Concrete - Abrasives 101

Abrasives are the most important tool for mechanically processing concrete to a polished finish. They come in many forms, shapes and sizes and are made out of various materials whose bonding varies in hardness. Many people think a densifier is required to create a polished finish - a densifier will increase the durability of a polished finish and aesthetically improve it, but it is not required to achieve a polish.

Concrete Contractor Magazine, January 2011:
A Scientific Approach to Polishing Concrete

One of the issues I see in the concrete polishing industry is contractors not allowing an abrasive to fully refine the floor to its maximum potential before moving to the next grit in the processing sequence. The result is a floor that lacks overhead reflective clarity and durability.

So how does a contractor know when an abrasive has refined the surface to its fullest potential? How does an owner, architect and general contractor bid a job and receive apples-to-apples bids where finished results will be the same regardless if they choose contractor A or B?

Concrete Contractor Magazine, January 2012:
How to Properly Handle Concrete Slurry

The rules governing the disposal of concrete slurry created during polishing, cutting and grinding can be murky without a set of guidelines to follow.

Concrete Network:
Concrete Polishing: A Top Contractor's Tips to Producing the Perfect Polished Floor