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Polished concrete floors – factors that affect the floor finish

Published

1 year ago

October 18, 2021

Writer

The interior aesthetics of any building depends mainly on the type of flooring, and it impacts the functionality of the room. Floorings must be good looking, match with the overall interior decor and strong enough to handle the traffic load that it is likely to experience. Floors must be long lasting, too, because repairing or replacing the flooring is not always a viable option.

Concrete floors that used to be typically industrial flooring have now made their way into residential buildings as homeowners have shown good interest in using them for their homes. Today, concrete floors are a popular option because of their long life, affordability and maintaining the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics. It is possible to create shining concrete floors that complement the interior decor and create the most contemporary looks by polishing the floor using the technique of concrete grinding.

Polished concrete floors are now popular

Polished concrete is now a viable flooring alternative because you can achieve the desired aesthetics by using the correct polishing technique. Since concrete floors are exceptionally resilient and durable, the floor finishing does not damage easily. The good looks remain for a long time, even without any maintenance except wet mopping. To achieve the desired finish of polished concrete floors, it is vital to ensure that the quality of the concrete meets the [polishing requirements or else the finishing will be subpar.

The criticality of the concrete mix design

For new concrete floors, the ingredients of the concrete mix are critical in determining the quality of floor finish and the level of polish. For good polish, the concrete surface must be compact and dense without any voids, for which typically 3500 psi cement-rich concrete is ideal. The polishing company uses water-reducing admixtures to ensure smooth workability but maintains the correct water-cement ratio during concrete placement. Wet curing of new concrete though effective is not always practicable, and instead, using dissipating liquid curing compounds is a better alternative for curing the slab. Any residual curing compound does away during the coarse grinding phase when polishing.

Concrete placement and finish

Besides the correct concrete mix design, the concrete placement and finish are also important for achieving a high-quality polished finish of the flooring. Concrete flooring that maintains uniform flatness and level is best for uniform polish and help to keep the costs low. If the floor is uneven with many highs and lows, it would require intense grinding and more labour to increase the price. Even you might have to use several diamond tools for grinding the floor to make it uniform, further increasing the cost.

Polishing coloured concrete

To create coloured and polished concrete flooring, you can either start by mixing colour to the concrete mix or add colour to the floor by dyeing or staining after completing the floor laying process. However, the easiest way is to use a coloured concrete mix that gives the surface a more uniform colour. The colours are available in powder or liquid form and mixed when preparing the concrete mix.

Dyeing or acid staining is another way to produce coloured concrete floors which are suitable for polishing.

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Celebrity

The Mayor of Times Square Meets One of the World’s Oldest Holocaust Survivors

Published

18 hours ago

March 26, 2023

Eli Marcus

I arrived to a packed lecture room at a Library in South Florida. This lecture caught my eye weeks prior and I made sure to have it in my calendar. After all, how many more times will I get a chance to hear a 99 year old survivor tell his remarkable story of inconceivable hell, survival and ultimately impressive success? What I heard in the room that day was hard to fathom it wasn’t part of a Spielberg movie with some creative liberty thrown in to embellish an already unbelievable true story. This was the real deal. A vivid description of hell on earth. What I couldn’t understand is how did this survivor go on to create a vibrant family and a very successful business career and not be bitter every day of his life? Equally remarkable is how someone his age could tell a story from 85 years ago as if it happened yesterday and with energy and charisma of someone half his age. He spoke for 45 minutes without a break. Little did anyone in the audience know that, just prior to arriving at the Library, he fell and injured himself, making his perseverance in even making it to the Library even more heroic. This is no ordinary man. I approached the stage after the lecture, patiently awaited my turn to speak with him and asked if I could interview him for my podcast. I am pretty sure he knew little to nothing of what a podcast was, but he agreed as you are about to learn why telling his story over and over is his divine mission.

Eli Marcus and Sam Ron

Sam Ron bears personal witness to the greatest atrocity in human history. He is one of the only remaining Holocaust Survivors his age who survived four concentration camps…and a Death March. He turns 99 in July. His story is remarkable…and he himself is equally as remarkable.

Here’s what you will learn when listening to this World Exclusive interview on The Motivation Show podcast:

-Where did Sam grow up and what was life like before the Germans invaded his country

-How life changed once the Germans invaded and how long did the changes take

-Why and when did Sam and his family decide to go into hiding and where did he hide

-How did Sam end up in the Krakow Ghetto, how was it different than the infamous Warsaw Ghetto, and what took place in the Ghetto

-When did Sam first realize that the Germans were not just transporting Jews to what they disguised as labor camps, but were actually killing them.

-How many times was Sam transported in cattle cars and what was that like

-Which concentration camps was Sam in & what were they like

-What was life like in the concentration camps and why did they move Sam around to different camps

-What is a Death March, why and how did that happen and how did Sam survive it

-What lessons should listeners take away from Sam’s experience

-What does Never Again mean to Sam and why is it so important for him to share this and other Holocaust lessons

You can listen to this interview on any podcast listening app or use this Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KBPe9jhTdYw1iA9UN7UiK WARNING: This interview is GUARANTEED to move you to tears!!!

Art

Events In April Bring Easter, Spring and Flowers Galore.

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

Photograph: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s, Inc.

Join the Judy Garland and Fred Astaire tradition with the Easter Bonnet Parade on Fifth Avenue. There is also the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden or right at home the flower show at Macy’s. On select Fridays every month, you can enjoy Free Admission to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum between 5 pm and 9 pm.

Until 4/9: Macy’s Flower Show. The show includes beautiful, bright floral arrangements, special events including live music, and kids’ activities.

until 4/23: This is The Orchid Show‘s 20th year. Reconnect with nature while experiencing the picture-perfect beauty of the orchids. On select nights, adults can experience the exhibition through Orchid Nights, with music, cash bars, and food available for purchase.

4/1-30: Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival, hosted by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, celebrates Japanese culture and the arrival of spring. It features a variety of cultural performances and activities, as well as a small flea market, tea ceremonies, and crafts. The highlight is the magnificent display of cherry blossom trees, with over 200 trees in full bloom. Visitors can admire the pink and white blooms and enjoy a traditional Japanese atmosphere. Tickets are usually around $40 for adults, though seniors and students get a reduced rate of $35.

4/7-16th: The New York International Auto Show. The first new york Auto Show took place in 1900, for over 120 years now they have been sharing what’s new and interesting in the auto industry.

4/9: The Easter Parade starts near St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 10am. The tradition dates back to the 1870s, where elaborate bonnets and fashion galore is full frontal.

4/9: “Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time,” comes to MoMA.

4/15: The Tartan Day Parade is an NYC tradition that offers attendees a unique way to celebrate and honor Scottish culture. For the 25th year, there will be bagpipes, dancers, and even Scottish dogs marching in the parade. Attendance is free and open to the public. In addition to the parade, expect a whole week of Scottish-themed events and festivities.

4/15: Pillow Fight in the Park at Washington Square Park.

4/15: The New York Restoration Project is giving out 3,500 free trees to New Yorkers across all five boroughs. To get one of the 3,500 free trees that will be given away, register in advance on this website, where you’ll also get to browse through the current list of distribution dates, times and locations.

4/15 and 29: f the likes of udon, yakitori, ramen, and taiyaki make your mouth water, then mark your calendar for Japan Fes in Chelsea. The event will be held from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and is considered a paradise for Japanese foodies and cultural enthusiasts.

4/16: Holi in The City demands food, music, dance, and fun while embracing people and organizations from all ethnic and religious backgrounds.

4/22: Earth Day celebrated in NYC with a festive, family-friendly outdoor fair in Union Square. There will be dozens of exhibitors, interactive displays, a green-vehicle show, family activities, music, and entertainment. 12-6pm.

4/27: Attend The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience

4/27- 30: Antiquarian Book Fair now in its 63rd year, this festival for book collectors at Park Avenue Armory for a full weekend of first editions, maps, manuscripts and other treasures from literary epochs past from nearly 200 exhibitors.

Events

Celebrity Chef Sal Scognamillo, George Pettignano Bring Patsy’s Italian Restaurant To Life

Published

2 days ago

March 25, 2023

Errol Rappaport

Patsy’s Italian Restaurant has been known for years as the restaurant made famous by Frank Sinatra, and his family still enjoys dining here whenever they are in town. George Clooney’s aunt, cabaret singer and actress Rosemary Clooney, was once quoted, “Patsy’s is still the best Italian restaurant in town. I make a pasta pilgrimage there every time I return.”

Other long-time high profile patrons who consider Patsy’s Italian Restaurant their Manhattan dining room include, Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé, George Clooney, Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, Tony Danza, Jennifer Lopez, Liza Minnelli, Al Pacino, Rihanna, Martha Stewart, Ben Stiller, Oprah Winfrey, and many others.

Celebrity Chef Sal Scognamillo

We all had the pleasure to join Celebrity Chef Sal Scognamillo for a very special Private Lunch on March 18th hosted City Guide and Eli Marcus.

Eli Marcus,George Pettignano

Chef Sal shared some of his riveting stories about celebrities, sports stars and others famous guests. Ha also told us a few one-of-a-kind frank Sinatra stories about Frank’s exclusive table near we were seated.

Popular entertainer George Pettignano, a cousin of Bobby Rydell, sang classic tunes from the 40’s to 70’s ranging from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Beatles, Elvis & more! George, as a former Hollywood stunt man, shared some of his classic stories