Category Archives: Polished Concrete

Texas Bomanite Provides Stunning Bomanite Modena SL Polished Concrete Flooring System for Brownsville International Airport

July 7, 2021

The Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport is the newest major airport in Brownsville, TX. With quick access to the Gulf of Mexico and US Interstate Highway, this airport serves as a strategic hub for all international and domestic airlines, as well as private aviation operations and continues to grow and support the expanding community.

In developing the buildout of a new passenger terminal Corgan Architects along with Jacobs Engineering developed new design elements and an aesthetic overhaul that reflects the region and culture of Brownsville. Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport was formerly designated as the headquarters of Pan American’s Western Division in the 1930s. The airport made history establishing the first international Airmail Service when Charles Lindbergh landed in Brownsville in 1929 after a historic flight from Mexico City. The city then became a pioneer training center for teaching pilots to fly with navigation instruments only.

The new two-story, 89,000-square-foot building utilizes the latest terminal design features and amenities that include designing and constructing a new four-gate terminal and a Federal Inspection Services (FIS) Facility for commercial and general aviation, replacing the existing facility built-in 1971. Previously restricted to regional aircraft, the project now allows the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and is designed for a future terminal expansion with expected increased air travel.

When it came to renovating and revitalizing the airport, Corgan wanted to make sure that the city’s unique history was represented in all design aspects. Corgan worked with Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite, starting in December 2017 on the initial design, several 6” x 6” concrete samples of different gray tones and finishes were a must-have to a make sure the airport flooring would provide as much as an insightful impact as the surrounding structures. Working in close proximity to Corgan’s office allowed for several larger-scale mock-ups to be seen in person at Texas Bomanite’s facility. Ultimately polished concrete was chosen for its long-term durability and low maintenance. Texas Bomanite contracted through the winning bid GC SpawGlass Contractors to provide 42,300 square feet of the Bomanite Modena SL polished concrete system; an installation that finalized in December 2020.

The final color of choice was Nickle Gray Bomanite Modena SL, used throughout the ticketing area, TSA Security Checkpoints as well as the upper floors for Boarding. Texas Bomanite provided the ultimate solution to the early design concerns for finding an acceptable concrete finish for the existing structural slab. The polished concrete floor in gray complimented the stainless steel borders seen throughout the terminal. Precast stair treads were also created with the Bomanite Modena SL system for a cohesive design. Bomanite Modena SL is a versatile engineered interior polymer modified cementitious topping that is blended with selected aggregates and then ground and polished to the desired gloss level. The new terminal floors were prepped with 24-40 metal bond diamonds and a rapid set epoxy primer with sanding to refusal prior to installing the Bomanite polished concrete system. Polished to a final 800 Grit with Bomanite Stabilizer Poly Pro and Bomanite VitraFinish provided for a solid surface with superior stain resistance. Metzger McGuire RS-88 in warm stone was used for the joint filler to complete the overall custom decorative concrete flooring for the Brownsville International Airport.

The Modena system is a low-cost alternative for renovation projects and provides the durability and strength for this exceptionally long lifespan system. With the Bomanite Modena SL systems ability to be installed over concrete or properly prepared wood substrates, with cove base and stair components generally pre-cast, it made for the perfect complement to the overall design elements and architectural plans. Having the industry’s lowest lifecycle costs, low to zero VOC and minimal maintenance requirements, Bomanite Modena SL was the optimal choice for Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport and earned Texas Bomanite the 2020 Best Custom Polishing Systems Project Bronze Award.

Premier Concrete Construction Emphasizes Sponsorship Stars with Bomanite Modena TG Polished Concrete

June 2, 2021

The Jaffrey Park Theatre has a long history that began in 1922. The Park Theatre was the center of community life as a movie and vaudeville house for 54 years and in 1976 became a retail store and warehouse. In 2005 The Park Theatre Corporation decided to purchase the building and renovate the historical site. Almost 20 years later The Park Theatre has been rejuvenated and ready to provide artistic, cultural, entertainment and educational programs and activities for the residents of and visitors to the communities of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire.

The Park Theatre was rebuilt as a sustainable, state-of-the-art film and performing arts center, featuring two auditoriums and presenting movies, live theatre, including children’s productions, concerts, live acts, lectures and symposiums as well as a venue for community and business gatherings.

Calling up BKA Architects, The Park Theatre Corporation requested that the building façade use an Art Deco period design to recapture an element of sentimentality for the 1920s era and as homage to the original theatre with the founder’s home on top. With the design intent, they knew they wanted a polished exposed concrete floor and when the time came in February 2019, the architect reached out to Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Construction, LLC to discuss the possibilities. With little under 5,000 square feet to work with, Premier Concrete met with Caroline K. Hollister, Trustee, President and Treasurer of The Park Theatre and Matt Pelletier of BKA Architects at their Boston Decorative Concrete Showroom. It was at the showroom that the clients learned of the different textures and colors of concrete.

An important design element was the star sponsorships, each donor over $10,000 received a star with their name engraved such like the California Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Bomanite Custom Polishing System Renaissance was the choice for the main lobby entrance flooring, in a dark black color, to provide a background that would make the golden stars pop off the floor. In order to achieve the deep dark color, Premier Concrete created a custom Raven Black Integral Color. Using Bomanite Integral Color provides for uniformity of color throughout the depth of the Concrete while producing durability and longevity of the concrete itself. During the polishing process Black Concrete Dye was added to the top of the colored slab to achieve the deepest darkest color possible.

Premier Concrete crafted a solid solution for creating the stars with a molded form that was placed before the concrete was poured. Once the field of Black concrete was set and polished, forms were removed and a formulation of Bomanite Modena TG, a modern terrazzo like mix, filled the voids. The Bomanite Modena TG Bomanite Custom Polishing System used 3 different colors of yellow glass in 3 differing sizes along with touches of mirror glass to provide the bright golden contrast against the Black backdrop. Once set, each donors name was engraved into the star and displayed with a metallic epoxy for some old-world Hollywood glamour.

Prior to the work being started, several samples of contrasting color palettes were created and shown to the clients as well as onsite mockups. Determining the best plan to bring the Park Theatre’s vision to life was critical to the success of the space and intent of design. Premier Concrete’s showroom allowed for the clients to learn more about the possibilities of Bomanite Decorative Concrete. Samples provided the clients with ease of mind and a visual to a stunning end result.

This grand project won Premier Concrete Construction the 2020 Silver Award for the Best Bomanite Custom Polishing System Project. With Premier Concrete’s quality of work and creativity, The Park Theatre now showcases a distinct decorative detail while providing a dynamic regional center for the arts and entertainment as well as an artistic meeting place for the community.

Texas Bomanite Provides Award Winning High-Rise Polished Concrete for The Richards Group Agency

March 24, 2021

Founded 43 years ago, The Richards Group has produced award-winning advertising campaigns for some of the most recognizable brands in the world and is known as the largest independent agency in America. Before the advertising giant and its sizable staff of 700 moved into the new 550,000 square foot The Richards Group building near downtown Dallas they knew they wanted the lobby to have a modern sophistication that supported the company’s culture.

Working with Perkins + Will Architects and owner Stan Richards, Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite was called in to provide the polished concrete floor, initially only for the lobby area to greet incoming clients and visitors. After seeing the finished product and realizing the potential of the durability and benefits, the owner decided to incorporate the Bomanite polished concrete system into all the common spaces on 8 additional floors thus substantially increasing the scope of the work.

With the project well under way and in order to meet the General Contractor, Manhattan Construction Company’s established schedule, Texas Bomanite agreed to build the work in 2 phases. This phasing required Texas Bomanite to do the first part of the work prior to the installation of the exterior curtain wall, a highly transparent glass skin that was designed to allow dramatic changes from day to night. Texas Bomanite brought their expertise and a new meaning to “polishing to the edge” while working on floors 11-18, making for some very exciting views for the crew. In total, over 70,400 Square Feet of floors and walkways were polished to a 1500 grit finish with a salt and pepper aggregate exposure complimenting the three-story stairwell atrium and workspaces.

In designing the new class-free workplace, Perkins + Will created an open work environment that offers endless opportunities for creative collaboration that fit the egalitarian culture at The Richards Group. Each idea was evaluated on only two criteria—how it enhanced the quality of space or the quality of their culture. Polished concrete floors bring numerous benefits for the end user and work well in corporate buildings. Polished concrete is a very dense finished surface with little porosity left once finished. This inhibits the collection of dirt and dust which can be trapped in carpet and become airborne along with allergens and other pollutants. Bomanite polished concrete also “breathes” allowing moisture vapor normally trapped in non-permeable floor finishes or retained in carpet to pass through the system without the potential to encourage mold to develop. Another benefit for Bomanite polished concrete flooring is that it meets all national traction standards providing excellent slip resistance in both wet and dry conditions. The Bomanite Polished Concrete system was the choice for an optimal environment for the company’s culture as well as the health and safety of all employees and visitors.

Texas Bomanite was awarded the 2015 Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Project GOLD AWARD for their expertise and high-rise polishing details while finishing the project under budget and on time.

Premier Concrete Construction Provides Sustainable Polished Bomanite Concrete Floors for Brothers Marketplace

February 11, 2021

Brothers Marketplace is a family-owned business that has expanded into local communities bringing an innovative approach to food with unique offerings. With five locations and counting, the neighborhood market offers customers a one-stop grocery shopping and dining experience with a carefully curated selection of fresh foods, local and specialty products, delicious prepared meals, and grocery essentials. Recently a new Brothers Marketplace opened in Waltham, MA that showcases a newly finished sustainable polished concrete floor.

Designed by BHDP in collaboration with the owners, Roche Bros. the location for the Waltham Brothers Marketplace was the first to be placed in a residential building. The mixed-use structure features the Brothers Marketplace on the first floor and four floors of apartments sit above, delivering on the brand’s promise “Eat. Drink. Be Local.”

With the market emphasizing local producers and vendors, reaching out to local Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Construction, was appropriate. Premier Concrete worked with the designer and owners to establish the perfect floor not only to accommodate patrons but equipment as well; shopping carts, hand trucks, utility carts and adjustable shelving. Unlike traditional floor finishes, such as carpet or vinyl tile, polished concrete does not require extensive maintenance procedures such as waxing, burnishing or wet vacuuming, a benefit the owners appreciated.

The Bomanite Custom Polishing VitraFlor system can be utilized on existing or new uncolored concrete. Bomanite VitraFlor utilizes select un-colored concrete that is placed and finished to standards required for decorative polished concrete flooring. The concrete is ground to expose the desired amount of aggregate, then polished to the required gloss level and treated with a Bomanite stain resist. Samples of differing gloss and aggregate exposures were reviewed. The decision was made to install the Bomanite VitraFlor system with a Class B Fine aggregate exposure, with little or no medium aggregate at random locations known as a salt and pepper finish. The floor was then polished to a Level 3, which typically produces a medium-high sheen level with a 50-60 Gloss reading. The primary benefit to Bomanite VitraFlor is the simplicity of installation and durability of the finished floor, lending to its low-maintenance and long-term sustainable features.

Brothers Marketplace was a concept born from second-generation siblings Rick and Ed Roche of the well distinguished Massachusetts supermarket, Roche Bros. In launching the Brothers Marketplace concept, they wanted to be sure that they kept within their mission of providing their customers with the highest quality products and outstanding customer service. Bomanite VitraFlor is just one of the quality decorative concrete products and systems offered by Bomanite and its licensed installers, perfect sustainable flooring for grocery stores, retail shops, industrial warehouses and more.

Bomanite Decorative Concrete Contractors Give Back to the Community

November 16, 2020

Bomanite Cares across the U.S.A., Bomanite licensed decorative concrete contractors make a difference in their communities

Humanitarian, hero, and three-time heavyweight champion of the world, Mohammed Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Revered for his accomplishments in the ring and beloved the world over for his sharp wit and big heart outside of it, Ali’s legacy is that of The People’s Champion. David Edwards also enjoys a challenge and relishes the chance to give back. As the co-owner of Edwards Concrete Bomanite in Winter Garden, Florida, Edwards has been in the concrete business for more than 40 years. His firm specializes in decorative concrete applications and between the heat and humidity and Florida’s frequently difficult soil conditions, every job his firm does seems to have a few challenges.

“We do stamped concrete, exposed aggregate, polished, colored, and stained concrete,” says Edwards, who has been a Bomanite licensed contractor since 1989. His team of approximately 25 has been devising decorative concrete solutions across central Florida for four decades in service to theme parks, commercial contractors, and public institutions of all sorts and scales. “We don’t shy away from difficult jobs, and while I wear a lot of hats, I enjoy getting into the design side of the work quite a bit.”

When the COVID-19 shattered the world’s sense of normality in early 2020, Edwards was inspired to make a meaningful contribution to his community and quickly harnessed his team’s talents to put a little happiness in the lives of others. “My wife and I grew up in Ocoee, Florida and have lived here our whole lives,” says Edwards. “When the pandemic hit, we wanted to do something for the local health care workers who were putting their lives on the line for people in this community.” Edwards first approached Mayor Rusty Johnson about a charitable giving project he had in mind for the Orlando Health – Central Hospital in Ocoee, Fl. Once the seed was planted, Edwards and his team quickly conceived of a way to enliven the building’s entrance with a decorative token of esteem. In a group effort, Edwards secured material donations from his long-time local suppliers of ready-mix concrete, lumber, and metalwork to assemble the resources required.

The result is a beautiful patio garden next to the building’s staff entrance where health care workers can catch a moment of reprieve from the rigors within. A bold blue heart of Bomanite Exposed Aggregate Concrete in a glass finish is surrounded by blocks of Portland cement seeded with mother of pearl flakes and white chip granite. Strips of artificial turf segment the concrete sections to make the whole patio a refreshing pop of vibrant color that offers a warm welcome and a calm, quiet respite to the hospital’s healthcare workers. “We absolutely appreciate the healthcare workers on the front lines of this pandemic,” says Edwards with genuine satisfaction. “This resting area was meant to help them replenish themselves amid the stress and challenges of their jobs. We were fortunate to be considered an essential service in the early stages of the pandemic and wanted to show our support for the healthcare workers and our community.”

Tyler Balch is a second-generation owner of Texas Bomanite in Dallas. “Since the firm was founded in 1987, one of our core beliefs has been giving back to the community we serve,” says Balch of the firm’s operational foundation. Texas Bomanite employs close to 100 people and completes commercial architectural concrete projects across most of Texas from offices in Dallas and Austin. When the firm was approached about a small but significant polished concrete project for The American Fallen Soldiers Project in Addison, Texas, Balch knew immediately that their cause was worthy of charitable consideration.

A 501c3 non-profit organization, The American Fallen Soldiers Project honors and memorializes American military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice with an original, hand-painted portrait of the fallen that is presented to their family. The brainchild of artist Phil Taylor, each portrait is undertaken to provide Gold Star Families with a small token of comfort and compassion in their time of loss. When the organization leased a new office and gallery space in a suburban office park and inquired about a polished concrete floor, Texas Bomanite decided to do it at a discount. “They wanted a polished concrete floor with a black orchid dye to give the space a very high-end, museum-quality feel,” shares Balch of the scope of work. “Because of the condition of the existing concrete slab, the work involved a lot of patching and grinding to prep the floor to be polished. We felt this was a cause we would be proud to get behind, so we donated time and materials equal to about 28 percent of the total cost. With Bomanite you are getting the best of the best, so making this an affordable option for a very worthy recipient made everyone involved feel fantastic.”

In Aurora, Colorado Bomanite licensed contractor, Colorado Hardscapes, supported a feel-good project of a different sort. Founded in 1947, Colorado Hardscapes has been Front Range Colorado’s premier decorative concrete contractors since the industry’s inception. When they learned of a local effort by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to build a sensory garden and playground for a local 7-year-old boy, Colorado Hardscapes jumped on board.
“The City of Aurora teamed up with the Make a Wish Foundation and a whole host of others to develop a fully-accessible playground with a sensory focus at Red-Tailed Hawk Park near the child’s home. We knew right away this was something we wanted to be a part of,” says Project Manager, Christy Bol. The child’s wish of wishes was simply to go to the park to play and laugh with other children and making that dream come true was a joy and honor for all involved.

The 8,000 SF site features a sensory wall composed of a tactile composition of shapes, textures, and colors, a wavy walk that undulates like a roller coaster, and swings, spinners, and slides of several sorts. A Bomanite Topping Systems – Micro-Top XT was used to make the sensory wall pop with color, while a Bomanite imprint texture mat added a high-touch surface to the rising wall. Bomanite Con-Color was also used to stain the concrete to add swooshes of whimsical flair to flatwork surfaces.“We donated the materials and labor to do the wavy walk and stained concrete design throughout the park and did the vibrant, textured seat wall at cost,” says Bol. “We were also able to secure a donation from our concrete supplier, Aggregate Industries, for all of the concrete we installed.” Beyond the giving back, Bol shares that the project called upon Colorado Hardscapes’ artistic capacities. “There was only a sketch to start with, so our team got to be creative in conceptualizing the parts and pieces of this one-of-a-kind sensory wall.”

From functional to fantastic, these projects explore the many interesting and innovative possibilities in the world of decorative concrete while illuminating a common bond between Bomanite’s nation-wide network of licensed contractors. “From our perspective, we feel like we have been blessed to be a part of this great community-enhancing project,” finishes Bol. “Charitable giving is a great way to give back and show our commitment to the people and places our projects serve in a long-lasting, meaningful way.”

Written By Sean O’Keefe

Texas Bomanite Installs Bomanite VitraFlor Sustainable Polished Concrete Floor for the New Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

November 4, 2020

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is a brand-new, LEED Certified state-of-the-art facility located on two blocks in the historic West End District of Downtown Dallas. Originally founded in 1984 by a group of Dallas area Holocaust Survivors, the museum is dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Their now permanent location is comprised of over 55,000 square feet built with rich history, awareness and education and three permanent exhibitions. These include the Holocaust/Shoah Wing, the Human Rights Wing, and the Pivot to America Wing. The museum also encompasses traveling exhibition space, a performing arts auditorium, community lobby, reflection space, education spaces, library archives, administration offices, and a public plaza.

Designer, Dallas-based Omniplan wanted a clean, modern and progressive feel for the flooring surface that would maximize the space and be cohesive with the overall design. The Bomanite VitraFlor Polished Concrete System was selected for its industrial modernity, sustainable design and LEED qualities. Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite provided the Bomanite decorative concrete flooring completing approximately 28,000 square feet on several levels. The VitraFlor system consists of initial grinding of the original concrete slab to standards letting the natural aggregate color to shine. Zero VOC products to chemically harden such as Bomanite Stabilizer Pro, and Bomanite VitraFinish to hone and polish for final protection and stain resist finish the application. Bomanite VitraFlor allows for flexibility in design with different exposure of aggregates. The main lobby and walkways used a Class D large aggregate exposure with a level 3-1500 Grit Polish with some areas using a Polyurea Joint Filler in the color Gauntlet Gray. The Exhibit Hall polished surface was given a slightly different treatment with a Class B salt and pepper aggregate exposure and a level 3-1500 Grit Polish.

Bomanite VitraFlor provided a cost effective and low-maintenance polished concrete floor that is ideal for high traffic conditions. With over 80,000 visitors in 2018 in their previous location, the newly built facility will be able to handle even more guests as well as equipment for moving or changing of exhibits. Contributing to additional LEED accrual points for Optimized Energy Performance, Bomanite VitraFlor can reduce maintenance costs by as much as 80% over conventional flooring system such as carpet or VCT. Dramatically improving light reflectivity which reduces the amount of lighting required and therefore energy consumed was an intentional design attribute with the entrance floor to ceiling windows lending to its long-term sustainable features.

The Museum is one of just a few Holocaust-related museums or centers in the United States and the only Holocaust museum serving North Central Texas, as well as the adjacent states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. It has been recognized for its compelling and creative programming, internationally recognized exhibits, and world-class speakers. The new – modern, immersive and interactive technology captivates and educates visitors of all ages. To fully experience the designers plan visit https://www.omniplan.com/tangent/2020/03/behind-the-design-of-the-dallas-holocaust-and-human-rights-museum.html

Texas Bomanite earned the 2019 Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Project Honorable Mention Award for their precise application of the Bomanite VitraFlor System. Along with the floor installation, they also created the outdoor courtyard decorative sculpture base and walls showing their extreme craftsmanship in the Decorative Concrete Industry.

Musselman & Hall Contractors Earn Silver for Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind Application for Olathe West High School

September 25, 2020

Olathe West High School opened in the fall of 2017, designed using architecturally advanced techniques to create an innovative and futuristic learning environment for their students. The three-story school, spanning 375,000 square feet, focuses on the use of technology, open, modular learning spaces, efficiency and collaboration among students. A centrally-located learning commons provides student gathering and education collaboration spaces that connect to the entire building.

The school is designed with four wings where students attend classes. The building also includes an open concept Library with 60 planting boxes on a growing wall, four mini-libraries overlooking the main first floor library, a Public Safety Academy, Green Tech learning center, media center, performing arts center with retractable seating, gymnasiums with a one-ninth mile track around the top and a 200 square foot rooftop greenhouse.

Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC worked with the project designers, Hollis + Miller and Stantec, to provide a sustainable low maintenance topping and polishing technique that is becoming a standard in school construction. Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC placed 25,000 square-feet of 2”-thick Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind system as an unbonded topping slab integrating local aggregates and references. Once the slab was cured, it was ground down to expose the coarse aggregates and then polished to a semi-gloss concrete finish.

“Bomanite’s Renaissance Deep Grind is a high-end, readily customized decorative concrete that really bring designs to life,” says Dan Kroesen, a Vice President with Musselman & Hall Contractors. The Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind polished concrete system represents a custom mix of individually sourced aggregates, sands, and added integral colors that can be installed as a slab on grade or unbonded overlay. Once the concrete sets, it is milled, ground, and finally polished to produce a beautiful, solid surface that looks and wears very similar to terrazzo.

While every type of flooring requires regular maintenance, one of the advantages of the Bomanite Renaissance Deep Grind process is the long-term cost positives. Because the floor is treated with chemical hardeners that reduce porosity, while still allowing it to breath, fully-exposed hard aggregates are the predominate wear surface rather than an applied sealer or coating. Correctly selecting aggregates by size, type, and color allows the floor to wear naturally while supporting superior stain resistance to traditional concrete because no film-forming agents are required to maintain a Bomanite Renaissance floor.

The Bomanite Renaissance system checks a lot of boxes – tremendous design flexibility, first-cost savings, lower cost maintenance, making Bomanite Decorative Concrete the right investment for long lasting beauty and benefit for school construction projects and its communities.

AWARDS: Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC earned the Best Bomanite Custom Polishing Silver Award 2019 for the high-end, readily customized decorative concrete installation at Olathe West High School.

Musselman & Hall Provide Grand Winning Bomanite Polished Concrete for Grain Valley High School

June 10, 2020

With school out for the summer that leaves room for designers and contractors to have more readily available access for specified improvements and upgrades. Growing School Districts looking to restyle, update or renovate can trust the Bomanite Modena SL system for low maintenance and cost saving benefits. The Grain Valley High School originally built in the late 1990s finished its phase 4 expansion to accommodate its rapidly growing student body. Expansion brought much needed instructional and collaboration space, a game changer for students. With a large amount of community support, the School took into consideration the need to provide a low maintenance flooring with an element of design to embody the schools colors and team spirit.

Hollis + Miller Architects worked with Bomanite Decorative Concrete Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC on several other past projects and knew that they could come up with a custom winning design. They searched through a number of samples, library binders, created idea boards and pulled together a combination of polished concrete and different aggregates that would give the students academia pride in their newly expanded school.

Phase 4 creates a new main entrance, media center, lecture hall, administration area, and courtyard for student use. The new entrance to the “Eagle Way” promenade is flanked by a huge monolithic concrete wall dressed out in the school colors of royal blue and white. The entrance’s 2,890 sq. ft. hallway contains two shades of vibrant blue glass aggregate and eye-catching pieces of sparkling mirror glass polished to a brilliant luster. After the concrete base slab was poured, it was topped with a two-inch thick Bomanite Modena SL topping slab, aggregates added and after a brief curing period the floor was then polished to the perfect grit and shine.

Additionally, included in the project were 1,945 sq. ft. of a refined “cream polish” surface (Class A aggregate exposure with a Level 3 polish) and 4,335 sq. ft. of a perfect “salt and pepper” finish (Class B aggregate exposure with a Level 3 polish). Musselman & Hall crews also polished three sets of concrete steps with a three-line nose detail engraved into the concrete. The newly created grooves were filled with “Grain Valley Blue” epoxy to bring some school spirit and color into the Bomanite cream polished finish designed surface areas.

The Bomanite Modena SL Custom Polishing System is an engineered interior cementitious topping that is blended with selected aggregates and then ground and polished to the desired gloss level. The Modena system transforms existing or worn surfaces into beautiful walkways, school hallways, showrooms, restaurants and lobbies and is available in a range of colors and patterns using decorative sawcuts. Additional topically applied stains and a variety of aggregates, such as recycled glass or porcelain along with regionally sourced materials, are all options in creating a beautifully designed, environmentally friendly and functional floor. The Modena system is a low-cost alternative for renovation projects and provides the durability and strength for this exceptionally long lifespan system. With the industry’s lowest lifecycle costs, low to zero VOC and minimal maintenance requirements, Modena by Bomanite Polished Concrete was the optimal choice for Grain Valley’s expansion and renovations.

Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC received several awards for their exceptional work at Grain Valley High School. They were awarded the Bomanite Outstanding Grand Award as well as the Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems Gold Award. More than a century of construction heritage dating back to the late 1800’s distinguishes Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC as one of the mid-west’s longest-standing general contractors. From railroads to roadways, through two world wars and building our nation’s infrastructure, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC has been a leader in horizontal construction of every scale. With offices in Kansas City, St. Louis and Wichita, today Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC is perhaps best known for their work in architectural concrete where they apply Bomanite systems and products to help architects and contractors realize exceptional decorative flat work on high-profile projects such as the Sprint Center, Kauffman Stadium and The Legends at West Village.

Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC maintains a comprehensive Bomanite systems showroom at their Kansas City and St. Louis offices, which allows owners, designers and builders to see and feel each product first hand during design. A legacy of valuing long-term relationships over short-term profits has earned Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC the trust and admiration of countless clients as the regional leader in exceptional construction.

Bomanite Modena SL Polished Concrete Overlay takes Nickel and Suede’s Flagship Store to new Heights

April 8, 2020

Be Brave. Take a Chance. Change Your Life. These words are the mantra of Nickel & Suede, believing that trying something new can change your life. What started out in a basement and now has become a multimillion-dollar business with a 12,500 square foot facility for their Headquarters, Nickel & Suede just opened their flagship store with many more retail spaces to come.

The Missouri local, Kilee Nickels and her husband Soren tell the story of how the idea and need for a pair of statement earrings became a bigger than life moment.

Kilee’s simple teardrop design made from a leather purchase inspired by her family’s previous belt business was an immediate success and she set about making earrings for others. Kilee and her husband, Soren Nickels founded Nickel & Suede in 2014 and have grown the company to thirty employees while keeping their product made in the United States. The Kansas City couple creates lightweight, statement earrings made of leather and high-quality materials such as 14 karat gold. They started their company in the basement of their home but quickly outgrew the space and knew they needed to expand. They reached out to Kansas City based Hufft Design, recognized as one of the top 50 design firms by Architect Magazine, to help them create a plan for growth. Hufft designed their retail store in their new 12,500 square-foot headquarters in Liberty, Missouri. The facility is a master’s course in retail design, providing a refined shopping experience that evokes the quality of the Nickel & Suede products. Hufft designed the Nickel & Suede floor system with a honey-colored wood island inset into a Bomanite Custom Polished concrete floor.

Nickel and Suede installed a Bomanite Custom Polished Concrete Modena SL Flooring System in their new retail flagship store located in liberty, Mo with the help of Bomanite Licensee Musselman and Hall.

Bomanite Licensee, Musselman & Hall Contractors, LLC had previously worked with Hufft on their award-winning designs for the Tuft & Needle store in Overland Park, Kansas. The contractor and designers had worked together to choose a polishable overlay for the Tuft & Needle shopfront that would allow minimal issues with transitions, but still create a durable and attractive floor. That first installation ended up being just the ticket, so Hufft decided to utilize the same high performance self-leveling concrete polish overlay, Bomanite Modena SL in the Nickel & Suede flagship shop. The overlay was to be installed at only ⅜” thick, so preparation was key. The Musselman & Hall foreman, Johnathon Eggert, and his crew used large abrasive diamond grinders to profile the entire interior floor as preparation for the overlay. A five-man crew was able to place the entire floor in just one day using small onsite mixers. The new flooring overlay only needed 24 hours to cure before it could be finished. Diamond tooling was used to polish the floor to a satin finish. A Bomanite penetrating sealer was applied to provide resistance against stains while still keeping a low maintenance surface. The warm gray floors show no perceptible aggregate and are an integral part of the overall design aesthetic.

Soren Nickels had this to say about his experience, “We wanted to build up the concrete floor to the level of our decorative inset, while going for a refined concrete look. We were introduced to Musselman & Hall with the understanding that their creative work in concrete concepts would give us some trustworthy options. This definitely proved to be the case. We wanted to avoid any surprises, so we let our trust in their experience lead the way. We felt that the product they recommended would match what we were looking for-even with all the particulars we asked for. The team that showed up to do the work definitely proved to be careful masters of their craft. In our minds it was fine-finish work and they delivered. We even made a few last-minute adjustments that were handled with ease, flexibility and speed. ”

The finished retail interior floor is a simple, but elegant representation of the design flexibility of decorative architectural concrete and Bomanite’s diverse sustainable offering of flooring and paving systems. As Nickel & Suede continue to inspire individuals to be brave and try new things. We encourage you to imagine the possibilities and let Bomanite Decorative Concrete make those dreams a reality.

Awards & Press:

Bomanite Decorative Concrete Awards March 2020: Bomanite Custom Polishing System Bronze Award

Kansas City Business Journal Capstone Award March 2020

Interior Design Magazine Oct 2019: https://www.interiordesign.net/articles/17074-teardrop-earrings-inspire-nickel-and-suede-s-office-by-matthew-hufft/

Texas Bomanite Receives Award for Cypress Waters Lobby using Bomanite VitraFlor

October 9, 2019

Cypress Waters is the newest 1,000-acre master-planned community to rise up in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Just five minutes from the DFW International airport, Cypress Waters is centered around a serene 300-acre lake, that entails office, multi-family and retail waterfront developments. The owners, Billingsley Co, wanted Cypress Waters to infuse waterfront living with the design principles of new urbanism and sustainable design. Their goal was to emphasize the benefits of a live / work community, and interconnect over 4.5 million square feet of office space with retail, parks, trails, and a lakeside town center.

Bomanite VitraFlor Custom Polished Concrete Floors installed by Texas Bomanite at the Cypress Waters Business Complex in Coppell Texas perfect for interior flooring lobbies

Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite was brought in by the General Contractor, Adolfson & Peterson Construction to polish and seal 4,500 square feet of interior concrete flooring in the lobby of the 225,000 square foot office building at 9111 Cypress Waters Blvd. Designed by GFF Architects, Texas Bomanite lended to the modern, sustainable design of the architecture by polishing the concrete to a 1,500 grit with a salt and pepper finish. Texas Bomanite utilized the Bomanite Custom Polishing VitraFlor system; which consisted of grinding, chemical hardening with Bomanite Stabilizer Pro, and honing and polishing with Bomanite VitraFinish.

Prior to the final installation of the project Texas Bomanite also provided a 100 square foot mock-up, which allowed the architects and General Contractors a solid idea of exactly what the finished product would look like. Even the results on plain concrete can be stunning. The Bomanite Custom Polishing VitraFlor system can be utilized on existing or new uncolored concrete.

Bomanite VitraFlor utilizes select un-colored concrete that is placed and finished to standards required for decorative polished concrete flooring. The concrete is ground to expose the desired amount of aggregate, then polished to the required gloss level and treated with a Bomanite stain resist. The primary benefit to Bomanite VitraFlor is the simplicity of installation and durability of the finished floor, lending to its low-maintenance and long-term sustainable features.

Texas Bomanite received the 2018 Honorable Mention Bomanite Custom Polishing Systems Award for their outstanding decorative concrete work on the 9111 Cypress Waters Blvd. Business Complex.