Frequently Asked Questions – What You Need to Know

CTI's main product line called the "Hallmark System," is a color integrated, modified acrylic cement product made of Portland cement, silica sand, and a modified acrylic resin for its bonding agent.

CTI offers a 10-year limited material warranty on its Hallmark System against dramatic fading, delamination, and general product failure.

Concrete Technology Inc. manufactures a full line of concrete beautification and restoration products for residential and commercial use. CTI has different products that can be used over concrete floors, existing countertops, and even walls. Concrete Technology manufactures a line of tough, durable epoxy and urethane floor coatings in the commercial setting that can protect concrete even in the harshest of environments.

We generally apply our systems on old concrete between 3/32" to 1/8". CTI's systems are thin layered cement that depends on adhesion through modified acrylics.

CTI's systems achieve the look, texture, and color of any type of stone or look you require. A base coat is applied that fixes any imperfections in the original concrete. A design is then laid over it, and a hopper gun shoots on a textured layer over that. A final clear coat is put over the nonporous system and protects it as well as makes it very easy to maintain. Mold, mildew, motor oil, etc., can be sprayed off with a regular garden hose. Common detergents can be used to remove tough or repetitive latencies. Visit our Photo Gallery to see some examples!

We have a variety of standard colors to choose from. However, we can custom produce any color you wish for a minimal extra charge.

An average job takes 3 days, while larger, more complex jobs may take longer. Clean foot traffic is usually allowed within the same day.

No, the pool should be full. The CTI system overspray would stain the plaster if the pool were empty. Full, any small amount of overspray can be dealt with by allowing the overspray to settle to the bottom, shutting off the filter, then pumping the material to waste, and bypassing all filters is recommended.

All existing control joints should remain on the surface to allow for expansion and contraction of the original concrete. They are not coated with the CTI system and are masked off. We can, however, work to ensure these joints match the rest of the look of the surfaces.

Here is how CTI's systems compare to other coatings as far as heat retention:
Up to 40 degrees cooler than concrete.
30%-40% cooler than epoxy stone
50% cooler than vinyl or urethane
40%-50% cooler than wood decks
Up to 40% cooler than carpet
50%-60% cooler than terrazzo
40%-50% cooler than tile
20%-30% cooler than brick

The colors of the product and the texture chosen will affect the overall temperature of the surface.

No. Kool Deck is a product that must be applied to freshly poured concrete within 5 hours to bond. CTI's systems can be used to new or old concrete. In addition, CTI's systems are a three-coat system and are sealed with a finish coat, which makes it impervious to staining. At the same time, Kool Deck is a very porous, non-flexible product with minimal life expectancy.

No, the sealer we apply to our system is not affected by most chemicals.

No, not dramatically. The CTI product has approximately a 2% fade factor over seven years, which is undetectable by the human eye; our warranty covers this.

We can generally improve drainage; however, the degree of success is contingent upon the pitch of the concrete adjacent to the low spot. The low spot will have to be looked at personally by an authorized CTI dealer to know what you can expect.

Cracks are ground out with a cup grinder to produce a "V." A two-part epoxy with a chopped fiberglass filament is then introduced into the crack and will re-bond the crack.

Though we do everything possible to treat cracks and eliminate 90% of them, they may reoccur. If they do, it is usually in the form of a hairline, which is not objectionable as it is largely hidden in the texture. However, it is easy to repair if a crack becomes too objectionable. Proper placement of tension cuts significantly reduces the chance of the crack returning. Check cracking is a natural phenomenon that occurs in rock, dried-out mud flats, paint, concrete, and ceramic coatings. Cracks in the concrete may be structural or surface cracks. Surface cracks are generally less than a few millimeters wide and deep.

These are often called hairline or check cracks and may consist of single, thin cracks or cracks in a craze/map-like pattern. Several surfaces or shrinkage cracks are standard and do not usually cause any problems. Surface cracks can be caused by freezing and thawing, poor construction practices, and alkali-aggregate reactivity. Alkali-aggregate reactivity occurs when the aggregate reacts with the cement, causing crazing or check cracks. Structural cracks in the concrete are usually larger than .1/8 inch in width.

They extend deeper into the concrete and extend through a wall, slab, or other structural members. Structural cracks are often caused by settlement of the fill material supporting the concrete structure or loss of the fill support due to erosion. The structural cracks may worsen in severity due to the forces of weathering.

The material is repairable to its original state. We service all past decks warranty.

Yes, though it generally will need to be scarified or sandblasted to remove the paint enough to where our product will bond with the original concrete.

Yes, CTI's systems can be applied to concrete steps, including risers and treads.

Yes, however, multiple spray coats are needed to reduce rebound or waste.

We do apply CTI's systems to cantilever faces and coping stones. Though application over coping stones is a matter of personal preference, it is often advisable to coat the stones unless they are exceptionally new. If not coated, they look old and dirty after the CTI installation is complete. In addition, the older copings, which have deep lips, can be filled in, so the coping stones are level with the deck, giving a modern cantilevered look.

No, CTI's systems are feathered very thin at the joint edge, so the coping and decking will be level.

Acrylic decking has been in use since the early '70s. Our manufacturing facility has been producing coatings since 1968.

The cost of the CTI system is usually 20%-25% less than the cost of removing cement and pouring new and is much better looking and much easier to maintain than the original cement.

The price depends on several factors, such as the original concrete's condition, the patterns are chosen, etc.

Usually, regular washing with a hose is all that is needed. For stubborn stains, a brush with laundry detergent is all that is necessary.

CTI's systems are harder than concrete. Most concrete has a compressive strength of 2000-2500 psi rating. CTI's system has a 7000 psi rating.