Decorative Concrete with Exposed Aggregate Made Easier with Dayton Superior and Grace Alliance : Top Concrete Leaders combine strengths with Top-Cas

DAYTON, Ohio (Business Wire EON) September 15, 2008 -- Providing Winning Solutions for Today's Decorative Concrete Contractor and Architectural Precast Concrete Producer

The Dayton-Grace alliance provides the concrete contracting community a program that is unparalleled in today's construction market. Dayton Superior has a distribution network of over 3000 locations throughout North America that support the decorate concrete market; Grace has long been a technical and manufacturing leader in concrete construction products including architectural precast concrete and exposed aggregate slabs. Together this combination will bring better products to market faster, providing the contractor with state-of-the-art solutions.

"Dayton's expansive distribution network accelerates the delivery of innovative technologies and products to the concrete market," said Grace Product Manager, Brian Impellizeri. "The Dayton-Grace partnership builds on the strengths of both companies and provides a proactive market strategy to meet the demands of the contractor," added Impellizeri.

"When two leaders come together in a cooperative relationship such as this, only good things can happen," said Brad Costello, Product Manager for Dayton Superior. "Top-Cast® is a state-of-the-art product, something both decorative and flatwork concrete contractors and our distribution network are excited about," Costello added.

Top-Cast Surface Retarder

Top-Cast is the industry's only micro etch surface retarder. Water-based, Top-Cast is environmentally friendly and ideal for poured-in-place flatwork. It is available in 11 depths of etch to provide a comprehensive array of effects from micro-etch to fully exposed aggregate. Each grade is color and number coded for safety and convenience.

Each product grade of Top-Cast creates a unique degree of reaction to produce the desired effect. The retarding chemicals diffuse into the paste during the first hours of curing, and slow down the cement hydration reaction. The retarded surface does not require the contractor to cover with plastic, and can be washed off with a water hose and broom or pressurized water the same day or next day, depending on mix design and ambient conditions, revealing the aggregate in the concrete mix. Immediately after pressure washing and allowing the surface water to evaporate, the concrete can be sealed with Dayton Superior's Cure & Seal 30 EF, Ultra Seal 30 EF or a combination of the two to enhance the appearance and provide for a richer look with added protection. The Top-Cast combined with Dayton's Earth Friendly Cure & Seal 30 EF or Ultra Seal 30 EF (moisture insensitive sealers) provides the fastest turn-around time in the industry for exposed aggregate decorative concrete.

About Dayton Superior Corporation

Dayton Superior (NASDAQ: DSUP), headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is the leading North American provider of specialized products consumed in non-residential, concrete and masonry construction, plus the largest concrete forming and shoring rental company serving the domestic, non-residential construction market. Dayton Superior products can be found on construction sites nationwide and are used in most all non-residential construction, including: commercial and residential decorative concrete projects, infrastructure projects, such as highways, bridges, airports, power plants and water management projects; institutional projects, such as schools, stadiums, hospitals and government buildings; and commercial projects, such as retail stores, offices and recreational, distribution and manufacturing facilities. There are thousands of Dayton Superior distributors throughout North America. www.DaytonSuperior.com

About Grace Construction Products

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Grace Construction Products, a business of W. R. Grace & Co.- Conn. (NYSE: GRA), is a world-leading provider of advanced waterproofing products, air barrier systems, fire protection, fire stops, as well as masonry products and additives for cement processing. The company is also a leader in concrete admixtures, fibers, surface treatments and liquid pigments that make concrete stronger, longer lasting, crack resistant, aesthetically pleasing and cost efficient. It has more than 125 plants and sales offices around the world. www.graceconstruction.com.

Release Summary:

Decorative concrete projects made easier with new concrete surface retarder product designed for exposed aggregate in concrete slabs and architectural precast concrete.

Keyword Tags:

decorative concrete, exposed aggregate, architectural precast concrete