Sealants are critical for protecting natural stone finishes, such as marble countertops. Image Source: Shutterstock user Jodie Johnson The color and clarity of natural stone sealants play an important role in not only protecting the surface of the stone, but creating aesthetic appeal. Indeed, while designers often spend significant time carefully choosing a stone, the […]

Measuring the color of roofing granules with traditional spectrophotometers can present a number of challenges that impede accuracy and efficiency of analysis. Image Source: Shutterstock user Unkas Photo Roofing granules require rigorous analysis to determine the final color and appearance of the product. Continual monitoring of pigmentation throughout production and stability testing ensure consistent product […]

Today, cement offers extraordinary possibilities for modern, beautiful, and durable designs. Image Source: Unsplash user Todd Quackenbush Construction contractors often choose to mix cement on-site as it allows them to gain a better end result for a lower overall cost. However, this can pose significant challenges for manufacturers of such mixes, particularly when it comes […]

Brightly-colored stucco walls can help buildings stand out in crowded city centers. Image Source: Flickr user Jose Ramon Polo Lopez If you’ve ever taken a road trip across the United States, you may have noticed that fast food restaurant buildings all have virtually the same appearance from franchise-to-franchise. When you visit a Taco Bell in […]

Terracotta products, like gardening pots, are a popular tool for homeowners and garden designers. Image source: Pexels user rawpixel.com A garden designer has spent months searching for the perfect teal-colored pots and planters for a new urban green space located on the rooftop of a massive apartment complex. The designer wants the rooftop garden to […]

Appropriate color measurement tests can help you create fiber cement siding that is as beautiful as it is durable. Image Source: Shutterstock user Kiattisak Thongtawee Fiber cement siding—a sturdy combination of wood pulp, fly ash, portland cement, and water—was first introduced in the construction industry just 25 years ago.1 Since then, it’s become one of […]

Tar paper and roofing felt help protect a building’s wooden frame from water damage. Image Source: Creative Commons user U.S. Marine Corps When a contractor is building a structure from scratch, they have to ensure that the wooden frame is well-protected at all times. Just one afternoon of heavy rainfall could cause significant water damage […]

Precast concrete offers significant practical and aesthetic advantages, including its broad range of color possibilities. Image Source: Unsplash user Luca Rüegg Concrete is renowned for its remarkable strength and durability, affordability, and low maintenance requirements, making it ideally suited for use in a virtually endless variety of applications. From parking garages to railroad ties, agricultural […]

Reflective glass has replaced concrete in the facade of many modern buildings. Image Credit: Flickr User paul bica “Why didn’t anybody check that?” asked Stephanie. “You must’ve noticed it during installation, right? It must’ve been pretty obvious that a quarter of the panes weren’t the same color as the rest. How come you didn’t stop […]