Strategic Guidelines for Working Effectively With Concrete Mix Designs

Bob Harris is the Owner of the Decorative Concrete Institute (DCI), an industry leader in decorative concrete installation, consulting, education, and training. He’s also the Partner and Senior Director of Decorative Concrete Consulting for the SSI Team. Bob has been a speaker and presenter at various concrete industry events and has conducted training sessions across the globe for more than 20 years. He has produced instructional videos for notable organizations and is the author of several books, including Bob Harris’ Guide to Stained Concrete Interior Floors. 

Before DCI, Bob was the Director of Product Training for a large manufacturer of decorative concrete products. He also worked as the Senior Superintendent in Disney’s theme parks, doing decorative, “themed” concrete work. Bob was among the first to be inducted into the Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame in 2010.

Every contractor wants to provide sustainable, high-end concrete surfaces for their clients. But as the industry changes, it can be difficult to keep up and ensure that you’re implementing the best practices to create an outstanding final product. 

One common challenge is the mystery of concrete mix design. Because concrete is not a one-size-fits-all practice, people have started using mix design to fit the needs of their specific project. However, because mix design involves a concoction of ingredients, it can be difficult to predict the outcome and manage the concrete accordingly. Luckily, expert Bob Harris knows what contractors should look for and how to avoid mix design mistakes.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill sits down with Bob Harris, Owner of the Decorative Concrete Institute, to get his advice on working with concrete mix design. Bob explains what polishers should look for, why you should complete tests upfront, and how to avoid messy outcomes such as concrete pitting.