Masonry Cleaning and Water Repellent Seminar a huge success

We were finally able to hold our Masonry Cleaning and Water Repellent systems class today. We had 15 people here for the class and consider that a huge success considering that we had to schedule three times due to inclimate weather. It has been a tough spring to get these types of things done outdoors. This class had a classroom portion to go over the Prosoco powerpoint program identifying the reasons that it will be hard to clean in the future the same way we will now. The reality is that we will not be able to use chemical cleaning products for much longer. This is going to cause the masons and cleaning contractors to find new ways to make sure their masonry looks sharp when they are finished. In reviewing the appropriate steps to get this cleaning done, Ed Nagel, Prosoco representative was very helpful and instructional. We worked on substrates built of smooth faced block, ground faced block, brick veneer, and manufactured stone. With all the different needs of each of these individual products, Ed was careful to show which ones best suited the needs of that application. Color and bleaching are always issues when using chemicals to clean with as well as the color of the mortar in the joints.

The food and weather were great and we are glad that we were able to host this fantastic and informative class. Thanks for all those that were behind the scenes and put this together!

Rio Grande Co presents our new Decorative Concrete Brochure

Rio Grande Co is pleased to announce that our new Decorative Products Brochure is now available. You can see copies of that brochure here. This piece highlights the different decorative products that Rio Grande Co has available to assist with all your needs in concrete work. We have a full line of Color Hardener and Release by Roca. We also have a full line of sealers and coating products. If you are looking for a stone look then stamping the concrete is a great option. We have a full inventory stamps for sale and rent. We have stamps in our inventory from Brickform and Proline and they are made up of all the popular patterns and sizes. If you find that we do not have a pattern that you are looking for, let us know and we will see if we can add that pattern to our rental fleet. You can find all the daily rental rates for the stamps in the following pages of this Decorative Concrete Products Brochure. We also have a full line of all the tools you will need to finishing your concrete and making your decorative or gray concrete job look perfect. We can supply you will all the reinforcing you need, from rebar, wire mesh, chairs, and dowels, to drill bits and dobbies. We can also help you with your forming products with a full fleet of product for sale and rent. We can provide full foundation forms or curb and gutter forms, with all the stakes and accessories. We have a full line of retaining wall block as well as pavers and sand. We have a full compliment of aggregates to help you get any project that you need done. We have concrete and masonry sand, river rock, pea gravel and others. We also have bagged cement (47lb, 94lb, and 2500lb sacks),  lime, admixes, surface retarders, cures, sealers and many other products. Rio Grande Co can also help you with delivery of all the materials that you need to your job site. We are your one stop shop for everything that you need to get your decorative concrete job done and looking fantastic.  

Masonry Cleaning and Water Repellent Seminar NEW DATE MAY 12, 2010

WE have rescheduled this event due to weather!! Mark your calendars!! Rio Grande Co is going to host a special masonry cleaning and water repellent / sealing seminar on May 12th.  Ed Nagel from Prosoco will lead the hands on demonstrations and show proper methods of cleaning block, colored block, split face block, brick and stone. There will be mock up panels built for a hands-on cleaning. Ed will also demonstrate the application of repellents and sealers. This will be a classroom and hands-on seminar with all the necessary new technical requirements covered.

Lunch will be served as we begin this training class at 12pm. The class is scheduled to run from 12pm to 4pm. This training class will take place in Rio Grande Co's main yard at 201 Santa Fe Drive Denver, Colorado. Please RSVP to Vince Mattei at 303.218.6362 to confirm your space in this seminar. Space is limited and will be reserved on a first come first served basis. We look forward to seeing you there.
I have also posted a map here to show were in the Rio Grande Co. yard this training will take place. Remember to park in the far North East parking lot so we can minimize any congestion in the yard.

Rio Grande Co hosting DSI / DYWIDAG training

Please join Rio Grande Co. and DYWIDAG Systems International (DSI) for an informational seminar highlighting DSI’s geotechnical product range and applications.

Our guest speaker will be DSI’s Geotechnical Business Unit, Chief Engineer, Lucian Bogdan, P.E., who will provide an overview of various solutions for earth retention and foundation support with Tiebacks, Soil Nails and Micropiles utilizing Threadbar®, Multi-Strand Anchors, and Hollow Bar (DYWI Drill) systems, as well as the DYWIDAG Driven Ductile Iron Pipe Piling System.

Where: Rio Grande Co. Training Room

When: Tuesday, April 27, 2010

10:30am – 12:30pm

Lunch will be served.

Please RSVP to Vince Mattei at (303) 218-6362

Rio Grande Co to hold Akrotique training class

Rio Grande Co will be holding a special training class for installation of Omega’s AkroTique finish. AkroTique is a pigmented acrylic sealer designed to create a rustic, mottled finish similar to the timeless beauty of century old plaster. AkroTique offers an “Old World” look that does not take a lifetime to create. We invite you to reserve your space for one of the training classes that has been set up by giving an

RSVP to Vince Mattei at (303) 218-6362 or

vmattei@riograndeco.co

There will be two classes held on

April 20th, 2010. The first will start at 8:00am and go to 11:00am. The second will start at 1:00pm and go to 4:00pm.

We are excited to offer this training class and hope that you will join us for this innovative training experience.

Top Cast Concrete Surface Retarder

If you can place and finish gray, broom concrete, let Rio Grande Co. show you an Architectural alternative.

With a little help from the staff at Rio Grande Co. you can offer your customer an architectural alternative to plain gray concrete.



Top-Cast by Grace is a breakthrough, easy to use concrete surface retarder. Unlike conventional retarders Top-Cast does not need to be covered with plastic or timed. There is no special equipment or training needed.
When used on integrally colored concrete or plain gray Top-Cast offers a comprehensive range of effects from a light acid wash or sand blast up to full depth exposure of 1-1/4” aggregate


Placing and finishing guidelines.
• When using Top-Cast a 6 sack mix is recommended to achieve correct etch (564 lbs cement)
• Mix design will typically contain approximately a 50/50 ratio of coarse to fine aggregate.
• Concrete should be placed between a 4” to 5” slump
• Finishing should be similar to broomed concrete

• When surface is smooth, free of bleed water and firm enough to normally be broomed, Top-Cast should be applied. Application should be earlier versus later.
• Concrete surface must be free of trowel marks or they will show up later

• Apply Top-Cast between 200 to 300 sq. ft. per gallon using a normal Chapin type sprayer
• Once Top-Cast is applied it is not necessary to cover with plastic, unless rainfall is expected before the final wash
• Depending on temperature and setting characteristics of the mix design, Top-Cast can be removed in 4 to 24 hours after application.

• Depending on time of removal a water hose and stiff broom can be used, pressure washer or floor scrubber also work well.

Finish off the job with a high quality sealer. You have a Architectural finish for a few pennies more then a broomfinsh!


The following video is very informative;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xAeq1MAJS8


You can also contact;
Jake Hahn (303)210-9556
AJ Fox (303)901-3068
Or Rio Grande (303)825-2211

Tyvek Installer Certification program well attended

Rio Grande Co hosted RW Specialties/Tyvek and 34 customers representing General Contractors, Owners, and Subcontractors, in a special Tyvek Installer Certification class. This class was held on Thursday February 25th in the Rio Grande Co. Training Center. We were very pleased to have Jim Holt, Tim Gleason, and Herman Lopez, all Tyvek Specialists along with Susanne Griffin, Dupont Regional Manager with us as our trainers. TheDuPont Weatherization Systems Commercial Certified Installer program helps contractors provide superior service and support for general contractors and architects when it comes to installing Dupont Weatherization System products. This comprehensive training program gives you the opportunity to learn installation methods and increase your safety knowledge. Support is offered by DuPont in national print and online advertising in trade publications. Attendees were taught mores about the 10-Year limited Warranty from DuPont and the DuPont Weatherization Systems Certified Installer Marketing Kit that includes advertising and sales materials. All attendees were given a test at the end our our training session to complete their certification. We are happy to report that all the members of this training session were extremely attentive and were able to pass the test. We were able to have a quick bite to eat together four lunch as the program ended at noon and everyone departed back to their various job sites and offices. We are thankful for the participation of all the Rio Grande Co staff as well as RW Specialties staff that helped to make this such a tremendous success. We are grateful to have this kind of support from our vendor partners. Thanks to all the customers that took time out of their busy schedules to come a participate in this certification class as well.