What is the KaleidoCrete^® System?
KaleidoCrete is quite an amazing transformation for existing concrete! The process is a series of steps ...let's say... like baking a cake. With the right recipe, ingredients and some common sense skills you can whip up a beautiful attention getting cake. To make beautiful attention getting concrete you need a recipe, ingredients, a few common skills and more time. The recipe calls for planning, washing, preparing, changing the color, and cutting the pattern into the concrete. It is nothing more than a series of small steps. Your customers will be amazed and you'll be proud of the end result. The KaleidoCrete System is the recipe, the formulas, and the tools. The skills are easy to learn and we can provide you the ingredients.

Who makes the machinery?
Engrave-A-Crete® is unique in the industry because we engineer, manufacturer, and distribute the equipment.  We have dedicated ourselves to the development of new systems as well as the continuous improvement of our existing machines

What's so hot about this System?
We think this is answered by a quote from the Sydney, Australia newspaper, the Blacktown City Sun.

"INNOVATION seldom goes hand in hand with practicality, sophistication usually sits uncomfortably with durability and the best hardly ever costs the least."

Nicely said and it continues...

"However, an extraordinary concept has recently been introduced to the homemaker’s market, a revolutionary new process called Engrave-A-Crete^® which can turn the common and all-too-boring looking cement driveway, outdoor patio, garage floor, indoor cement slab, garden path and pool contour into an attractive design feature."

Wait until they see our KaleidoCrete System... Combined, the two systems are magnifico!

What types of designs can KaleidoCrete® engrave?
The KaleidoCrete system is extremely versatile.  Standard designs such as flagstone cobblestone and slate can be engraved with the system.  However, what really makes the KaleidoCrete System stand out is the ability to engrave custom designs such as corporate logos, team logos, and items of person interest for your customer.  Whether your customer wants their street number engraved in the driveway or 100’ diameter lion head, it is possible with the KaleidoCrete System.  Interior floors can be transformed into beautiful works of art with the addition of ornate centerpieces and borders.

Where can KaleidoCrete^® be used?
Driveways, floors, parking lots, entries, walkways, basements, pool decks, patios, restaurant and retail floors--any concrete residential, commercial or municipal. Many homes, office buildings, restaurants, stores, fast food establishments, convenience stores, have KaleidoCrete engraved designs inside and out.

How much are people charging to do the work?
Pricing depends on your location, the pattern, the size of the job, the number of colors, and a few other factors. Generally we suggest that you charge more than products like pavers, tile, overlayments and toppings. The perception of price and quality go hand in hand. The complete Engrave-A-Crete® process sells in a price range of $3.00 to $10.00 per square foot for average exterior work. Interior floors can range in price from $3.00 to $10.00 per square foot. Prices are higher in some areas where they have good marketing and sales techniques. You should charge more for small areas like patios and sidewalks borders or single rooms. The addition of custom KaleidoCrete designs is generally based on the size of the design.

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How much do the materials and supplies cost?
It's very important to keep those costs low and that's one of the great benefits of this System. Materials and supplies which includes concrete coloring stain or dye, clear seal coat, roller covers, concrete preparation supplies and other miscellaneous items all cost about $.25 to $.85 per square foot for exterior jobs and $.40 to $1.35 per square foot for interior floors.  Custom template pricing is based on the overall size of the template, and has a wide variance of cost due to many factors.  We recommend you call to get a quote on any custom templates before finalizing any bids with customers.

Where do I get the materials like stains and clear coats to do the job?
Engrave-A-Crete® can supply you with what we feel are the best products for the industry.  While we don’t manufacture the stains and sealers, the line of Concrete Resurrection products is a compilation of what we feel are the best materials from multiple major manufacturers. They are clearly labeled to eliminate the guess work of suitability for interior and exterior concrete. Concrete Resurrection products span from economical materials to high end coatings as well as cleaners and sealer removers. 

Will the color fade?
Nothing is impervious to the sun’s UV rays, everybody's colors change. Fade? Maybe a little. Many times a color actually becomes darker.  Changes in the color of a stain outside are very slow and span many years, especially when they are routinely maintained with a clear sealer.  Keep in mind, the routine maintenance of decorative concrete projects can provide you with a continuous revenue stream.


How thick is it?
There is no thickness added. The grooving process cuts the concrete to give an appearance of a grout line and that gives the look of depth and texture.

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How do you install KaleidoCrete^®?

1. Thoroughly clean the concrete.
2. If any, do repairs and crack filling.
3. Do a small amount of layout that may be as simple as snapping a single chalk line.
4. Stain or dye the concrete to the chosen color or colors.
5. Many times (not always) apply a coat of sealer for stain protection during the engraving process.
6. Place the chosen template on the concrete.
7. Place the impactors of the Shark™ or Barracuda™ into an opening in the template, pull the trigger and begin cutting the grooves.
8. After the engraving is completed, clean up, touch up, and apply a protective clear coat to
   the surface.

How do you treat cracks in the concrete prior to installation?
Widening a crack and/or filling it with a special super-duper epoxy compound generally does not work. Smearing a crack with polymer cement won't fix a crack either. That crack is going to remain in the concrete, Period! The best thing is to very carefully fill a crack with a flexible product (depending on choice of stain). A crack can be tolerated if it's hidden and disguised in the pattern. On badly cracked or poor quality concrete, we often engrave a design such as flagstone or cobblestone which can disguise the cracks in the cuts.  Many times very ugly concrete makes beautiful stones.

Can KaleidoCrete ^® be applied to concrete walls or steps?
The KaleidoCrete ® process can be used walls, ceilings, and concrete steps including risers and treads.

How is the color of hard existing concrete changed?
There are proven methods that you can use to change the color of ordinary gray concrete. Penetrating acrylic and Reactive Acid Chemical (RAC) stains can give a wide variation of looks.  From a solid uniform color to a marbled, variegated, aged or antique appearance.

How does an KaleidoCrete^® concrete engraver work?
The KaleidoCrete System is made up of 3 machines: The Shark, Barracuda & Wasp.  All tools use reciprocating impact to peck away at the concrete.  It's a coordinated action where the operator is guiding and propelling the engravers and in turn the templates are guiding the operator.

Can the KaleidoCrete^® process be done indoors?
Yes. Many operators’ major business is interior work.

How long does it take to do a job?
From several days to several weeks or several months. It depends on how small or how massive the project is.  Some projects are 100 square feet and some are 100,000 square feet or more.  A lot depends on whether you focus on residential or commercial work.  Typical operators find the average job size is between 1000 to 5000 square feet.

What is the largest area that I can engrave?
Size is unlimited. The patterns can carry on and repeat thousands and thousands of feet.

How many people does it take to do the engraving?
Many times one person can do the entire process, but on certain types of patterns or large projects temporary laborers can be employed to assist in completing the project.

Is the process difficult to learn?
As they say..."this isn’t rocket science".  A person can self train with the aid of the Mastering Concrete Engraving “The Basics” DVD and machinery manuals.  Also available is the comprehensive Training Seminar, where you get hands on experience using the stains, sealers and equipment.  You'll fast track through basic to advanced techniques and learn valuable tips and tricks of the trade.

Can I stop in the middle of a job?
A major advantage of the Engrave-A-Crete® Systems - most of the time, if you find it necessary to leave a job site during operations, its no problem. If it rains or gets too hot to work - just quit - it won't damage the finished product. Simply return when you are able and start where you left off. This is very important due to things that are beyond your control such as the weather, illness, golfing, or major sporting events! Some phases, like the application of stain or sealer should be finished, but generally, it's no big deal to simply stop work.

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How do engraved bricks look several years after installation?
With periodic maintenance the surface will look substantially the same years after the installation. With no maintenance, over the years, engraved bricks naturally take on an antique or used brick appearance. Brick or cobblestone that looks like it has a long history is desired by many.

After several years, what if my customer wants to change colors?
Depending on the customer’s wishes and products used, there are multiple ways to change the color and appearance of an existing job.

What is the life expectancy of an KaleidoCrete^® installation?
KaleidoCrete ® flagstones, cobblestones, and custom designs are guaranteed to never come loose. How could they? The pattern is cut INTO the concrete. The pattern will last as long as the concrete because it is the concrete.

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How does weather effect the installation process?
Although it may not be practical, concrete can be engraved on the coldest or the hottest days. The concrete surface temperature needs to be between 50 to 90 degrees (F) for the application of stains and sealers.

Will the KaleidoCrete^® process withstand the very cold winters where I live?
The clear sealers help to protect the concrete to make it last longer and withstand the weather better. The process uses moisture barrier but vapor permeable protective clear sealers. By keeping water, salt and deicers out of the concrete it is less likely to spall or delaminate. Machines have been operating successfully for many years in northern States and Canada.

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What is the potential for business in my area?
Every homeowner, business, builder, remodeler, pool builder, landscaper, shopping center, bank, plaza, office building and municipality or government facility is a potential customer. Nearly any concrete can be remodeled. Every floor, driveway, sidewalk, walkway, entrance, patio, and courtyard, that's now concrete or to be poured in concrete, is a potential KaleidoCrete ® masterpiece. Ultimately, the amount of business that you generate is up to you.

What are the medallions?
They are used as permanent job site advertising. Passersby first notice the job and then see the medallion - complete with your business name, phone number and web address. We produce the medallions with your pertinent information engraved in them right here at our facilities.

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Do I get training with the purchase of the KaleidoCrete^® System?
A person can self train with the aid of the Mastering Concrete Engraving “The Basics” DVD and machinery manuals.  Also available is the comprehensive Training Seminar, where you get hands on experience using the stains, sealers and equipment.  You'll fast track through basic to advanced techniques and learn valuable tips and tricks of the trade.

When you come to visit us for our Training Seminar, there is no obligation to purchase when you visit. We welcome your comments, questions, and ideas at any time. We are here to help. For technical assistance call us at 1-800-884-2114.

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How does Engrave-A-Crete^® accept payment?
You may purchase your equipment using any of several different methods. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, cash, cashiers check and wire transfer. We happily accept business or personal checks but the bank requires we wait 7 to 10 business days for the check to clear before shipping your equipment.  If you are financing through a leasing company, we can ship as soon as they give us the go ahead .

How will my new equipment get to me?
We ship via UPS or LTL freight (less than truckload freight is quoted by multiple carriers).

Do I get an exclusive territory when I purchase equipment?
Engrave-A-Crete® is not a franchise. It is unlawful for us to try to control or distribute territories. With no restrictions, you may farm as large an area as you like. If you decide to move you can take your equipment and business with you. We do not collect royalties or franchise fees and do not require you to purchase supplies from us.

Is there a warranty on the engraving equipment?
Yes, Engrave-A-Crete® warranties most engraver components for 1 year. Warranties cover manufacturing defects. Except for normal wear, tear, and usage, we will fix, repair or replace the equipment and /or parts as we determine.  Items that we don’t manufacture but resell as a convenience (such as compressors, pressure washers, etc) are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

I just poured a new driveway. When can I stain it? When can I engrave it?
Depending on several things like temperature and humidity, with few exceptions, stains and sealers require a 30 to 45 day cure time. Concrete hydrates during cure. As it cures moisture dissipates from the slab. If it is sealed too soon the water vapors may build up and push the stain and sealer off. How soon a pattern can be engraved or cut also depends on several things like temperature, humidity, aggregate type, and the type of cut. You should wait at least 7 days before decorative engraving.

How wide and deep is a cut?
The KaleidoCrete® System uses specially designed templates to cut simulated grout lines.  You may specify the width of the line when ordering templates or even ask for our recommendation as to what will look the best.  Some designs will naturally need to be a specific size.  We will help you all through out the template quoting and ordering process.

How do I get listed on your web site's contractor locator?
Call 1-800-884-2114 to sign up.

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