Look again…it’s concrete and it’s colorful, textured and chic

By Holly Pupino - West Side Leader

Thursday, August 19, 1999

You’ve got concrete on your driveway, your sidewalk, your patio and the floor of your garage. Now, it’s moving indoors. Concrete can take on the look of ceramic tile, marble, granite, brick or any other stone with a color-integrated, modified acrylic cement product from Largo, FL based company called Concrete Technology Inc. (CTI). Ritzi Franchi, owner of Acrylicolor Textured Concrete Coatings, the local company marketing the product, said the floor system will last a lifetime, and it is seamless, stain resistant and requires less maintenance than most other floors.

The contemporary styled Steve Martin Custom Homes entry at the recent Parade of Homes at Rosemont Ridge in Fairlawn was a showcase for the CTI System. Franchi’s company did the floors in the home’s foyer, kitchen, mudroom, laundry, spa room and in three of the bathrooms.

The home’s kitchen and foyer featured a faux marble look. The homeowners chose subtle shades of gray and beige to coordinate with the home’s overall color scheme.

"That floor will be there longer than that house," said Franchi

CTI’s manufacturing facility has been producing coatings since 1991. During the three years that Franchi has been in business in Akron, his company has done a number of patios, driveways, pool decks and basement floors and wants homeowners to consider his floor system for their residential ineteriors.

The system is generally applied to existing concrete. In new homes, the subfloor must be stabilized with cement board. A base coat is then applied. The design and texture are put down and a final clear coat is added to protect the design. No waxing is ever required. The floor simply needs to be swept and washed as needed.

The system competes with top-of-the-line ceramic tile, marble and granite. According to Franchi, exterior applications will cost between $4.50 and $7.50 per square foot, depending on the pattern, colors, condition of the existing surface and the type of sealant needed. Interior applications will cost between $10.50 and $22.50 per square foot.

Franchi is confident that once more people become aware of decorative concrete as an interior floor option, they will think it’s worth the investment. "Our product will blow away ceramic tile and marble," he said. "You don’t have to settle for a limited number of colors and styles. With our product, your imagination is your limit.

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