The word "concrete" often conjures images of driveways, unfinished basements, and the Hoover Dam. Concrete construction dates back to 300 B.C. and the Roman Empire, but it didn't change much until the 20th century. Concrete colorant and stains were mainstreamed by 1920. Patterned concrete was just getting started in 1950, utilizing wooden blades, and sheet metal forms to stamp patterns into the wet concrete. 

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     Paper stenciling emerged in the late 1970's as an alternative to stamping. Combined with broadcasting coloring techinques, stencils allowed the installation of differently colored borders and/or accent pieces without the need for seperate forms. It also eliminated the need to purchase expensive stamp patterns for what might be a one-time use installation.

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     In 2002, Jim Snodgrass began manufacturing paper stencils under the name Decorative Concrete Impressions ("DCI"). Jim Snodgrass installed decorative concrete for over 18 years before manufacturing stencil and won several national awards as a decorative concrete installer using decorative stencils. DCI, which began as a decorative concrete suppply house has grown to become the industry leader in stencils. Our quality products and superior technical support are renowned by the many installers around the world who use our products. 

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     It has taken decades of hard work to bring decorative concrete into the spotlight. Thanks to the home improvement and renovation shows on HGTV, DIY, and TLC decorative concrete has gained national exposure and increased public awareness of its versatility and beauty.

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     For many concrete will always be lifeless and gray. As DCI continues to challenge this perception and promote the merits of stenciled concrete, we ask just one question: why settle for plain concrete?

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