What Buying Decorative Concrete Products Wholesale Means To You

A Closer Look at Portland-Limestone Cement
and the Questions It Raises

In the race toward reducing carbon emissions and building a more sustainable future, the construction industry has placed significant emphasis on material innovation. One of the most talked-about shifts in recent years is the rise of 1L concrete, also known as Type 1L Portland-limestone cement (PLC). While its environmental intentions are clear, the execution and field performance of this material have sparked deep concerns among contractors, finishers, and construction professionals across the country.

What Is 1L Concrete?

1L concrete is a blended cement product made by intergrinding Portland cement clinker with up to 15% finely ground limestone. It falls under ASTM C595 and was promoted as a more sustainable option than traditional Type I or Type II cement, with a claimed reduction in embodied carbon of about 10%.
This transition is part of a broader movement toward lowering the construction industry’s carbon footprint. However, for many professionals working in the field every day, the reality of 1L’s performance has not aligned with its promise.

Why the Push—And Why the Pushback?

Advocates of 1L cement cite decades of successful use in Europe and a growing need for climate-conscious practices. Major producers in the U.S. began shifting almost entirely to Type 1L in 2022 and 2023, often with little consultation or consideration for the practical realities faced by contractors and specialty finishers.
This sudden change, often framed as a “drop-in replacement,” has led to a number of serious challenges:
Surface Defects & Finish Failures
Many contractors have reported inconsistent finish quality, scaling, dusting, and difficulty achieving color uniformity in decorative and exposed applications. In some cases, these issues have led to litigation over failed installations.

Lack of Field Testing & Support

Although some densifiers and admixtures are being promoted as compatible with 1L, most have not undergone sufficient independent testing to ensure reliable long-term performance. Contractors are left to troubleshoot on their own, often at their own expense.

Distrust from the Field

For many in the construction world, especially those working on architectural concrete, decorative finishes, or high-performance surfaces, the lack of transparency and technical support has created a deep sense of frustration and mistrust.

What Industry Experts Are Saying

While many material producers remain committed to 1L cement, an increasing number of contractors, specifiers, and consultants are raising red flags. Some are now avoiding 1L altogether in high-exposure projects or are specifying additional treatments, sealers, or surface hardeners to compensate for performance issues.
Yet even these remedies come with asterisks: most haven’t been thoroughly tested alongside 1L, and results vary based on climate, substrate, and finishing practices. While some contractors are beginning to find combinations that work, there is no universally endorsed solution at this time.

Proceeding with Caution

There’s no question that sustainability is an urgent priority—but true sustainability must also account for durability, performance, and constructability. When cement fails in the field, the environmental impact of replacement materials and labor far outweighs any initial carbon savings.
As the industry continues to explore lower-carbon alternatives, many experts are calling for a more thoughtful, transparent, and inclusive approach—one that includes rigorous testing, real-world data, and support for the contractors on the front lines of implementation.

The Bottom Line

1L concrete may represent a step toward sustainability, but for now, it’s a step that should be taken with full awareness of its limitations. The current landscape demands caution, continued evaluation, and an honest dialogue between producers and practitioners.
Until field data improves and manufacturers take stronger accountability for performance, the use of 1L cement should be considered on a case-by-case basis, especially in projects where finish quality, color uniformity, or long-term durability are critical.

Decorative concrete products

Decorative concrete products

As a contractor in the decorative concrete and coatings industry, you understand that the bottom line has a large part to do with material costs associated with the job.  Not only does the cost of the products matter, their quality and longevity play a significant role as well.  Lets say for example you decide to use a local hardware store brand for a concrete repair project.  These materials are often for the DIY’er and are not as robust and durable as a professional grade product.  Although you might save pennies per square foot in material, imagine the cost to tear out and redo a project a few month later because of failed material.

Select Surface Solutions in Orlando, FL offers only top quality commercial grade decorative concrete products, coatings and tools that will guarantee the best and longest lasting results possible.  We buy in bulk and as a decorative concrete products wholesaler we then pass on the saving to our customers.  We carry a huge inventory of the most popular products as well as a great selection of specialty coatings and tools.

Our dealership also carries rental tools and concrete stamp mats so that you won’t have to carry the burden of owning these large expensive mats that only get used every so often.

By keeping inventory levels high you can rest assured we will have the decorative concrete products you need for almost any project.  If you are working on an extra large job, call us ahead of time and we will bring in exactly what you need and keep it dry and fresh for when you are ready to pick it up or have it delivered.

In case you aren’t sure what we carry please stop on by or call us anytime.  Here is just a taste of the various products we carry.

Decorative Concrete Overlays
Concrete Patch & Repair
Concrete Stain & Colorants
Polished Concrete
Epoxy Floor Systems
Stamped Concrete
Densifiers & Waterproofing
Interior & Exterior Sealers
Concrete Countertop Mixes
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)
Lightweight Concrete Casting Mixes
Vertical Concrete Coatings
Stenciled Concrete,
Tools & Equipment

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