Enhance Beauty and Expand Your Options With Decorative Concrete Applications

With the recent advancements in cementitious applications, homeowners, contractors and managers are no longer constrained by the limitations of standard floor coverings. The beauty of decorative concrete treatments and durability of concrete overlays now enhance your ability to reduce costs, expand design considerations and increase longevity.

If it's time to replace outdated or damaged floor coverings, you may find that there is a serviceable surface underneath your current covering. Older homes may have hardwood floors that can be restored and if your home is built "slab on grade" (concrete) you may have the option of utilizing a vast menu of decorative applications.

Cementitious applications are superior in regards to cleaning, health and wear. If treated properly concrete applications are simple to clean, will resist staining and will not retain dust or other allergens associated with carpeting or other organic coverings. Concrete does not wear as easily as other flooring treatments - it will not tear like linoleum/vinyl flooring, will not gouge as hardwood does, will not cup at seams as Pergo or hardwood can. In addition you will not have to worry about what may be happening beneath the finished surface, hidden damages or water retention, as the finished surface is visible.

Concrete overlays can be applied over concrete or wooden sub- flooring. In water prone areas, such as bathrooms, waterproofing products and a seamless baseboard application can be included to provide long term protection. In areas that are subject to high traffic (entries) or residue (kitchens) the appeal of a cementation finish can be achieved without the hassle of grout lines that require consistent cleaning.

Cementitious surfaces offer a variety of decorative finishes that can be custom tailored to your design specifications. There are near endless color combinations, from very bright color palettes to natural tones. Complex or simple design patterns and textures can also be achieved through stamping, multifaceted applications and hand trowel or cut in details.

For new construction, the utilization of decorative concrete applications can set a project apart from the other listings on the market while decreasing the cost of preparation and materials needed to apply standard floor coverings. When remodeling cementitious surfaces can increase the longevity of applications while providing numerous design options for flooring, walls and countertops. In commercial projects the applications can simplify installation (reduce overall cost), multiply design opportunities, increase longevity and reduce the maintenance for the customer.

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Driveway Paving Options - Pave the Way With Decorative Concrete

Today's homeowners are seeking more creative and decorative ways to pave their driveways. Dressing up your driveway with colorful concrete paving options will enhance the look of your entire home.

Decorative concrete comes in a variety of colors, textures and patterns. Natural pavers, such as cobblestones and brick, are also popular. A poured driveway is durable and is easy to clear of snow. Adding color and texture only adds a few dollars per square foot.

Following are decorative concrete options:

Integrally colored concrete. With this, color is added to ready-mix concrete to provide tinting throughout the slab. Since the pigment may fade over time, it's important to apply a sealer to protect from weather, water and stains.



Stamped concrete. This involves making imprints in wet concrete to create the outline and texture of brick, cobblestone, or other natural paving.



Concrete scoring. With concrete scoring, shallow cuts are made in the concrete to give it the appearance of tile grout lines, or to create geometric designs and patterns.



Concrete pavers. These are interlocking pieces of pigmented concrete. It is made to look like clay brick. Use a color sealant to protect against color fading.



Exposed aggregate. Exposed aggregate involves pouring concrete then brushing or washing off the top layer of cement. This method exposes a rugged, non-slip surface. Various colors can be obtained. A sealer should be applied.



Chemical staining. Chemical staining is a popular design trend seen on the floors of restaurants and stores, and also on driveways. Chemical staining involves special stains that react chemically with the lime in itto etch and bond color into the surface. This process can be used on new or existing concrete surfaces.

If considering decorative concrete, find a contractor that is trained and outfitted for pattern stamping and tinting exterior surfaces. Check the home improvement sections of newspapers or magazines, or your local phone book for potential contractors.

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