How Often Does Concrete Need to be Sealed?

Posted on July 9, 2014 by elitecrete

Concrete sealed floor in building under construction How often concrete needs to be sealed is dependent upon several factors. Some of these include: the life of the sealer applied, outdoor elements, and the vehicle or pedestrian traffic on the concrete surface.

Warehouses, driveways, concrete in frequent contact with water, and concrete in harsh winter environments may need to be sealed more frequently. Most interior concrete, depending on use, only needs to be sealed once with frequent waxing and polishing applied to maintain and protect the floor.
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Posted in Concrete Coatings, Concrete Maintenance | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Local Codes For Designing an Outdoor Concrete Patio with Hot Tub

Posted on July 7, 2014 by elitecrete

preparation A backyard hot tub can make any concrete patio area functional and enjoyable, so it is important to carefully plan on where you will situate it during the landscaping process. This works the same way other indoor home improvement projects. There are professional contractors that can help you decide on where you can place your spa, including architects, design consultants, engineers, general contractors and home interior designers.

Even if you get professional help, doing your own research about the procedure of creating a new concrete patio area is always advisable, as you should familiarize yourself with your local code regulations, and make assessments on your landscape and site building requirements.
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Posted in Concrete Coatings | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Choosing the Right Preparation Method for Your Concrete Floor Coating

Posted on June 28, 2014 by elitecrete

reflective concrete coating Coatings can improve the appearance and extend the useful life of your concrete surface and can be a low cost way to make a large improvement to an old and dull area of your building.

If you’re leaving it to the concrete contractor, you can quiz his knowledge by asking him which preparation method should be used.  But, if you are the do-it-yourself type, you may be wondering which method may work best for your building situation and surface.  Or, maybe there’s simply a certain product style you prefer. For example, you can install a stamped overlay which can be used to emulate boulders, pavers, bricks or nearly any other kind of surface.
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Posted in Concrete Coatings, Concrete Restoration | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

7 Questions to Ask your Concrete Contractor

Posted on June 14, 2014 by elitecrete

Brown and gray stamped concrete pathway Your concrete needs work.  You don’t have the time to do it.  Neither do you have the desire to do it.  But, somebody has to do the job.  So, now it is time to hire a concrete contractor.

You probably already know how to locate a few, but do you know the questions to ask to help you determine if they are worth the price they are quoting?  If you don’t here are some questions, and the answers that should be provided by your concrete contractor if they are worth their salt.

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Posted in Concrete Restoration, Repairing Concrete | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

How to Care for a Concrete Driveway

Posted on April 18, 2014 by elitecrete

winding concrete driveway One of the biggest benefits of concrete driveways or parking areas involves the relatively low level of maintenance either will need over their lifetime.

 Although concrete surfaces come close to being maintenance-free, nothing is totally maintenance-free.

Now that you’ve spent some significant money on your driveway or parking area, however, you would probably like to know how to perform some level of maintenance in order to preserve value and prevent cracks and other  small problems that can become large repair projects.
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Posted in Concrete Restoration | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Benefits of Polished Concrete Floors In New Buildings

Posted on April 10, 2014 by elitecrete

New polished concrete flooring Polished Concrete has become the standard in new construction and the first choice for owners who are renovating concrete floors. There are many factors that have contributed to this dynamic shift in floor design and demands.

Environmental, durability, and economic issues have played a large role in tendency toward this new trend. Yet it appears to be more than a trend, it is now a mainstream design element.

Initially, polished concrete floors were almost exclusively found in big box retail stores like Costco and Home Depot.

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Posted in Concrete Coatings, Concrete Restoration | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

How to Install a Decorative Concrete Overlay

Posted on March 26, 2014 by elitecrete

Finishing a refurbished Decorative Concrete Overlay Concrete can be used as an economical alternative to expensive material such as granite, and is long lasting, durable and very customizable. Concrete coatings can transform drab gray concrete into beautiful art.

A great option is a concrete overlay, which are decorative fine coats of concrete that morph concrete surfaces into works of creative art. Overlays are most normally applied to floors, and can be installed indoors or outdoors.

Steps To Install a Decorative Concrete Overlay
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Posted in Concrete Coatings, Concrete Restoration | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Concrete Restoration for Large Buildings

Posted on March 1, 2014 by elitecrete

Large concrete building that is green and well designed Concrete seems as if it should last forever.  With amazing strength, durability and wide range of uses in our lives every day, we see concrete as a material that is basically maintenance free and seemingly indestructible.  However the reality of concrete is maintenance is very important to maintain the strength and durability so your building can last a very long time.

We see concrete all around us, and it is a major material used in the structure of most of the large buildings we see in cities and towns, especially buildings such as parking garages, large high rise skyscrapers, sports and entertainment venues, and many more.
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Posted in Concrete Maintenance, Concrete Restoration | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Concrete Flooring: Cleaning, Staining, Sealing

Posted on February 5, 2014 by elitecrete

Interior concrete floor care and sealing Concrete flooring can be a wise choice for any homeowner or anyone diving into a home improvement project.

Unlike carpet, tile, linoleum or many other types of flooring, poured concrete doesn’t need to be replaced as often (or at all) if damage occurs or if the need to redesign comes about.

Concrete can be repaired, cleaned, stained, coated, stenciled, stamped, covered in epoxy, swept, mopped, buffed to perfection and so much more – the design and renew options are endless.
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Posted in Concrete Coatings, Concrete Repair, Concrete Restoration | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

How You can Fix a Concrete Garden Statue or Birdbath

Posted on November 5, 2013 by elitecrete

white concrete birdbath Ever wonder how to repair that old leaking birdbath in your back yard? I’m sure the birds would appreciate it if their bath actually held bathing water for more than an hour.

Or perhaps your favorite concrete garden gnome is missing his hat or even, heaven forbid, an arm? If you have any piece of concrete garden décor in dire need of repair, then read on.

Many things can bring damage to concrete birdbaths or garden statues. The most common perpetrator is weather. Water can work its way into small crevices and freeze, thus transforming the small crevice into a large crevice. Whether your concrete birdbath or concrete statue fell victim to ice or a croquet game gone wild, below are the answers you need for the repair process.
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Posted in Concrete Repair, Concrete Tutorials | Tagged , , , , | 28 Comments