Improve indoor air quality

• To improve the air quality inside your home, treat your interior masonry walls. Treating your brick, mortar, or concrete walls will reduce dust and lessen deterioration. When brick and masonry deteriorate, it produces dust which is blown into the air, and then inhaled. Walls can easily be treated to create a cleaner environment. You will notice less dusting. Surfaces are protected from stains and moisture.

Reduce allergens

• For allergy relief remove your wall-to-wall carpeting and switch to decorative concrete flooring. Carpeting can be one of the biggest reasons for allergies because it's difficult to keep clean and often becomes a place for pollen, dust mites, and other allergens. Concrete floors lessen congestion and sneezing because they are easy to clean and don't trap allergens.  Plus,  synthetic carpets can also emit harmful VOCs, as can some of the products that accompany carpet installation such as adhesives and padding.

Prevent toxic mold

• Exposure to toxic mold in buildings and homes has been blamed for ailments like headaches, severe respiratory infections, and immune-system disorders. Mold can thrive on any organic material, especially in warm, moist, and humid conditions. Unlike wood and other organic materials, concrete won't support the growth of mold, mildew, and other hungry microorganisms. Learn why concrete Is healthier.

Let's face it, dirt gets on regular concrete. Because the concrete is porous and exposed, it will absorb anything in its capillaries and pits. Dirt, leaves, moss, mildew, pollen, paint, rubber, and more are debris found on concrete that sometimes are difficult to remove with a brush or detergent.

Here is the right way to pressure wash and clean concrete, cement, and masonry. This is a green process because it only requires water and baking soda.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions:

Things You'll Need:

• 3,600 psi pressure washer
• Broom
• Box of baking soda per 500 square feet
• Flathead screwdriver

1. Wear protective glasses and prepare to get wet. Use the 15-degree tip to pressure wash the heavy debris. Move quickly to remove loose material and soak the concrete
2. Mix 1 box of baking soda into a 5-gallon bucket of water. Mix to dissolve the baking soda. Use the chemical attachment on the pressure washer, to spray the solution over the concrete and masonry. Be sure to change tip to a chemical tip.
3. After the solution is spread, change the tip into the 5-degree tip and start deep clean pressure wash. Don't remove too much of the concrete surface. Be sure to clean out expansion joints and cracks. A good acrylic sealant is recommended to seal the surface from future stains.

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Concrete Sealer Guide

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Tips and Warnings

• Be sure to practice safety. Muriatic acid can be used from the highest to lowest points. 
• Be careful not to remove too much concrete surface. Pressure washing can strip paint off houses.

Concrete walkways are inviting and long-lasting. Though they are dependable, they are often neglected. When concrete is not sealed, it adsorbs everything in its path. 

Pollen, dirt, leaves, and moss are commonly seen on concrete walkways. Without proper maintenance, these can permanently stain. Concrete can be cleaned mechanically or chemically. 

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions:

Things You'll Need:

• 3,500+psi pressure washer
• Dish soap
• Broom
• Muriatic acid
• Ammonia
• Water

1. Start by pressure washing. Keep the tip close enough to remove and penetrate the concrete. Do not keep it too close as it will remove the concrete finish. Anything on the surface should blow off with the pressure.
2. Measure 1/2 gallon of muriatic acid and pour into a 5-gallon bucket. Carefully fill the bucket with water. Use rubber gloves and eye protection. This is a 10:1 mix. Use the same ratio if larger or smaller mixes are needed.
3. Spread and scrub concrete with the acid mix with a broom. At first,  the acid will cause the concrete to fizz. Let it sit for 10 minutes. If there are any stains, use a more concentrated mix. Don't let the area sit for it will discolor. Wash it all off with a hose.
4. Pour 1 gallon of ammonia into a 5-gallon bucket. Fill the rest with water. Pour and spread the ammonia mix over the entire deck with a broom. Let it sit for 10 minutes and rinse with a hose.
5. Finally, scrub the concrete walkway with some soap water, and a broom. Use plenty of soap to penetrate the crevasses. It is recommended to seal the walkway after it dries. Sealing should take place only when the deck is clean and dry.

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Sealing a paver job?

A sealer can also enhance colors, stop white powder, and fix problems. 

Tips and Warnings

• Remove deep stains with a wire brush or grinder. 
• Seal your concrete walkway. 
• For dark moss, use bleach. 
• Do not come too close to the concrete with the pressure washer.
• When working with acid,  use caution. 

1. Choose between having a pattern or no pattern. (There are three basic seamless textures to choose from. Slate, Stone, Wavecrete)
2. Choose between three basic patterns. Stone, Slate, Brick/Tile - There are different types of stone such as random stone, flagstone, garden stone, and more. The same goes with slate, ashlar slate, royal ashlar slate, European fan, cobblestone, and more  Tile and brick are available, They come in different patterns, sizes, and styles. Take it one step at a time. See what's available. 
3. Choose your texture  -smooth, gritty, or rough

Different mats have authentic textures. By looking and touching the rubber mat, you'll get an idea of what texture to choose. Ask for a sample to get an idea of what to expect.

Tips and Warnings

• Concrete looks authentic in all its patterns and textures.
• When choosing color ask yourself "What looks good here?" Look around the area and keep the general color of the environment.
• Choose a color scheme if you want to change the whole look. There are color palettes available to include walls, fences, and more.   
• For example, if there is a stone wall next to the concrete patio, choose between the accent colors of the stone. 
• This will keep your new decorative concrete from blending into the background unless desired.
• It's all about placement because concrete looks good in any professionally stamped finish.

When you have come up with these basics, talk to us and get our opinions.

There are simple steps to express yourself through the life of concrete. With the many different looks one can achieve, all concrete finishes are personal and unique.

The more pictures you see, the more ideas you can create.

Make the process fun and exciting and your concrete will make you feel good every time you use it.

When you want to create more living space in your home, get a new basement.  A common problem is the old concrete floor. A common solution is to quickly cover the dirty floor with a rug or paint.

Those 2 choices should be your last resort. With the many products and solutions, your concrete can look like tile, stone, brick, or a marble slab for a fraction of the cost. Durable overlays and acid stain make this possible. 

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions:

Things You'll Need:

• Steel putty knife
• Water (dish soap)
• Paper towels

1. If there is a rug or paint on the floor, it would all have to be removed. Removal must include oil, glue, detergent, cement, and mastic. The concrete must be clean and absorbent. This step is the messiest but the most critical. A diamond wheel is used to remove all impurities and smooth out the entire floor. - most of the cost goes into preparing the floor.
2. Visual determination -look around to see if there are any large cracks (about 1/4 inch wide or more). They would need to be filled and leveled off with bonding epoxy and silica sand. Shifting between the slabs should be noticed.
3. Scrape the concrete with the edge of a putty knife. If you can make a deep scrape, this is considered soft concrete. If the knife slides and only scratches the surface, this is considered hard or burnt concrete.
4. With a wet paper towel, dab the concrete to determine the absorbency. If the water evaporates fast (within 1 min.), it's not too porous. If the concrete absorbs the moisture and remains damp, the concrete is absorbent
5. Feel the concrete. Rub your hand on it to determine if the concrete is pitted or smooth.  If you can see small stones coming through, this is called aggregate. 
6. Determine whether water is coming up through the floor. If moist areas are observed, and there is no spill, moisture is coming up through the floor. (in this case, a dehumidifier should be on at all times to keep the humidity low.
7. Compare conditions of concrete to possible solutions. Take an overall look at the floor. Notice any staining or rough areas due to the polishing. After you have diagnosed the concrete, you can us. 
8. Acid stain is a great way to add color and life to the concrete. Because acid stains in a random, marble, it is a great solution to hide any imperfections on the concrete or overlay. Many colors and patinas are available.

Concrete Sealer Guide

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Tips and Warnings

• Concrete should be sealed once every 3-5 years to keep a brand-new look.
• Concrete overlays are the best solution and the most pricey.
• To remove and re-pour the concrete is never a solution.
• Rugs in basements are prone to mold and mildew.
• Epoxy and paint in basements usually peel off due to the humidity coming through the floor.

Decorative concrete overlay is a polymer-modified cementitious overlayment.  It's a concrete-like product that has polymers and a proprietary additive. It enables it to be spread or overlaid on surfaces like wood, concrete, plaster, wallboard, cement board, or urea foam. 

The additives let the decorative concrete withstand high humidity and dampness, UV radiation, and freeze/thaw cycles without deteriorating. 

The product will chemically and mechanically bond with concrete. This assures that the product once applied, will not delaminate. 

It can be smoothed textured to resemble any stone product like slate, marble, flagstone, or field stones, in all colors. 

Stamped decorative concrete is poured as a slab, like any white concrete. After the surface has been set, it will be stamped with special stamps that have the desired pattern molded into them. The surface is colored to your specifications. Sometimes the entire pour will be colored. 

Decorative concrete overlay is spread as a thin layer over concrete or other compatible surfaces and is stamped, smoothed, colored, or stained to give you the desired effect.

Not necessarily, this product can regrade surfaces of 3 to 4 inches right to a feather edge. The cause of the heaving of the concrete base should be corrected first, particularly if it is caused by tree roots or a poor concrete installation.

These floors have been installed in casinos, shopping malls, offices, hotel lobbies, retail stores, residential homes, and anywhere instead of conventional tile, terrazzo, quarry, and more. This product does exceptionally well in high-traffic areas.

In many cases the answer is YES, if there are no structural issues that need to be corrected. This determination should be made by a structural engineer or certified concrete contractor.