Archive for March, 2010
Decorative concrete By Outstanding Floors
Concrete designs by http://Outstandingfloors.com we bring the next level of decorative concrete to your hands in this video you could see different design options but remember surface preparation is very important to any coating(sealer ,epoxy , urethane) design visit our polished concrete videos
Duration : 0:2:56
Is wet-look concrete sealer too slippery for pool decks?
Try ZEP wet look Floor Finish(Step 3) which is available in the cleaning section at home depot.
It is slip resistant. I have it on my floors and finished concrete in my garage.
http://www.castlewholesalers.com/ZEP-ZUIMAGE128-Wet-Look-Floor-Finish-Gal-.html
Sealers for Stamped and Decorative Concrete
Traditionally, concrete has never been a popular choice if a homeowner wants something with designs on it. Mostly, the surface of concrete just looks gray and dull, with nothing fanciful on it. However, with the invention of stamped concrete, homeowners can look forward to having beautiful concrete structures. The texture of stamped concrete can be modeled after any natural stone. For example, the texture can look like bricks, but it’s actually concrete underneath.
As with all concrete, stamped concrete also needs to be protected with sealers. There are many benefits for using sealers, and they should be applied on a regular basis. The frequency of application depends on the rate of wear and tear of the concrete surface. The more exposed the concrete surface to contaminants, the higher the sealing frequency.
The internal structure of concrete can be weakened by external contaminants, change of temperature, or a combination of both. For instance, due to an increase in temperature, the concrete starts to expand and crack. Oil or water then seep into these cracks, causing further damage. To make things worse, water that is trapped in concrete can freeze and become ice when the temperature drops. As we all know, ice expands as it freezes. This will cause the structure of the concrete to be further weakened.
Of all the damages that oil, water, dirt and grime may cause, the most difficult to solve are damages that occur within the internal structure of concrete. It is very difficult to get rid of contaminants that is already trapped inside large concrete blocks. For this reason, it is always wise to prevent contaminants from getting into the concrete in the first place.
The solution to is, is to apply sealers on a regular basis. This helps in two ways. The first way is that the sealer actually helps to prevent cracks. When temperature changes occur, the sealer acts as an insulator to the rise or drop in temperature, thus helping to protect the concrete. Without cracks, contaminants cannot get into the insides of the concrete easily.
Even when there are already cracks or holes when the sealer is applied, the sealer will help cover up such cracks and prevent oil or water from seeping in. As the concrete is exposed to more and more contaminants, the initial coat of sealer will eventually wear out. Still, even with a thin coat of sealer, contaminants tend to stay on the surface, and can be cleaned off easily.
To prevent a host of problems that may occur in the future, sealers are commonly applied to stamped concrete to protect the designs and the internal structure of the concrete. When the sealer starts to wear off, the surface actually becomes less shiny and starts to look dull. This is the signal for the homeowner to give the stamped concrete a new coat of sealer.
When applied on a regular basis, sealed stamped concrete can last for many years.
Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/sealers-for-stamped-and-decorative-concrete-675963.html
How to Acid Stain Concrete
Acid stain concrete is an old technique that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. Concrete floors are known to be durable, low maintenance, and incredibly ugly. If you learn how to acid stain concrete floors you can keep the durable, low maintenance surface while turning your ugly gray surface into a beautiful work of art. Most acid stains are going to be earth tones. This includes many shades of browns, dark reds, and greens. These earth tones will give your floor the look of expensive stone or marble, for significantly less.
If you are not the do it yourself type of person you can hire a contractor to do your acid stain concrete job. For a basic job you will most likely pay around $4 per square foot. If you want a more detailed and intricate pattern (multiple colors and designs) it will cost you anywhere from $4-$10 per square foot.
If you just want a basic job done it is suggested that you do a do it yourself. Instead of paying a contractor $4 per square foot, you can get it done for $.50-$1.00 per square foot, and it will only take a few hours over two days to complete the job. Even if you are a DIY novice, you should be able to handle this type of project. Here are four steps on how to acid stain concrete.
Get Your Materials
You need to make sure that you have all the materials necessary before starting the job. Since you will be working with a weak acid it is essential that you protect yourself fully. This means wearing long sleeves and long pants, protective eye wear, a face mask, and gloves. Other materials necessary include: Acid concrete stain, sealer, concrete cleaner, broom, wet vac, sprayer, paint tray, and a roller.
Prepare The Surface
Since the acid stain is semi transparent any blemishes or cracks on the concrete will show through. Hairline cracks can give your acid stained floor more character, by anything else should be repaired. You will need to clean the concrete to the best of your ability, the better you get it to look now the better it will look after you apply the stain.
Apply The Stain
There are a few ways to do this step, but I prefer to use an all plastic sprayer. One person should spray on the acid stain to the concrete while the other follows behind and brushes it in with a broom. This will leave brush strokes so the sprayer should go over the area again. Repeat this process until the whole floor is covered.
Wash The Floor
After the floor has had the proper time to react it is time to wash the floor with a baking soda and water solution in order to neutralize the acid concrete stain and remove any excess residue. You should go over the floor with this solution at least twice.
Apply The Sealer
Once the floor is completely dry you should apply 2-3 coats of sealer with your paint roller. As soon as the final coat is dry you can begin using your beautiful new floor.
This is a simplified guide on acid stained concrete floors. Click this link for a complete, detailed, step-by-step guide on how to stain concrete floors.
Joel Jamison
http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/how-to-acid-stain-concrete-740790.html
Sealing the driveway
Nine buckets of driveway sealer, 115 feet of blacktop and an afternoon of fun.
Duration : 0:2:41