Concrete Designs

There have been advances in the concrete industry that have many concrete installers and repair experts making the switch from functional concrete to decorative. A career in the designer concrete arena can be not only rewarding, but very financially beneficial. In order to jump start your new career, make sure you start with the right tools: product knowledge and the proper decorative concrete training.

Product Knowledge Equals Higher Profits

To get the most out of your decorative concrete training, it is vital that you learn everything about the products and supplies you will be using. You need to know not only how concrete products will interact with each other, but also how to describe the products you use to potential clients. The better you can describe in detail, the more valuable you will be as a contractor. There are so many things you can do with concrete, such as cement stamping, acid-staining, or concrete polishing for example. When you can talk to a future client about how exciting these techniques are, the more excited they will be to hire you!

Decorative Concrete Training

The first question you are probably asking yourself is, “Can I afford decorative concrete training?” That depends on plenty of factors, such as location, time, and available funds. If you’re lucky, you will be able to find decorative concrete training courses in your area; otherwise, you might have to book a flight and make hotel arrangements in order to meet your needs. Without travel, count on spending $250 to $1,000 per weekend on decorative concrete training. Most courses will last 2 – 3 full days with a break for lunch in the afternoon. Classes will usually be held at a decorative concrete supply company, and will include hands-on demonstrations as well as discounts on concrete products and tools.

Start a Portfolio ASAP

Being able to talk about your craftsmanship is one thing. Showing a potential customer photos of your work is another. Take before and after photos of every single job you get. You can even start your portfolio during your initial training. A pre- and post-portfolio of your concrete work is especially important with it comes to decorative concrete repairs or resurfacing.

Make sure you don’t get a head of yourself when it comes to starting a decorative concrete career. Without the proper amount of training, you could jump into a job without knowing what you’re doing, screw it up, and then ruin your reputation. Do your research regarding training courses, take your time learning the concrete products and tools, and practice until you’re ready for your first job.

If you are a decorative concrete contractor who is fed up with exterior dyes that fade, you are not alone. Dyes that are not UV stable can hurt your reputation as a decorative concrete professional, even though the sun is doing the damage, not you.

When someone hires you to dye their exterior concrete, they want the concrete color they choose for their outdoor living project to last for years to come. Make sure to give your clients the best.

There are new, highly-advanced decorative concrete products on the market that are fade-resistant, and as an added bonus, some of these concrete dyes are even quick-drying. If you are a contractor in a sunny area of the nation, you know that quick-drying, fade-resistant concrete dyes are hard to come by. But they do exist!

Check out this great product, UV Dye EXT, by Kingdom Products, a Pennsylvania concrete supply company.

New innovations and technology in the field of decorative concrete have now made it possible to create vertical decorative concrete applications. Designs and stamping methods typically seen on concrete floors, driveways, and patios are now available for walls, columns, fences, and other vertical surfaces. These new advances have sparked a huge interest in the design world, allowing for the creation of totally customizable vertical surfaces.

What Concrete Supplies are Needed for Vertical Applications?

The concrete used in these applications can be purchased through The Stamp Store — it is a unique, lightweight mix combined with colorants and specially designed concrete stamping tools. These new tools have made it possible to stamp concrete on corners and to stamp single rows of concrete, while still maintaining the deep texture seen in decorative concrete flooring.

Benefits of Vertical Concrete

The concrete mix offered by The Stamp Store is water resistant and bonds to virtually any surface; including plaster, dry wall, brick, paneling, and existing concrete.  This vertical concrete application is suitable for both interior and exterior use, and can be colored and stamped to create a myriad of unique designs.

With high-quality vertical concrete tools and supplies, it’s possible to mimic the appearance of much more expensive materials like brick, stone or wood.  Imagine your home flanked with beautiful stone columns or cobblestone walls. These designs and so many more are easily and economically attainable with the new innovations in vertical decorative concrete.

When it comes to areas that are vulnerable to flooding, such as a basement, steer clear of carpeting or wood floors. Your best option is, hands down, concrete flooring. Why choose a basement flooring material that can warp (wood) or grow mildew (carpet)? Concrete floors are durable, simple to keep clean, and best of all – concrete is material that will stay allergen and mildew free.

And if you want to liven up your basement floor, you can do so with decorative concrete products, like acid stain or cement dyes. Don’t think of a concrete basement floor as just an ordinary slab – with decorative concrete options, you can transform your basement into a bar or entertainment area that your friends and family will love and enjoy year after year!

Ready to start your flooring project? Check out this great decorative concrete supply company.

The construction market in Florida has been up and down. The last couple years has seen very little action in terms of remodeling, new homes, and commercial real estate. But since the economy is picking back up a little, Dade City homeowners are looking to increase their property values. A great way to do this is with decorative exterior concrete. A stamped driveway looks great and can lure potential buyers onto your property. An etched concrete patio in the backyard is attractive to buyers who like to entertain on a regular basis. A decorative concrete walkway looks great on the outskirts of a garden or landscaped area. Exterior concrete doesn’t just need to serve a purpose, such as providing a space to walk on — it can truly add a sense of style to any home, whether it’s on the market or not.

So before you look into putting your Dade City property up for sale, look into exterior decorative concrete. You might increase your property values, OR you might find your revitalized outdoor space so inviting that you’ll never want to leave.

Find out where to buy decorative concrete supplies.