Concrete Designs

There are a lot of factors that go into pricing a polished concrete floor, or any floor system for that matter. Sure, polished cement floors are easy to maintain and practically effortless to love, but they are tricky to price. Prices for polished concrete can run as low as $3/sq. ft. and run as high as $10/sq. ft.

Before you start collecting bids from concrete contractors in the D.C. area, know the answers to these questions:

1) Are you doing a floor replacement, repairing an existing concrete surface or do you want to implement a brand new polished concrete floor?

2) How many square feet to you need to cover?

3) Do you want a decorative concrete application, such as acid staining or stenciling?

4) When it comes to polishing, do you want to see your reflection in your floor, or do you like a flatter, more matte appearance?

Have the answers to these questions about your potential polished concrete flooring project ready to go, and then call Maryland Polished Concrete for a quote. After all, they are the experts in the D.C. area when it comes to polished concrete.

Call 410-420-7250 today for a free quote!

Utilizing only the hottest, most current design techniques in the concrete industry, McHugh Construction Inc. is the leader when it comes to decorative cement flooring in Appleton Wisconsin and surrounding cities.

When you need a cost-effective flooring system for your home, office, restaurant, retail space, or commercial building, look no further than concrete. Not only will a decorative concrete flooring system lower your utility bills (thermal mass allows for concrete to keep a constant temperature year-round), you will reduce your space’s risk of fire, water and mold damage (concrete is flame retardant and will not support mold or mildew). Concrete floors are ridiculously easy to clean, and are entirely hypo-allergenic (dirt cannot become trapped in concrete like it can with wood or carpet).

Concrete flooring can be stained any color of the rainbow and can be polished to a glass-like finish, or it can be texturized. Design possibilities are vast these days; Appleton’s best decorative concrete contractor can apply stamping (imprinted or patterned designs) and/or acid staining. When you need something simpler, but still want it to look great, perhaps polished cement flooring is the way to go. If you don’t know exactly what design you want, but know that concrete is what you want, McHugh will lend you their design expertise.

Decorative Concrete Flooring can be Utilized in the Following Spaces:

• Custom Homes
• Retail Spaces
• Shopping Plazas
• Government Buildings
• Hospitals
• Industrial Warehouses
• Commercial Buildings
• Showrooms
• Hotels

If you are in the Appleton, Greenville, Neenah or Menasha areas and in need of a decorative concrete contractor, contact McHugh Construction Inc. for a FREE estimate today! 920-757-9779

When it comes to either commercial or residential concrete, there are countless design options. There are so many decorative concrete applications these days that choosing which one suits your project the best can get overwhelming. A very popular and cost-effective way to go is concrete stamping (also referred to as concrete imprinting), which allows you to apply a design or pattern right into freshly laid concrete. These patterns can resemble stone, brick, tile, flagstone or even wood, and give plain old cement a custom, high-end look.

Where is Concrete Stamping Utilized?

Concrete stamping can be implemented onto interior or exterior concrete floors or surfaces. Driveways, swimming pool decks, entryways, outdoor living areas and courtyards are commonly seen with imprinted patterns. You will also see stamped concrete at outdoor venues for concerts, shopping plazas, boardwalks, fairs and theme parks. Often times, these larger establishments will add color to concrete before the stamping process to add even more decorative qualities.

Who to Hire

Concrete stamping is an intricate process and should only be performed by expert concrete contractors who have been in the industry for a number of years. Decorative concrete projects – either residential or commercial – can, and often do, go awry; so be sure to hire a qualified, skilled professional. If you are in the Murrieta, Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, Moreno Valley and surrounding areas, there’s no company with more know-how when it comes to concrete than Blue Rose Concrete Contractors Inc. for residential projects, and J.C. Concrete when it comes to commercial jobs. If you need a service other than stamping, Blue Rose and J.C. also offer: foundations, sidewalks, site concrete, curbing and a vast array of decorative techniques.

For more information on Blue Rose and J.C. Concrete Contractors call 909-823-6190 ext. 204.

You know what they say about summers in Austin: It’s blazing hot, but it’s a dry heat. Unfortunately, dryness can cause your concrete surface to shrink and then crack, which means you will need to have the damage repaired or run the risk of having someone trip and fall on your property. That’s not a liability anyone can afford these days. So when your driveway, patio, walkway or pool deck gets damaged, call Sundek of Austin for concrete repairs and resurfacing. They are the area leaders when it comes to concrete.

DIY Concrete Repair?

You might be thinking: I could save money and just try to repair my concrete myself. Well, I hate to break it to you, but do-it-yourself concrete repairs are most likely going to cost you more money in the long run; that is unless you already: 1) own a pressure washer, 2) know exactly how to prime cracks and reinforce them with special fabric, 3) are familiar with applying elastomeric basecoats, 4) not scared of grinding machinery, 5) know how to trowel and texture, and 6) are prepared to add concrete sealers. Doesn’t sound so easy, now does it? Why not hire a concrete repair professional in the first place?

When cracks in your concrete have gotten out of control, give Sundek of Austin a call for a zero-obligation estimate. Save yourself the headaches that attempting to do-it-yourself would cause, and get a better looking driveway, patio, or pool deck now. Sundek of Austin also offers decorative concrete applications and resurfacing techniques to residents and business owners of Austin, Round Rock,

Call Sundek of Austin at (512) 928-8000

Pflugerville and surrounding Central Texas cities. Make sure your concrete repairs are taken care of correctly the first time!

Contact Sundek of Austin at 512.928.8000

Concrete pool deck resurfaced by SUNDEK of Washington

Depending on which region of the country you live, you may have an unnecessarily high level of maintenance when it comes to your concrete pool deck. If you’re located in a climate that is known for harsh winters and hot summers, your concrete is susceptible to surface cracking and unsightly fading.

Luckily, there is a company called SUNDEK of Washington, who resurfaces concrete pool decks with innovative, highly advanced concrete-based top coatings that makes maintenance as easy as a Sunday morning.

Products and applications by SUNDEK of Washington aren’t put in place just to keep your pool deck’s maintenance level down, though – they can also serve as a decorative element. Stamping, staining and stenciling can be done right on top of your SUNDEK Classic Texure, adding beauty and new life into your formerly drab-looking concrete.

Turn your old concrete pool deck into something you can be proud to show off this summer with SUNDEK of Washington. For more information call: 1- 866-631-8664.

For a free quote: 1-866-631-8664

SUNDEK of Washington has been resurfacing concrete pool decks, as well as concrete patios, driveways, walkways and exterior concrete for commercial businesses in the D.C. area for over 22 years. They have been awarded for their innovative design applications and their concrete-based top finishes are the most technologically advanced in the concrete industry. When you choose to have your concrete surface rejuvenated by SUNDEK of Washington, their professional staff will first repair the old concrete as necessary, then install a brand new top coat that is slip resistant when wet, and stays cool under the hot summer sun, so it’s comfortable to walk on with bare feet. SUNDEK of Washington also offers concrete design options to enhance the beauty of your new concrete surface. You can turn your old cement into an area that resembles brick, tile or natural stone. The possibilities are vast with it comes to resurfacing concrete!

Contact SUNDEK of Washington today at 1-866-631-8664 for a free quote!

Keywords: lightweight concrete, concrete, decorative concrete

lightweight concrete

From countertops in the kitchen and bathroom vanities to flooring, walls and fireplace surrounds, versatile, adaptable and, most importantly, affordable, lightweight concrete is the material that more and more interior designers and architects are turning to. Concrete, especially the lower weight versions such as Sure Crete’s Xtreme series, can be installed with less framing or bolstering, making it more economical and faster to build. But there is more- it can be made to mimic virtually any material imaginable.

Pick up any high gloss magazine these days and it is likely that you will see at least one example of high glamour concrete- and it is not limited to any one room. There are no limits to what the designers can come up with. The lighter the concrete becomes, the more possibilities open up.  Architects can design soaring walls that need less support work inside of them, allowing for more decorative touches to be included in the budget.

The Green but Fashionable Marketplace

There are a number of concerns in the design world – not only does the design have to look good, but it has to work the way that it is intended as well. Finally, there is more call not only for green materials to protect or lessen damage to the environment but to look good at the same time. As that sector of the industry takes off, there will only be more need for light-weight concrete that makes use of recycled materials, including the waste of various manufacturing processes

In addition to using concrete alongside other green building materials, the composition of concrete and the ability to make it resemble less environmentally friendly materials will make it even more attractive. Instead of using endangered hardwoods or marble (which is also in dwindling supply), the designer can opt for the use of lightweight and decorative concrete instead and create a similar likeness or completely unique look and finish.

Concrete has long been used for foundations of buildings, for sidewalks, driveways, playgrounds and a host of other building parts.  However, it has always been the same old thing – gray, drab and boring.

But not any more!  You wouldn’t recognize concrete – literally.  There are stunning colors, textures and so much more.  One of the great things about the “new” concrete is that there are so many innovative ways to apply, pour and install it that you don’t even have to tear out the old concrete that you are upgrading.  In the past you would have to tear out the old concrete which is both costly, time consuming and extremely difficult.  The new concrete has much better options.

There are very durable coatings that can be less than an inch, in fact, down to less than ¼ inch, and can be applied right on top of the original concrete.  Many of the decorative concrete applications will keep the same texture of the original concrete while changing color and sheen.  Some overlays simply add color; others totally change the concrete so that it looks as though it is brand new.

One innovative and beautiful type of decorative concrete is a spray top mixed with polymers and applied with a special paint gun.  This is a product that is not meant to change the existing surface texture; however, it will resurface the concrete so that if it is faded, discolored or stained it will look new.  This type of concrete is also used to spray a thin layer over stamped concrete that has discolored over the years.  Instead of taking the concrete out, the spray – which can be done in any color – brings out the stamps and all their detail, making them look new again.  The stamps are not changed at all, so their unique pattern is preserved, while making the new color look more uniform.

This is just one of the types of decorative cement that are being used today to enhance all areas of homes and other buildings, as well as landscaping, parks, town squares and other areas.

If you are considering or involved in any type of building project that involves the use of concrete, consider using some form of decorative concrete for its durability, cost-effectiveness and long lasting beauty.

It used to be that when we thought of concrete, we thought of just a few things, such as sidewalks, driveways and cement slab house foundations.  Most of the time the concrete used has been a pretty dull gray.  Once in a while, for instance, in some southwestern towns, we could find some sidewalks that were various shades of rust and orange that mimic the beautiful mountains in their midst.

In the past decade, however, concrete has changed from a basic utility to a decorative enhancement, a creative and artistic essential in creating the mood of resorts and homes throughout the world.  Decorative concrete has become an integral part of the planning for many building plans – whether commercial or private.  The colors and textures of decorative concrete have become so important that often they are the centerpiece or focal point of a floor plan.

This phenomenon has changed the way that homes are created and office buildings, malls and other buildings are created.  Imagine your basement floors being the color of your choice, sealed to keep out mold and setting the tone for everything from the color and texture on your walls and the furniture you buy.

Think about your kitchen counters being custom poured and cured right in your home in the color and texture you want – at about the same cost as a pre-made countertop.  Think of the hundreds of ways you could plan your decor around your custom countertop and matching or complementing floors.  Decorative concrete can do all this and more.

If you are planning to build or remodel a home, office, mall or any other type of structure, landscape, patio or pool, take the time to look into decorative concrete.  You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

There are many new uses of concrete that have come to the fore lately.  Some of these uses simply copy methods that used to be very costly, painstaking and had to use a lot of concrete, manpower and time to get the job done.

These days there are many concrete treatments available that add color, shine, texture and more to floors, walls, counter tops, pool and patio décor and many other places in and around homes and other structures.

One technique that is used a great deal is polished concrete.  The appearance of the concrete is a great sheen once it is finished, and the concrete itself can be created in many colors.  There are many benefits to using polished concrete including:

•Hardeners are put in the mix so that the durability and longevity factor is actually cured with the concrete;
•The finish resists shoe scuffs and stains;
•Easy to clean – only needs mopping and stays shiny;
•Because of polished concrete’s reflective nature, if you choose a light color, less electric lighting in the area is needed;
•Polished concrete outlasts almost any other normal surface, such as carpeting or vinyl.

Another exciting quality about polished concrete is that it is extremely versatile.  It is often used in schools, libraries and other public buildings because of the qualities listed above.  Many stores are beginning to refinish their older floors and give them an updated look.  Not only will polished concrete do that, it is also considered a “green” product – which is environmentally friendly.  Since the environment is such an important issue, to have a product that will stand the test of time, clean easily, look beautiful and be good for the environment, this is a win-win situation for all involved.

There are many different types of decorative concrete, and polished concrete is one of the most versatile and beautiful.  If you are thinking of remodeling, redecorating or renovating – or building something new – try looking into polished concrete as a great way to create flooring that will not only be durable and easy to take care of, but will also enhance any area of your home.  To be straightforward, polished concrete can be simply stunning.