Concrete Patios Contractor Houston TX, Concrete Patios Houston Texas, Concrete Patios, Concrete Patios

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CONCRETE
When our concrete arrives on site we modify the mixture depending on the humidity,
temperature, soil conditions and application type to minimize concrete cracking and
potential displacement that may occur with an improperly mixed batch of concrete.
(these factors are never taken into consideration at the concrete plant)

MOLDING THE CONCRETE:
Decorative concrete (Concrete Stamping) work is a relatively new concept but really
goes back many years. You may have seen a concrete sidewalk leading into a
business or mall that looked like a rustic stone path with one or more colors. This
design is becoming very popular because it is so complimentary of landscapes and
homes. Many people are even having decorative concrete finishes installed in rooms of
their homes. Kitchens are among the most common requests.

Properly finished decorative concrete can look very elegant or rustic depending on what
look is desired. While decorative concrete is the most desired these days it is also the
most difficult finish to perfect and requires much more preparation, finishing, and skill.

When the contractor actually gets to the point where the concrete driveway, patio or
walkway can be stamped (process to apply the decorative appearance) time is crucial.
There are very limited amounts of time for the various applications and any mistakes
can leave a finish that the homeowner is not satisfied with. Stamping Concrete is an art
and I only know one other stamped concrete artisan (besides my crew and myself) in a
200 mile radius from Houston that have perfected this ancient art....

After the concrete is poured and finished the job is not complete. Clean up for this type
of finish is more difficult because of the various colors that are involved. After a day or so
the contractor will have to return to the job site to pressure wash the excess
color/release for the perfect finish and look, then resin-coat the concrete. Simply put
decorative concrete is a much more labor-intensive process but most feel it is worth the
cost because of the unique, prestigious and elegant look.
How is decorative concrete colored? The Technicians at Concrete Forever.com use two
methods to color decorative concrete. Using the first method, color is spread onto the
surface by hand using the “dry shake method,” then worked into the surface using hand
tools. After the color is applied and worked into the fresh cement, a release/hardener is
applied.
The release/hardener serves a duel purpose. It adds a tremendous amount of strength
and it highlights and acts as a second color, which gives the stamped pattern and
overall color a defining and distinguished look. The second method used is when the
color is mixed directly inside the concrete at the concrete plant and mixed inside the
truck. The concrete is the colored throughout from the top to the bottom instead of just
¼” into the surface. The release/hardener is applied using this method as well. The
second method tends to be slightly more expensive since the cost of the material will
increase. Both are good methods and not one is better than the other. Which method is
used depends on the conditions and what look the customer is trying to accomplish.
"I can't afford to do my entire project all at once. Can I do half now and half later?"
Decorative concrete is surprisingly inexpensive and can be seamlessly extended when
it is convenient for you.