Houstons source for info on custom decorative concrete, drivewayS, patios, Stamped/patterned concrete, admixtures for concrete. Also offer links to other related resources

Monday, January 24, 2005

Building a Concrete Patio,Houston Patio,Concrete Patio,Pour Concrete,Concrete Patios,Paver,Sugarland

Building a Concrete Patio,Houston Patio,Concrete Patio,Pour Concrete,Concrete Patios,Paver,Houston Concrete,Houston Patios,Concrete Patio Houston,Flagstone Patios Houston,Pavers,Sugarland








an Affordable Contractors company




Building a
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Houston, Texas (713) 696-9400 USA Toll Free
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Building a
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"Prompt, reliable service & excellent craftsmanship & very affordable" J
Williams, El Lago Texas - "They completed the project in just 2 days and
left behind an Articulate Stamped concrete patio showpiece that is the
focal point of our property, we give this company an 11 on a scale from
1-10!" R Orchid, Jasons Deli Houston "ConcreteForever installed a Stunning
Stamped Concrete Patio in replace of our old wood deck, 5 star
recommendation!" B Dagley, Richmond Texas, "ConcreteForever solved our
drainage problem and transformed our backyard into paradise, we are very
pleased" J Evans, Katy Texas - "Professional crew and meticulous foreman.
We are thrilled about our new driveway!" L Wilburn, Bellaire Texas -
"ConcreteForever built our Flagstone patio and waterfall and the result
was beyond our expectations I Highly recommend this company!" C Spence,
Bellaire Texas - "We just had a stamped concrete patio installed by
ConcreteForever and at our first patio party my friends couldn't stop
talking about how beautiful our "mega-Patio" was! next year we will have
them back to build our pool! S. Littlefield, Missouri City -- "Our front
courtyard had serious drainage problems and ConcreteForever eliminated the
problem and left an articulate work of art! A dramatic Ashlar Slate
impressioned and radically colored concrete! (No one can believe it's
concrete!" T Chandler, Cypress Country Club



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What Makes us .....




At Affordable Contractors © our optimized stamped cast concrete mix is
comprised of 658 lbs of pure portland cement per cubic yard (4,000psi),
which
translates into the highest average compressive strength concrete mix for
residential use in Texas. Our key finishers are trained and certified SCI
Stamped
Concrete Technicians. We are Concrete Contractors in Houston, Texas. As a
Houston Concrete Contractor we are familiar with the expansive soils
throughout
the Houston Area. Houston concrete unlike other parts of the country
requires
optimized concrete reinforcement for use in Houston expansive soils.
We, are
your hardscape solution...

The barometric pressure variables and humidity criteria are meticulously
calibrated into the optimization performance variables table (provided by
a
concreteforever©com on site project manager) prior to the pour by a
qualified
engineer or by a one of the qualified Concreteforever©com technicians, as
this
will determine the performance criteria and the optimum amounts of air
entrainment, fiber strand reinforcement and bi-calcium silicate admixtures

required to optimize the mix according to these variables. Our solution
for crack
control & sedimentary displacement

If your in the market for a Decorative Concrete or stamped concrete
flooring,
patio, driveway, foundation, or stamped concrete vertical fences then give
us the
opportunity to facilitate your upcoming decorative or stamped concrete
project.
Equally as important is our concrete engineering skills required to
optimize the
concrete mix for your particular application. In Houston patios and
Houston
driveways & even Houston paver driveways need to be engineered to
withstand
the expansive soil conditions of the region. Depending on the humidity,
barometric pressure and other significant factors, our cast concrete
optimization
process is a well known process used in the prestressed concrete beams
that
support bridges and infra-structures - flexible but hi-capacity strength -
the day of
the pour we optimize the concrete mix with variable proportions of
tri-calcium
silicate, hardeners and bi-calcium silicates in terms of performance
variables, air
entraining admixtures and fiber supplemental reinforcement. If you need
concrete
work in Houston consider that an important property is the compressive
strength.
Cement particle-size distribution to strength development is a determining
factor
assuming that the depth of the hydrated layer is independent of particle
diameter
to quantitatively predict the effects of particle-size distribution on
strength
evolution, which is an important factor influencing compressive strength,
with
phase compositions becoming significant at later ages.

How do you color the Concrete? Once we've optimized our custom mix, we
then pour the concrete, a powdered dye (color) is spread onto the surface
and/or
an admixture mixed all the way through the wet concrete and trowelled in.
We
highlight the concrete with a faux stain. Then a second color (also known
as
releasing agent) is cast on the surface. Before the concrete hardens a set
of
rubber molds (stamps) are used to imprint textures into its hydrating
surface.
Stamped Concrete in Houston is becoming more and more popular. The result
will look like slate, stone, field stones, flagstone, bricks,
pavers,pavestones,
cobblestone, brick, marble, or many other materials. Want a faux polished
concrete look? Give us a call!We do all types of concrete work in Houston
and all
Texas.

Why is the base so important? Cast concrete in Houston is comparable to
a
mirror image of what it is poured over, in terms of professional
craftsmanship.
Without an adequate base (usually 2"- 6" inches of compacted rock, sand,
gravel
or road base) flatwork can settle, separate and develop uneven surfaces.

Can stamped concrete (decorative concrete) be found in commercial
settings? Absolutely, stamped concrete houston can be found throughout
the
world and at many distinguished hotels, casinos, resorts, etc. A famous
example
would be Disneyland and Disney World.

Why is decorative concrete (stamped concrete) more expensive than
traditional concrete? Recently, I have received inquiries into the cost
of
decorative cement work in comparison to traditional cement work. Let me
describe the two concepts... Traditional cement (also called concrete)
work is
what you would find around older homes. Examples would be a plain smooth
or
brushed finish driveway, curb or sidewalk. Rarely were there any designs
unless
a creative contractor carved shapes into the concrete while it was still
wet. The
process for installing this type of concrete is a fairly simple one,
perfected by
many... Not so perfected by many as well. Considering a residential patio
in
Houston? If you live in Houston and stamped concrete appeals to your
discerning
tastes then give us a call for a fast and detailed estimate, whether your
in an
owner builder network or private owner/builder we can help save you money.

Under the best circumstances plain concrete it involves little ground
preparation,
setting forms and the pour. Finishing would require some tamping,
floating,
troweling and usually brooming the surface. Although this can be tedious
work it
is normally a simple process when completed by an experienced concrete
driveway contractor or concrete patio contractor.

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 with stone impressions or brick patios or sidewalks that
look 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. Our
polished
concrete floors in Houston are stunning and affordable. 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. Let us look at your upcoming concrete
driveway
repair in Houston or concrete patio repair in Houston or just about
anywhere in
Texas to evaluate the most cost effective method to enhance the value of
your
home, inexpensively.

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.
The
concrete (or specifically, the cement in it) needs moisture to hydrate and
cure
(harden). When concrete dries, it actually stops getting stronger.
Concrete with
too little water may be dry but is not fully reacted. The properties of
such a
concrete would be less than that of a wet concrete. The reaction of water
with the
cement in concrete is extremely important to its properties and reactions
may
continue for many years.
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. ( We trained at the same institute)

Will decorative concrete or stamped concrete last as long as well as
regular concrete? Our stamped concrete product is 4-6" thick, (driveways
are
6"-7" thick and patios are 4" or more) 4,000-4,500 psi concrete. We exceed

steel rebar reinforcement requirements by over 20%. We match or exceed the

normal requirements for a strong finish that withstands years of normal
use. Over
the years the technicians at www.ConcreteForever.com have experimented
with
different proportions of tri-calcium silicate and bi-calcium silicate in
terms of
performance variables, one important property is the compressive strength.
In
the fall of 2001, he developed a mathematical model relating cement
particle-
size distribution to strength development. Assuming that the depth of the
hydrated layer is independent of particle diameter (which also is assumed
tacitly
in our cement hydration model) and proportional to the square root of
time, he
was able to quantitatively predict the effects of particle-size
distribution on
strength evolution. More recently, The Founder of AAA Affordable Concrete
Contractors also showed that cement fineness is an important factor
influencing
compressive strength, with phase compositions becoming significant at
later
ages. In his study, he also revolutionized a mathematical formula for the
prediction of the compressive strength development of standard ASTM C
10914
mortar in relation to the compressive strength required for residential
use in
Houston, Texas.

Simply put, 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 sedimentary displacement that may occur
with
an improperly mixed batch of concrete. (these factors are never taken into

consideration at the concrete plant)

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
and
chemically stain 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 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 dual 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.

Due to the wide array of patterns and colors available, and the cost of
stamped concrete in relation to the natural materials installation, the
choice of
stamped concrete is becoming more popular and frequent.

Colors and patterns for stamped concrete are often chosen to blend with
other stone or tile elements at the residence. Complex designs
incorporating
steps, courtyards, and fountains can be achieved. Stamped concrete can
also
be blended with other decorative concrete elements such as exposed
aggregate
finishes and acid-etch staining.
It wasn’t long ago when deciding on a driveway or patio material was easy:

asphalt or concrete. Today, the concrete choice has expanded to include a
multitude of decorative concrete options.

While plain gray concrete is still the most often installed, but We at
ConcreteForever.com believe that this ancient art compliments real estate
property and enhances the beauty...click on the link on the previous page
that
says:" What is stamped concrete?" to read more about this ancient art and
painstaking step by step process please click on our :


Don’t feel left out if you already have a driveway or patio. The concrete
industry
has rapidly developed many decorative products that can be applied to
existing
plain gray driveways and transform them into stunning show piece entry
ways for
your home. Please check out or exotic polished faux concrete floors and
engraving link for an in depth comprehensive review of your upcoming
project


This site was updated Monday, January 24 2005 at 11:45:51 GMT

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