Kelowna Concrete Pros

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Stamped concrete gives the look of stone, slate, flagstone, brick, tile, and even wood. There’s also a wide variety of colors you can choose to compliment your home’s decor, gardening, and overall aesthetic. Stamped concrete is also half the price of expensive materials like flagstone while still providing the durability and strength of concrete. Pros: More affordable than natural stone, brick and flagstone Increases home value Offers unlimited design options Is as durable as concrete Sealing makes it even more long-lasting Cons: Hard to accomplish by yourself Minor cracking can develop For best results requires periodic sealing Salts and the freeze-and-thaw cycle causes cracking Repairs can be difficult stamped concrete One of our stamped concrete projects. Stamped Concrete Design Options It’s hard to beat the unlimited design options available to stamped concrete. If your house has stucco, then you might want to choose a wooden pattern to compliment your house. If your house is made from brick, you similarly may want to choose a brick pattern to keep things consistent. In general, you want to echo the surrounding landscape with your choice of stamped concrete. Stamped Concrete Patterns: With stamped concrete, you can truly make it your own with all of the design options available. By far the most popular design option is ashlar stone. But we’ve installed various different stamped concrete patterns, including but not limited to flagstone, seamless slate, wood plank, cut cobblestone, brick, and even custom seals. One thing you may want to consider is whether you want a seamless theme or not. The seamless pattern creates a sleek aesthetic while the sealed theme stamped concrete patterns create a checkered effect. Stamped Concrete Colors: Earth tones tend to dominate the market for stamped concrete. That’s because earthy grays and browns tend to complement any greenery your backyard or patio area might have. Don’t feel limited to what’d been done before however. Colors can be mixed, layered, or antiqued with stains or tints. Multiple colors can be used interchangeably if you want to have a particular color border the main color of your patio or driveway. Stamped Concrete Applications: Stamped concrete can be used in everything from kitchen floors to driveways. Here are some ideas for you in case you’re wondering what you can do to enhance the aesthetic of your home: Outdoor Applications: Stamped Concrete Patios: Create your own unique space in your backyard with a flagstone stamped concrete floor pattern that gives the impression of luxury without all the expensive price tag. Stamped Concrete Driveway: Section off parts of your driveway with stenciled design, use colored borders, or create an entire cut cobblestone stamped concrete driveway. Stamped Concrete Walkway: Impress your guests as you guide them through your meandering yard giving a luxurious look and feel to your house with a flagstone or ashlar slate design. Indoor Applications: Stamped Concrete Basement: Completely redo your basement flooring with seamless slate (red) which compliments a pool table / arcade very nicely. Stamped Concrete Garage: Create a seamless design that makes your garage truly shine that will complete your vehicle’s home. Stamped Concrete Kitchen: Mimic the look of tile or wood with our plank design that is sure to make your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom pop! Siding With Stamped Concrete Professionals: These are just some suggestions… Your own limit is your imagination. We encourage our clients to think of their patio, walkway, or driveway as their canvas because design options are virtually limitless! Interested in talking through your stamped concrete options with a professional? Fill out the form below or give us a call. We’d be happy to hear from you.

What’s the difference between cement and concrete? Many people may think that the terms cement and concrete are used interchangeably, but in reality, cement is an ingredient that goes into the making of concrete. Concrete itself is made with a mixture of cement, aggregates, and water. Aggregates consist of various types of sand, gravel, and/or crushed stone. Once the water and cement mix it causes the consistency to harden and bond to the aggregates creating the rock-like consistency we call concrete. The finished concrete product is the material that is associated with the building of driveways, patios, sidewalks, and other various structures that need strength and durability. What is in Cement? Since it is known that cement is an ingredient to concrete, then what are the ingredients of cement? Portland cement, which is a generic form of concrete, is comprised of many different materials like limestone, shale, iron, and clay. Those ingredients are then crushed, screened, and placed in a cement kiln. The high temperatures that are achieved in the kiln cause a rock-like substance that is then ground into a fine powder, known as cement. When to Use Concrete vs. Cement? Concrete is best used in larger projects while cement can be used for smaller DIY projects. The major projects that come to mind when deciding to use concrete include foundations, stairwells, buildings, and footers. Concrete can also be used for basement and garage floors, sidewalks, driveways, patios, and every flatwork job in between. Cement is better used for smaller jobs that do not always require a concrete contractor. These jobs can range from grouting to repairs for cracked and distressed concrete. If you are ever thinking of renovating your property, make sure you ask yourself if concrete or cement is the better answer. Key Differences Between Concrete and Cement? Concrete not only has different chemical components, including limestone, iron, and clay – they also accomplish different things based on your concrete needs. Cement is best used for smaller jobs like repairing small cracks, while concrete is used for bigger projects like walkways, patios, and more. See a full break down of differences between concrete and cement below. Cement Uses Cement is used as a binding tool in construction. Naturally, it has many different uses: It is used in concrete for laying flooring It is used for water tightness control It is used for making joints for drains and pipes It is used in masonry work It is used in the construction of water wells, streets, and water tanks, tennis courts, lamp posts, and many more Concrete Uses Concrete is used for bigger-scale projects in construction. There are several specializations of concrete including structural concrete, flat-ground concrete, and commercial concrete. Here is a list of projects concrete is capable of handling: Flat-ground Work: Walkways Patios Driveways Sidewalks Garage Flooring Basements Pool Decks Commercial Work: Loading Docks Storage Pads Trash Pads Parking Structures Fences and Poles Structural Concrete: Roads and Bridges Overpasses Architectural Structures Motorways Building Foundations Pavements Find the Right Person to Accomplish your Concrete Needs. We utilize concrete in order to fulfill large project needs that are in demand by our customers. We have been pouring concrete for years. We know concrete inside and out making us a reliable home improvement company you can always rely on for your concrete needs. We provide top-notch concrete that will be sure to satisfy any of your residential concrete projects. You want to always make sure you find a concrete contractor or company that you can trust, and you will always have that in us! Reach out if you are ever in need of quality Concrete Services.

If you’re looking to pour concrete, you may have wondered if your local climate will affect your sidewalks, driveways, patios, and more. While you can pour concrete in cold and hot weather, it’s necessary to take precaution to ensure it cures properly. If you pour when it’s too cold or too hot – the concrete will be brittle or cracked. If you let it cure when it’s too cold or too hot – your concrete will not be as durable. Learn more about the process and whether you should hire professional help. The strength and durability of concrete is dependent on how hydrated it is as it is mixed, poured, and cured. If it’s too cold, then the water particles will freeze and the concrete will crack… If it’s too hot, then the concrete will become dry and brittle… Therefore, the ideal temperature for pouring concrete is between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Pouring Concrete in Cold Weather When concrete is poured in cold weather, the water particles freeze. When it freezes, the water particles expand causing cracking. Here are some things you can do if you’re pouring in cold weather: Store concrete mixture in warm, dry place Thaw frozen round with heaters Use hot water in concrete mix Use extra cement to create a hotter chemical reaction Vacuum to remove excess water Use additives to quicken hardening process Use special mixes designed for cold weather Pouring Concrete in Hot Weather When concrete is poured in hot weather, the water particles evaporate. Without enough water, the concrete will be dry and brittle. Here are some things you can do if you’re pouring in hot weather: Pour during the coldest time of the day Use sunshades and windbreaks to keep cement cold Store concrete somewhere cool like a shed or garage Add ice to concrete mix Reduce your mix time Cool down aggregate by periodically spraying water Have extra eyes on the project to ensure a smooth operation Curing Concrete in Cold Weather Equally important is curing in cold weather. Here are a few things you can do to cure in cold weather properly: Covering the concrete with insulated blankets and layering if you need to. Laying straw over the concrete’s surface to serve as an insulating material. Curing Concrete in Hot Weather Once concrete has been poured, it’s important for it to remain at a temperature above 50 degrees for at least two days. Make sure you’re using heated enclosures to protect your concrete from the elements. Ideal Temperature For Pouring Concrete Summary If you pour when weather is too hot, your concrete will be brittle. If it’s too cold, then it may freeze and cause cracking. In either case, you want to pour in about 50 degrees temperature. However, given your local climate, that may not be an option. There are tools you can use to ensure your concrete is durable for years to come including using windbreakers, insulation, and more to fight the elements. Partnering With Concrete Solution Experts Laying concrete regardless of weather requires skill, knowledge, and experience. Making a mistake mixing, pouring, or curing concrete can leave you with a weaker final product. We have years of experience pouring concrete and helping improve the homes of thousands of homeowners in Canada regardless of your local climate, we can handle your project. For more questions about pouring in hot or cold weather fill out the form or give us a call today.

Learning how to maintain a concrete driveway is one of the best ways to both save money and add curb-value to your house. As we all know, concrete is a very durable material, capable of withstanding stains, spills, foot traffic, and vehicle impact for years. Additionally, concrete driveways hold up to the elements much better than asphalt or traditional pavers. With that said, your concrete driveway still requires some maintenance from time to time in order to preserve it. With the right amount of care, your concrete driveway could last you over 30 years, or more! Here are some helpful tips for preserving your investment. Tip #1: Avoid Harsh Deicing Chemicals Prevent surface damage on your new concrete driveway by avoiding using harsh deicers. New concrete is more susceptible to the corrosive effects of deicers. It is recommended to use sand as a substitute to the many deicers on the market. This will also give your driveway better traction in addition to preventing scaling and spalling. Tip #2: Use a quality mix While deicers can harm your driveway, especially if they are new, high quality concrete mixes can withstand most deicers. Finding professionals to handle mixing for you is generally recommended. You really only need to be concerned if your concrete is from a low quality mix or completed by an amateur… Using a quality mix ensures that maintaining your driveway is easy-to-do rather than an impossible task. Tip #3: Keep it Clean Spills happen. Your engine leaks oil, your tires leave streak marks – that stain in the corner won’t seem to come out. No matter what happens, cleaning regularly ensures you keep your garage in premium condition. It is recommended to clean your driveway as spills happen, or at least once a year. This is one of the easiest ways to maintain your concrete driveway for years to come. Tip #4: Seal it Regularly Regularly cleaning your driveway also ensures that your driveway is primed for sealing. With sealing, you’re protecting your driveway from the elements. Especially if you live in a cold place, you want sealing to seal often avoid the ice-and-thaw cycle, which quickly deteriorates driveways. Sealing is one of the best ways to add years of life to your driveway. Tip #5: Be Kind to Your Driveway When it comes to snow removal, avoid plows and metal shovels. Instead, use a plastic shovel or snow blower. These create microscopic cracks that where water can get inside. When water freezes water particles expand and cause cracking. Residential concrete is also not designed for heavy plows, garbage trucks, etc. Maintaining A Concrete Driveway Maintaining your concrete driveway may sound like a chore, but with a little maintenance here and there you will see that years of life – and thousands of dollars – will be saved in the process. Simply keeping it clean, avoiding harsh deicers, and avoiding heavy machinery on your driveway are some of the easiest tips you can follow to ensure the life of your concrete is sustained for years to come. Concrete Contractors You Can Trust No one knows concrete like us. We have been pouring concrete for years. The materials and service we provide are always top-notch quality. If you’re in the neighborhood looking for residential concrete services, look no further. We are concrete contractors you can trust! If you have any questions about maintaining your driveway fill out the form below or give us a call.