Enhancing Your Existing Concrete

If you have a yard or business property that already has existing concrete, you can enhance it through a variety of means. A decorative concrete contractor will help show you how you can enhance the value of your property by applying one of many decorative concrete designs. When you seek a consultation with a concrete company you will be able to determine if your existing concrete is ready for an overlay, or if there are problems with the slabs in place. If the latter is the case, then you will have to use a concrete company to remove and relay the concrete. If not, you are able to begin using any spray texture decoration or stamped patterns.

If your existing concrete is spalled or contains mild cracks, your decorative concrete contractor will need to correct these distress symptoms prior to applying the decorative concrete treatment. By hiring a professional concrete company, the professionals will be able to examine the quality of the existing concrete and the subbase conditions, identifying problems that exist and correcting them prior to applying any overlay. If your existing concrete is damaged, there are a few different treatment options prior to applying the decorative overlay. One of these includes applying a waterproof membrane. This is a spray texture which is applied on concrete slabs and simulates patterns found in tile or marble. This is an especially useful application is you are decorating areas which surround new swimming pools, offices, retail developments, walkways, driveways, or interior floors.

For these areas, there are great stamped overlays that offer water and wear resistance as well as high adhesion. These overlays are typically one quarter to one half of an inch thick. They are best suited for interior applications such as counter surfaces that are meant to be durable and maintenance free, with a cost that is much lower than natural materials.

When you use the professional expertise of a concrete company and a decorative concrete contractor you are able to use acid staining as well as stencil techniques to enhance the color of your concrete. A decorative concrete contractor will demonstrate the unique designs a saw cut can make in your existing concrete. A concrete company will be able to use dustless grinding to avoid contaminating the surfaces alongside pressure washing and shot-blasting to remove any existing residue prior to staining or applying stencils.

Sometimes acid-staining your existing concrete will optimize a high-gloss finish and therefore will not require sealing. Any decorative concrete contractor will help you to create a marbleized appearance through an enhanced polish blend. Other faux techniques used to recreate the image of natural materials include stippling and ragging, both of which can be done by a concrete company.