CustomConcrete.biz Blog

Maintenance tips for concrete

Dave Johnson — Sun, 12 May 2013 01:49:00 GMT

Northwest Washington homeowners are often plagued with a common concrete maintenance issue this time of the year. We affectionately refer to it as “grungy concrete”.

Image: Build-up of dirt, mildew, pine needles and more

The grungy build-up comes from exposure to damp, shady conditions for extended periods of time. Over the winter months, paved surfaces can become coated with dirt, mildew, moss, and pine needles. What were once clean and tidy driveways, paths, and patios become quite dingy.

The good news is that concrete surfaces can be cleaned – homeowners can get rid of “grungy concrete” and freshen up outdoor living spaces to increase their home’s curb appeal and prepare for summer entertaining.

Image: Driveway pressure washing, before and after

At Custom Concrete Contracting we recommend Bellingham and Whatcom County homeowners pressure wash hard surfaces (like concrete) at least one time per year. This can be done as a DIY (do it yourself) project or professional service providers can be hired to tackle the job.

For those that prefer the DIY route, we have assembled these top pressure washing tips:

Rent or buy a good quality pressure washer (at least 2,000 psi)
Wear safety glasses
Dress appropriately for the job (long pants, long sleeves, boots)
Clear the area completely before starting
Start in a less visible spot until you have a feel for how the machine responds
Work in systematic manner – one line or square at a time
Use a slow and steady method for the best results

Image: Pressure washing creates a clean, well-maintained surface

Once concrete surfaces are cleaned, our concrete pros recommend applying a high quality sealant. Use a high quality acrylic product on aggregate surfaces (every 2 – 3 years) and a water based sealant on regular concrete or broom finishes (every 3-5 years).

Custom Concrete Contracting has added two helpful sealant resources to our website:

Concrete Cure and Seal – selection and application guide
Concrete Cure and Seal – troubleshooting guide

Those that would rather not tackle this often messy and time consuming maintenance task will need to plan ahead a bit. Spring and summer months are often busy times for concrete and pressure washing companies. It's best to get on their schedule in January or February!

Feature Project: stamped concrete patio with custom stairs

Dave Johnson — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:07:00 GMT

Professionally installed concrete surfaces have been proven to effectively improve the overall flow of a home and maximize backyard entertaining opportunities.

Custom Concrete Contracting recently completed this stamped concrete patio project for a custom home near Bellingham, WA. The spacious new patio improves accessibility and flows beautifully from multiple living areas inside the home.

Our crews framed and installed the patio and stairs shown below; we used rebar throughout the project to increase the patio’s strength and durability.

Image: Stamped concrete stairs, with stone facing detail

Note: the stairs were framed and poured separately from the patio slab so a slice of stone façade would be visible as an architectural detail.

The stamped concrete texture selected for this project was called “heavy stone” – it’s definitely one of the most popular patterns our Whatcom County customers choose. This patio project also included additional saw cut lines that were added for decorative appeal.

Image: Extra saw cuts were added as decorative detail

Note: check out our inspiration boards on Pinterest to see samples of many other decorative concrete designs. http://pinterest.com/customconcrete/

Homeowners love colored concrete! A special charcoal colored release agent was used on this project to keep our texture mats from sticking to the wet concrete. The color from that product does a great job of adding subtle color to the surface by highlighting the contours and texture of the concrete.

Image: This heavy stone texture finished is a popular choice for homeowners

To complete the project, Custom Concrete Contracting used a high quality acrylic sealer to create a glossy finish that looks great year-round.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into building a high quality patio. We think this combination of texture, saw cuts, color, and sealant made a great looking residential patio. What do you think?

Concrete hardscapes for hillside homes

Dave Johnson — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:59:00 GMT

Homeowners dealing with sloped, hillside properties often struggle to make their property work for outdoor entertaining. Their home may be situated on a hill to take advantage of views but the topography of the land makes it challenging to create level areas for decks, patios and pathways – that’s when installing concrete hardscapes can offer a great solution.

Decorative concrete hardscapes provide the “bones” or structure of hillside landscaping projects. Concrete stairs, retaining walls and drainage systems effectively improve access to property and give people the outdoor living spaces they desire – as shown in this feature project.

Image: stamped concrete stairs, recessed lighting and aggregate retaining walls

Custom Concrete Contracting worked on this hillside project that was located in the Lake Whatcom community near Bellingham, WA. The homeowners were looking to create lush garden areas, improve access around their property and expand living spaces. They chose concrete over other options due to its visual appeal and durability.

The first steps in the process included establishing a design, sculpting the land with excavation and dirt work, installing a drainage system, and adding power for landscape lighting. Then it was time for Custom Concrete Contracting to set the forms, manage the pour (delivered by overhead pumper trucks), and complete detailed finish work. Our experienced crews worked around an existing deck and managed complicated elevation changes during this project.

Image: setting forms for aggregate retaining walls

Exposed aggregate was used for vertical surfaces but the homeowner chose a decorative stamped concrete pattern for their patio and stairs. The heavy stone texture finish shown below is smoother than aggregate; it’s soft to the touch and great for bare feet!

Image: heavy stone texture finished concrete and landscape drainage

The end result is a beautifully landscaped hillside garden, expanded entertainment areas, safe access paths, and an elevated patio that takes advantage of lake views.

Image: exposed aggregate retaining wall with Italian slate stamped concrete patio and heavy stone texture stamped stairs

Custom Concrete Contracting was proud to work alongside the following licensed professionals on this project: excavation and drainage work by Olsson Construction; concrete supplied by Cowden Ready Mix and pumped by Western Concrete Pumping.

Crew placing a 7,500 sqft slab on grade

Dave Johnson — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 04:54:00 GMT

Crew placing a 7,500 sqft slab on grade with a Z-Boom from Western Concrete Pumping....soooo much easier than using a line pump and having to throw hose around. Concrete was supplied by Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix.

Beware of Concrete Contractors with low prices or discounts

Dave Johnson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:17:00 GMT

Very low Prices & Discounts = Bad experience & Below standard finished product.

To provide low prices & discounts, the concrete contractor must cut corners on your project. The reason is that they are in this business to make a profit, at whatever the quoted price may be. There is a misconception that contractors need the work so bad that they will work for nothing. The contractors that were willing to do this are out of business now or soon will be and have left behind many unhappy customers.

Below is a list of 9 things Concrete Contractors may be forced to do to provide a discounted price:

Use materials that are less expensive & lower quality.
Won't install reinforcement (rebar & wiremesh).
Won't use fibermesh to control surface cracks.
Will use unqualified labor that they don't have to pay as much.
Won't install sufficient control joints for crack control.
Won't take the time to confirm the forms are set to your design requirements because they don't have the time in their budget.
Will not have the required license or bonding, which means their employees are not covered by Labor & Industries if they are injured.
Won't have liability insurance. All companies and individuals hired to complete work at or in the home should carry both liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Won't have sufficient crew to pour your project, which means the finish will not be what you expected.

I'm not saying there aren't any concrete contractors out there that can provide low prices and leave the customer with a nice finished product.... I just want everyone to be leery of an extra low price and always do your research before hiring a contractor that may not be licensed or that is planning on cutting corners to squeeze a profit out of a project that was under bid.

Please add any questions or comments you might have, I would love to hear from you.

Dave Johnson

Pervious Concrete Rocks!

Dave Johnson — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:24:00 GMT

Benefits of Pervious Concrete installation:

Reduce untreated runoff discharging into storm sewer systems.
Proper utilization is recognized as a BMP (Best Management Practice) by the EPA for providing first flush pollution control & stormwater management.
Directly recharges groundwater to maintain aquifer levels.
Cuts back on irrigation by channeling water to tree roots & surrounding landscape.
Mitigates pollutants that can contaminate watersheds and harm sensitive ecosystems.
Eliminates hydrocarbon pollution from asphalt pavements & sealers.
Commonly provides 20-40 years of service with little or no maintenance.
Pervious concrete pavement doesn't absorb & store heat then radiate it back into the environment like a typical asphalt surface.

Pervious Concrete Applications:

Residential driveways
Residential streets
Alleys
Sidewalks
Trails
Bike lanes
Commercial parking lots
Greenhouse floors
Tennis courts
Zoos

Contact your local Ready Mix supplier for a list of concrete contractors with employees that are certified to install pervious concrete.

Information gathered from multiple sources:Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association,Concrete Thinking for a sustainable world, NRMCA, Pervious Pavement, Concrete Network.com

Concrete driveway vs Asphalt driveway

Dave Johnson — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:13:00 GMT

Why should I choose concrete instead of asphalt?

Concrete has more choices available for creating an inviting entrance to your home.
Concrete can provide better traction on a steep hillside (see photo above).
Initially asphalt is cheaper, but a good quality driveway will last more than 30 years with minimal maintenance.
Asphalt driveways need regular periodic sealing coats to slow cracking due to aging.
Asphalt will soften in hot temperatures.
Asphalt tends to get pot holes that need to be repaired.
Concrete is more visible at night.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative for your driveway, then asphalt is definitely the way to go. If you are looking for long term durability, lower maintenance, and a wide range of finishes to choose from, then I would suggest a concrete driveway.

Avoid using deicers on your concrete within the 1st year.

Dave Johnson — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:52:00 GMT

Deicers shouldn’t be used to completely rid an area of ice or snow, they’re meant to break the bond between ice and the pavement, making shoveling easier. They work best when there is only a thin layer of snow or ice that must be melted. Deicers are chemical compounds that break up snow and ice by dissolving it through a chemical reaction. Typically, the five chemicals commonly used as deicers are urea or various chloride salts: calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium. For locations where chemical deicers aren't appropriate, sand or cat litter can provide some traction but will not melt snow and ice.

Salt is very corrosive to concrete and will eventually, if not immediately, cause damage to many types of concrete. Salt can cause surface spalling of poor concrete or scaling of non-air-entrained concrete.

Concrete's biggest enemy is freeze and thaw cycles. Concrete spalling is actually a result of the pressure created by the repeated freezing and expansion of water or brine over a period of time. Be aware that how the concrete was installed can make a difference in whether or not there would be damage to your concrete. You should avoid using deicers on your concrete within the 1st year of installation.

Products containing ammonium nitrates and ammonium sulphates are especially harmful because they will actually attack the concrete chemically. Using deicers on your concrete driveway in the winter can cause surface damage, primarily scaling and spalling, by forcing the thawing and refreezing of moisture. High quality concrete, that has been created with best practices in mind, is much more resistant to spalling, and this is a good start.

Information gathered from multiple resources: Concretenetwork.com, Innovative Concrete Inc., All Things Concrete, Concretesealerandblanket.org, Crackman.ca