| INTERSTATE
decorative CONCRETE DESIGNS, Corp. |
|
 |
|
|
| |
Tips and Tricks |
|
1.
How To Know If Your Contractor Is Quoting Or Doing The
Job Right
Three Critical Characteristics To
Demand From Your Decorative Concrete
Contractor … Does Yours Do These?
When concrete is used outdoors it is exposed to the blazing
hot Summer sun and the frigid cold of New England Winter
nights. This creates tremendous stress within the concrete.
A 100 ft concrete driveway can be almost an inch longer
by the end of a hot summer day.
A qualified concrete contractor will add steel reinforcement
to the concrete. This can be in the form of wire screen
or mesh; steel bars called rebar, or steel fibers. This
addition of steel gives the concrete strength in tension
to resist large cracks.
The contractor should also be adding admixtures like:
| • |
Air entraining:
This improves concrete’s durability, workability,
reduces bleeding, and reduces freeze/thaw problems.* |
| • |
Superplasticizers:
This improves concrete’s strength by decreasing
the amount of water needed for workable concrete. |
| • |
Retarders:
This delays concrete’s setting time in hot
weather and increases the long term strength. |
| • |
Accelerators:
This speeds the concrete’s setting time in
cold weather and increases the early strength. |
| • |
Microfibers:
This helps the concrete inhibit the formation of
microcracks.* |
| |
| |
* Should be added
to the concrete regardless of weather conditions. |
| |
|
|
Obviously some of these admixtures are
optional depending upon the forecasted weather conditions
and others are an absolute must.
Let’s do a quick review:
| • |
If the contractor doesn’t note
on his quote that he is going to add steel reinforcement
or if he gives a reason that contradicts what you
just learned, then he is not doing a good job or
he is holding back on these important steps to keep
the price down. Or worse yet, may add these extras
to the final bill. |
| • |
It is important to remember that adding
microfibers, steel reinforcement and admixtures
are critical components not options. If a contractor
is not doing these or says you don’t “need’em”
show him the door. |
| • |
Again if he says, “It’s
an outdoor job. You don’t have to worry about
sealing the concrete,” tell’em to “…hit
the road,” he is not doing you any favors
with a low ball price. |
| |
|
|
With everything you now know about structural
and decorative concrete you will understand why we take
these extra steps I’m about to talk about to assure
that the job is done right. Let me explain how we do it.
Many contractors will order concrete from the same suppliers
that we do. The one man shows with a truck, may just go
to the local home warehouse store and pick up a redi-mixed
product; usually what’s on sale. The better contractors
will specify the strength and perhaps ask that some admixtures
and micro-fibers be added. The problem with this is that
there is no way to be sure or to tell if you are getting
the mix you requested. You are at the mercy of the concrete
supplier and unless you are building a bridge there is
no way you can get the supplier to certify the mix. At
Interstate Decorative Concrete Designs again we do something
that is unique. We specify the strength of the concrete
just like our competitors but that is where the similarity
ends, we add the admixtures and micro-fibers on site to
assure the mix meets our standards. We also reinforce
all of our pours with steel grating or metal lathe.
We cut control joints as required by ASTM Specifications.
After the surface is stamped or finished we add two different
sealants to protect the concrete surface and increase
its durability and life.
These extra steps and quality control measures give us
the ability to offer 3 and 5 year guarantees of product
and workmanship.
|
2. How to choose
a pattern
The concrete installation should serve a functional purpose
first and then an aesthetic one. Therefore, the choice
of pattern should be determined based on functionality.
Examples:
In New England, residents have to deal with snow in the
wintertime. Therefore, driveways, carports, and high traffic
walkways should be made using relatively smooth patterns.
This will allow for easier shoveling, snow blowing, or
plowing. Seamless
patterns, ashler slate,
royal ashler, and Mexican
tile are functional patterns for these
applications. On the other hand, cobblestone,
random stone, brick,
and European fan are not
good candidates.
The same idea must be applied to patios and pool decks.
Functionality is the key. If furniture will be used on
the patio and/or pool deck, it is important to have a
pattern that will keep the furniture from wobbling. Patterns
with deep impressions are only suitable for walkways that
run from the front of a home to the rear. These are usually
not used in the winter and normally do not contain furniture.
|
3. How to choose
a pattern that will accent the home and its surroundings
Examples:
It is important to look at the architecture of the home
first. Is the home classical or contemporary? It is not
essential to match classical homes with classical patterns
such as cobblestone,
European
fan, and brick,
but it is a start. Contemporary homes have a lesser number
of patterns that will go with them. Especially homes with
a “futuristic” look. For this reason, narrow
down the pattern selection by functionality, and then
look at the siding of the home. If the siding on the home
is wooden shingles, brick, or stone, it is advisable to
choose a pattern that is not busy (has less seams). These
could be any seamless
texture, royal
ashler, ashler
slate, or tile. Homes with standard
vinyl/wooden siding can match up with almost any pattern.
Homes with vertical board siding and stucco siding also
have the advantage of matching up with many patterns.
|
4. How to choose
colors
It is important to choose complementary colors, not matching
colors.
Examples:
Do not match the concrete with the color of the home.
It is too much to the human eye to see so much of one
color. Accent the home by choosing colors that are either
warmer or cooler depending on functionality. You want
people to notice the front of the house before they notice
the front walkway. The colors should be cool and inviting,
not hot and in your face. In contrast, pool decks are
the attraction. Therefore, these colors can be brilliant
and bold. This will also depend on how close the pool
deck is to the house. You may not want to overstate the
pool deck if it is near the house.
Therefore, choose a cool color. It is also important to
take into consideration the colors of wooden decks, sheds,
fences, and retaining walls if applicable.
Experienced sales associates will explain the coloring
process and assist in the selection of the best colors
for your project. |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Copyright
@ 2004 Interstate Decorative Concrete Designs, Corp. All Rights Reserved. |
|
