Home Improvement

Concrete’s use in kitchens and bathrooms may still be considered relatively “modern” design-wise by some homeowners. But while concrete can be used to create a modern or minimal look, it’s also perfectly adaptable to a more traditional setting — where it was so extensively used in the first place.

Concrete can act as a substitute for more traditional materials. Rather than just using concrete to explicitly re-create something from the past, you can also combine it with other elements to suggest a timeless quality. In my work, I always strive to strike a balance between innovation and emotion, between spare contemporary and warm traditional. Adding mosaic tile along the front edge of a concrete surface, inlaying bits of tile along a backsplash, or even embedding a fossil in a countertop all connect us to the past.

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April 19th, 2008 | Tags: bathroom, concrete, countertops, design, kitchen, remodeling | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Before we start this project let me warn you that it is a messy business. You should have some rubber gloves, a couple of tubes of clear silicone caulking compound, (don’t get the odorless kind) some Xylene, (this is for cleanup so get a pint or so) a can of paste wax, a small bottle of glycerin, and some acrylic crafters paint.

You should be able to get glycerin at a pharmacy; you only need a little so get the smallest bottle you can.

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April 3rd, 2008 | Tags: concrete, decorative, how to make, hypertufa, molds, plaster, plastic molds, rubber molds, silicone molds | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Loading & span
No specific type of slab can be seen as the best for a specific application, one will have to consider all the factors below and then decide. If more than one floor system can be used for the same span, the next factors that might strongly guide you in a direction is the cost of erection and speed of erection.

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March 27th, 2008 | Tags: concrete, construction, floor slab | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Today’s homeowners are seeking more creative and decorative ways to pave their driveways. Dressing up your driveway with colorful concrete paving options will enhance the look of your entire home.

Decorative concrete comes in a variety of colors, textures and patterns. Natural pavers, such as cobblestones and brick, are also popular. A poured concrete driveway is durable and is easy to clear of snow. Adding color and texture only adds a few dollars per square foot.

Following are decorative concrete options:

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March 18th, 2008 | Tags: concrete, decorative concrete, driveway, driveways | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

If you have lots of concrete around your home, then perhaps you’ve considered the idea of doing something to make it a little more attractive. Many people have heard of paints or coating agents, but the idea of concrete acid staining is unfamiliar to most. Basically, it involves coloring the concrete by causing a chemical reaction on the concrete’s surface.

Concrete acid stain causes a chemical reaction by mixing acid, water and inorganic salts. There are already minerals present in the concrete, and once they are mixed with the three added ingredients, the concrete changes color. It doesn’t matter whether your concrete is new or old; it works beautifully either way. If you take the time after acid staining to protect the concrete, then the effect will last for a very long time.

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March 7th, 2008 | Tags: concrete, concrete acid stain, Concrete Sealer, seal concrete | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Plain grey concrete is drab and has little if any aesthetic appeal. There are numerous techniques now available to enhance the appearance of a poured concrete slab. These processes can be used on any concrete slab around pools, patios, walkways, and driveways. It should be noted that with the possible exception of the exposed aggregate technique, all other decorative concrete techniques rely on a solid finished surface. If you have areas of concrete that are flaking, these areas should be repaired prior to adding the decorative finishes.

Stamped:

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March 4th, 2008 | Tags: color, concrete, decorate, decorative, driveway, engrave, exposed, grove, patio, saw, stain, stamp, walkway | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

When you are considering the flooring for your new home there are many things to keep in mind. Most of us are working on a budget so we want something that looks good, will last a long time, and not require a lot of maintenance. One of the newer trends in flooring is using stained concrete. Here are a few tips on how to decide if using stained concrete is a realistic option for your home.

Not Just Shades of Grey Anymore

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March 2nd, 2008 | Tags: concrete, floor, Flooring, home, home decorating, stained, Stained concrete, stained concrete flooring | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Concrete is the most widely used manmade product in the world. It powers a $35 billion industry, one of the largest on Earth. Concrete is used to make a variety of structures a which you use everyday.

Concrete is a construction material that consists of, in its most common form, cement, gravel and sand, and water. Concrete is the most highly used manmade product on Earth. It is used to make pavements, building structures, foundations, motorways/roads, overpasses, parking structures, brick/block walls and
footings for gates, fences and poles. Approximately six billion cubic metres of concrete are produced every year, which is one cubic metre per person on Earth! Concrete commands a $35 billion worldwide industry and employs, in the United States alone, 2 million people.

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February 27th, 2008 | Tags: brick, cement, concrete, concrete block, concrete slab, masonry, precast concrete, stamped concrete | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

If you’ve taken a look at concrete a few years after it’s been laid, it’s possible that you’ll be able to see evidence of corrosion. Once concrete is laid, it begins to corrode. Initially the damage may be so minor that you can’t see it, but over time the combination of natural elements and the wear and tear of usage will have the inevitable effect. The purpose of a concrete sealer is to protect the surface of your concrete, so that it will be more durable and last longer. This removes the need to patch your work every year.

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February 19th, 2008 | Tags: concrete, Concrete Sealer, seal concrete | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment