Concrete 101

Here you will find  basic information about concrete.
If you have more questions please email or call me!

What about colors? Part of the beauty of concrete is the color variations you get from piece to piece. We can provide you with color samples to match your needs but please remember the mottling and irregularity of the colors only add to the distinctive look of concrete. Please see Color Choices page for an idea of all the colors available. Because the stain adapts to the unique composition of your concrete, no two floors are ever identical. 

When you think of concrete, do you think of a cold, grey slab you walk on, drive on, or park on with rough, cracked, and course appearance? Or do you think of a smooth, colored, and polished texture? Concrete is as timeless as any marble sculpture and can be as distinctive as you are.  Through the use of stains, stamps, dyes, colored pigments, white cement, textured patterns, ornate sawcuts, epoxy overlay, and more, concrete floors are becoming increasingly attractive.  As techniques for decorative concrete finishes are developed, other decorative floor coverings are being replaced with concrete.

Please see the Color Choices page for all of our color options

STAINED CONCRETE

Chemically reactive stains are water-based, acidic solutions that contain metallic salts. These metallic salts react chemically with the calcium hydroxide compounds (hydrated lime) in hardened concrete. Such reactions form the insoluble colors that become a permanent fixture of the hardened concrete surface.

Partially due to the irregularity in finishing patterns and partially due to the inherent variation of the concrete materials, stain chemicals react in a very irregular pattern, giving it a decorative effect. As a result, mix constituents and finishing techniques will greatly influence how effective the staining can be. Controlling these parameters is important for achieving the best effect from the stain.

Stains can be applied to old or new concrete, to colored or grey surfaces, and may be used in conjunction with other decorative techniques and creative joint patterns. Combining chemical stains with dyes presents an unlimited palette of colors to create floor patterns and designs.    To protect and enhance the color of the floor, using a sealer is an important step. However, just as material selection for the concrete is important, selection of the appropriate sealer is also important for the performance and durability of the floor.

Color can be added to compliment architectural elements of your home. Staining concrete has become more popular and can be done to concrete of any age.

Please see the Stained Concrete page for some examples.

WALKWAYS, SIDEWALKS, STEPS & STOOPS

Concrete sidewalks or walkways are more than just a way to get wherever it is you’re going.  They can provide much needed curb appeal to homes and buildings. They are fast becoming a point of artistic expression by way of a multitude of decorative concrete options. 

PATIOS & PORCHES

Backyards, particularly concrete patios, are being transformed into luxurious extensions of the house. They are the new favorite area to relax, entertain, and cook. The heart and soul of the backyard area is the concrete patio.

DRIVEWAYS

It wasn’t that long ago when deciding on a driveway material was easy: asphalt or concrete. Today the concrete choice has expanded to include a multitude of decorative concrete options.  The effects that can be achieved with decorative applications can be astounding on a concrete driveway. Because of our harsh climate conditions in Colorado, we believe in using the best possible concrete. Redi-Mix prices fluctuate depending on the quality of the mix we order. A driveway mix needs to have a high cement content for durability and strength, and fiber reinforcement for crack reduction and tensile strength.    

As the owner of the company, customers deal with me from start to finish.  I enjoy designing, excavating, forming, pouring, and finishing concrete driveways.

FLATWORK

Front Range Flatwork, Inc. started out pouring concrete floors, sidewalks, and driveways and to this day, they are still a large part of my business.

Proper mix design is essential for long lasting, durable concrete. Using a contractor that cheapens the mix will have severe consequences down the road. The results of poor mix designs often appear in two to three years, when customers have no recourse.

Does concrete crack?
Hairline cracks may occur but do not affect the structural integrity of the product.

Jointing is the most important step to any flatwork project. Control joints are placed to anticipate the path of a shrinkage crack. The joint weakens the slab in that location and makes a crack follow the saw cut or tooled joint. If a slab is not properly jointed, random cracking occurs.

Concrete is an incredibly versatile and complex building material. Over the last 50 years, the concrete industry has undergone dramatic changes. Computer batching systems have allowed precise amounts of additives to be utilized. These additives have increased strength, reduced shrinkage cracking, and altered set times. Hiring a contractor that understands the science behind these advancements and is not intimidated by them, will result in a superior finished product.

JOINTING/JOINT PATTERNS

Sawcut joints are installed either by hand tooling or a conventional saw after concrete setting. Alternately, jointing tools (rather than saws) can add pattern lines to fresh concrete surfaces.  Since joints should be used to control concrete cracking anyway, this is a simple and effective method for adding greater interest to concrete surfaces.

DECORATIVE CONCRETE

Working directly with me, my customers can custom design their decorative concrete. 

Different integral colors and release agents allow for an infinite number of color combinations.

STAMPED CONCRETE

An effective, durable, and low maintenance way to add finishing touches to your home, concrete stamping is a process where a color hardener of your choice is broadcast on the surface of the concrete and troweled in, thereby doubling the surface strength. It then has a release sprinkled on top which adds another color. Then a rubber stamp is pressed into the top to leave a design. There are many different stamp patterns you can choose from. The next day, the release is pressure washed off your concrete. Finally, a sealer is applied to bring out the colors and protect the surface. 

Stamped concrete can be used indoors and outdoors but is especially popular for driveways, patios, decks, and porches. Stamp designs are only limited by imagination, but popular choices include Slate, Cobblestone, Brick, Rock, Roman Slate, Granite, and Clay tiles.

Stamping, which can be used for both interior and exterior concrete surfaces, has literally made a big impression over the last several decades. Stamped surfaces are created by supplementing finishing operations on fresh concrete with patterned or textured mats and templates. Having started as simple shapes and minimal textures, stamping tools and techniques have continually evolved to an advanced stage. Truly realistic textures can be enhanced with color additions, mimicking natural stone, rock, wood, brick, and more.

Standard procedures for placing, finishing and curing concrete flatwork apply - with a few added steps. Using a stamping tool or pattern, fresh concrete is imprinted after the initial float pass and application of a release agent. If color is to be used, a dry shake color hardener may be applied during finishing. The stamping procedure effectively replaces steel troweling, and the effect is a unique surface in both pattern and texture. Concrete sealers then enhance the colors and protect your investment.

EXPOSED AGGREGATE

Exposed aggregate uses the texture of the rock or stone in the concrete to embellish the surface. With this technique, concrete is placed and floated as normal. The concrete is left to set and the surface paste is later removed by washing and/or brushing. In a variation of the method, select aggregate is cast over the fresh surface and embedded prior to setting of the concrete. Washing and brushing follow as before to remove the mortar from the surface, fully exposing the natural color and texture of the aggregate. An acid wash may also be performed to further remove paste from the aggregate and brighten the surface.