POURED CONCRETE

Poured concrete is solid, unlike hollow center, stacked, block walls. The concrete mix flows from the "cement" truck into the foundation forms, whether they be footings, walls or sidewalks & driveways, as one slurry unit.

Reinforcing steel rod, or "re-rod" is used in each of the above applications, prior to pouring, in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. Load calculations require a specific diameter of rod and spacing configuration to "tie" the rods in place for superior strength and durability.

Excavated areas are compacted, leveled, "rodded", and filled with crushed stone in preparation for the "pour".

POURED WALLS

Backfilled soil pushing against a poured wall produces tension to help increase the compressive strength of the concrete wall itself.

A foundation waterproofing system will be applied to the exterior of foundation walls after the forms are released. This helps keep moisture out of your inside area.

A drain piping system, commonly referred to as "drain tile", will be installed at the base of the wall adjacent to the footer. This pipe is covered with two or three feet of washed gravel, an insulating system and final concrete flatwork.

CONCRETE BLOCK BASEMENTS

Concrete block basements consist of either hollow or solid concrete blocks stacked on top of each other and sealed together with a concrete bonding material. A block basement’s price is considerably lower than poured walls as it takes far less time to stack blocks than to pour walls. Since there are many more seams in a concrete block basement than a poured basement a superior waterproofing sealer must be used.

FLATWORK

"Flatwork" is the term commonly used to refer to any poured concrete surface which is "flat" or in a horizontal plane. Sidewalks, driveways and basement floors are all types of flatwork. Flatwork can be finished in many decorative and innovative ways by patterning or stamping, texturing, acid etching and coloring.

DECORATIVE CONCRETE

Looking to add curb appeal to your home or interested in making your new patio, driveway or interior flooring something different, durable and low maintenance?

People are spending more time at home and more time outdoors relaxing, cooking and entertaining. A concrete patio can be a great place to spend time with your family. Decorative concrete is the solution by offering the natural look of stone, slate, granite and brick.

We utilize computer imaging technology to preview your project will look like on your property before it is installed. View contoured shapes and patterns to make sure your project is just the way you want.

Allen's Concrete can resurface both new and preexisting concrete floors, walls, and other surfaces. We can even add custom artwork and logos to the designs.

BENEFITS

DURABILITY

Traditional pavers settle unevenly during the freeze/thaw cycle of winter and spring. Pavers and cobblestones are susceptible to joint deterioration if sand is not constantly brushed into all the joints. This deterioration can result in ant hills, growth of grass and weeds and produces dangerous tripping hazards when the individual pavers settle unevenly.

Stamped concrete is reinforced with steel reinforcing rods. This steel reinforcement gives the concrete the necessary tensile strength to resist the constant heaving produced by the freezing and thawing of the ground.

AFFORDABILITY

Decorative concrete costs less than stone, brick and tile for patios, is better in quality and it has the unlimited ability to be created into custom colors, textures, and patterns.

MAINTENANCE

Keep vehicles off newly poured concrete for a minimum of 14 days.

Try not to leave vehicles parked on driveways as road salt, ice and snow melting from vehicles can cause pitting and peeling.

Use of salt or de-icing crystals will damage concrete. Use clean sand for traction.

Snow and ice should be removed from exterior concrete work because it can cause peeling & pitting.

Potted plants should have a dish placed under them to catch excess water and fertilizer seepage that will discolor the colored concrete.

A final sealer will be applied at the end of the process. Sometimes a powdery white or splotchy appearance will occur especially after a rain. This is the final sealer working. A rinse with a hose followed by a leaf blower to remove excess water will remove the haze. Pressure washing is generally not needed.

The surface should be resealed depending on the amount of rain, snow and sunlight it receives. When you start to notice that water doesn't bead up on or seems to absorb into the surface, it is time to reseal.

DECORATIVE CONCRETE COLORS & TEXTURES

Acid stained concrete can give your concrete a mottled, marble - like look. It is not a uniform or even tone process. Every slab of concrete will have a different coloration pattern. Acid staining is a chemical process that combines stain with cured concrete to produce permanent variegated colors.

Stained concrete is best achieved when your slab of concrete is new and has been covered until the staining takes place. If you have an existing slab of concrete it will have to thoroughly cleaned before work can begin. Acid staining is good for concrete surfaces that have not be treated with curing agents before.

Colored concrete utilizes a colorant dissolved into the concrete as it is mixed. The colorants actually increase the strength of the concrete while allowing the colors to mix faster and more evenly.

Stamped concrete allows for the addition of color, patterns, and borders to give your concrete design a custom look in your residential or commercial building. Antiquing powders can be dusted over newly poured concrete before the pattern is stamped on. Upon sealing, the color difference creates an attractive, antiqued look by adding depth to the color. Patterns can be tile, cobblestone, brick or light to heavy textured surfaces in one of our more than 80 available patterns and textures.

View the many possibilities of patterns, textures and colors at www.butterfieldcolor.com.