Concrete

Above all else you want your community to be safe. You want those who live in your community to fill safe in their homes, safe while at local shops and restaurants, and safe while they’re on the road. There are plenty of different things you can do to keep drivers in your local area safe, and some of that has to do with some added protection like concrete barriers. If one of your local roads has been a problem area you can consider concrete barriers to reduce damage and concerns or for other reasons.

Do you really need something as serious as concrete barriers? To help you decide on concrete barriers for your street, let’s look at other questions surrounding this type of traffic and crowd control.

Does Your Street Need Concrete Barriers?

Is There a Run-Off Prone Area on Your Street?

If you have a notorious stretch of road that is prone to run-offs and other traffic hazards you should consider installing concrete barriers. Concrete barriers are more reinforced than simple dividers or other types of barriers and can help keep cars on the road in difficult areas.

Are There Some Areas You’d Rather Have Hidden?

Is there an old abandoned lot on the other side of the street? How about a nasty pile or garbage? Sometimes our streets can be dragged down by aesthetic issues and other scenes that we’d rather our visitors not see. You can use concrete barriers to both make your road safer and to help hide any unsightly areas on your street.

Do You Want Something to Make Your Street Stand Out?

There are more to concrete barriers than simple gray slabs, you can install decorative concrete barriers. Decorative concrete barriers will knock out three birds with one stone by acting as a safety barrier, hiding any unsightly areas, and sprucing up a particular street to add more value to your neighborhood.

There are plenty of ways that concrete barriers can spruce your street up and keep the drivers of that street safer. If you answered yes to any of those above questions, you’re ready for a concrete barrier on your street. Get on the phone with a local and reputable concrete company like us to see what barriers can do for your neighborhood.

Concrete can be used in a variety of ways at home to enhance the look and feel of its exterior. If you’re looking for a unique way to make your home stand out in the neighborhood, concrete driveways can be the way to go. Concrete driveways can be customized to match your home, add functionality and even make heads turn. Here are three of the coolest concrete driveways.

Concrete Driveway Inspiration for Your Home

Let’s look at these concrete driveways for inspiration for your next repaving or new driveway project.

Garden Concrete Driveways

Adding a garden to a concrete driveway is easy to do and can offer a unique look and feel to where you park day in and day out. By pouring concrete around pre-installed planters, you can get a garden that seems to sprout from concrete driveways themselves. You can plant fauna that can even take a tire or two, which means you can afford to park crooked every once in a while.

Shape Concrete Driveways

By using a combination of shapes and lines, you can create traffic patterns, geometric designs, and other decoration to a concrete driveway that make it pop. These shape-based concrete driveways can bring concrete to life. If you have kids, they often find ways to integrate the designs into how they play outside which can bring an added benefit of going with this type of driveway.

Patterned Concrete Driveways

Concrete stamps are more affordable than ever. If you’re looking for a way to add patterns to your driveway, perhaps matching your home’s exterior or garden set-up, utilizing stamps on concrete driveways can give you the desired effect. These stamps come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs, and they can even be custom-built if you have something specific in mind.

As you can see, there’s more you can do with concrete driveways than simply having one. If you take the time to think outside the box when adding a new concrete driveway or replacing your existing one at home, you can bring out the beauty and make a unique place to park your car.

Consumers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Contractors are doing the same thing. When building a home, working on a project, or anything in between, there are ways to recycle the materials you’re working with. Concrete is one of those materials. Whether you’re having a contractor replace your driveway, the city is replacing sidewalks, or something in between, concrete can be recycled. Here’s how.

How to Recycle Concrete the Right Way

When working with a concrete-based contractor, talk to them about your desire to recycle materials. This can be concrete dug up during the process and any excess that won’t be needed. They can work with you to let you know how they recycle concrete. They may reuse it themselves or bring it to a recycling center. By asking questions, you can determine what the contractor will do with the concrete and allow them to recycle it for you.

If your contractor doesn’t recycle concrete, you can do it yourself although it may cost you some time and money. If you’re able to take the concrete to a recycling center yourself, you’ll save money; if not, you’ll need to hire a recycling company to recycle it for you. Depending on the state of the concrete, hiring someone might be the best bet because you may not have the means to do it yourself. If that’s the case, the best option is to pay someone to recycle concrete for you.

Working with a concrete contractor is the best way to recycle concrete. Whether they recycle it themselves or can do it for you, this ensures your concrete is being reused or recycled. This helps you, and your contractor, give back to the environment and ensure that leftover materials are being disposed of properly and safely. Everyone can do their part when recycling concrete and other building materials, they just have to take the time to do it.

If you’re like most homeowners, maintaining the value and appearance of your home is one of your top priorities. It’s likely that your home is the greatest investment you’ll ever make, so caring for it and making it your own is one of the many perks of home ownership. When it comes to home improvement projects, one of the most common places that homeowners overlook is repairing or replacing their driveway.

So, When is It Time for a New Driveway?

Over time, concrete and asphalt become worn, cracked and settled. It’s a natural occurrence that happens as a result of soils shifting beneath the pavement and creating voids that leave concrete vulnerable to falling, sinking and breaking. When this happens, it’s important that you have your driveway repaired or replaced because if you let it go without fixing, it’s likely that the cracks will spread, other slabs will sink, and your driveways foundation will not provide the best surface to drive or park your car on.

When it becomes time for a new driveway, a professional concrete contractor will be able to provide you with solutions for whether you should replace the driveway or just a slab. In addition to their solutions for your home, they will provide you with options for maintaining or increasing the value of your home with a specific driveway material.

Asphalt pavement is a durable and popular solution when it’s time for a new driveway. Asphalt is easy to install and with proper maintenance, is shown to last for years. Its weather-resistant properties make it more dependable than concrete and can enhance the curb appeal and overall impression that your house makes.

Another option for your new driveway is concrete. Its durability does not live up to that of asphalt, but it’s popularity, appearance, and a wide variety of uses serve as serious factors to consider when determining the best driveway material for you. Laying concrete is easy, and unlike asphalt, does not depend as heavily on outside temperature, making it a better option for those looking to get things done right away during a season that may not be optimal for asphalt.

No matter what you decide for materials, the best way to determine whether or not it’s time for a new driveway is to work with a trusted concrete professional to evaluate your driveways existing conditions and work together to improve the value and appearance of your home.

Concrete cracks are common in areas all across the United States. In some regions, cracked concrete is common because of soil erosion. Other areas suffer from a dry and hot climate which causes soils under the concrete to dry and shrink. Whatever the case may be, cracked concrete is not something that most homeowners want to leave untouched.

Your Guide to Concrete Crack Repair

Whether you’re looking to fix a concrete crack yourself, or simply looking for options in repairing it, we’ve got the guide you need with three ways to tackle concrete crack repair yourself.

Seal It Yourself

If the concrete around your home has cracked but not settled, an easy fix is using a concrete patch material to seal the crack from becoming any bigger. Concrete patch material can be found at any home improvement warehouse or gardening center. Before sealing the crack, it’s imperative that you clear the area of any loose gravel or cement objects that have become displaced from the surface. Concrete patch material is used in a caulk-like fashion to inject the rubbery substance into the floor. Once filled, the crack will be sealed.

Rip and Repour

Depending on the severity of your concrete crack, the best method may be to rip out the old slab and repour concrete to form a new slab. This process is not recommended for DIY, as it requires a variety of specific equipment, as well as concrete expertise that will ensure the new slab does not crack or settle easily. Rip and repour will ensure the crack is gone and your concrete looks good as new.

Mudjacking

Mudjacking or slabjacking is a process that has more recently replaced the efforts of rip and repour. Traditionally used for highways and large roads, mudjacking has become more widely used in domestic conditions to fix a concrete crack and settlement around your home. You’ll need a professional to raise the concrete, but the process of mudjacking can be easily done by an expert in your area. The technique begins with strategically drilling small holes in the desired concrete slab. A mixture of cement and ground soils are pressure pumped into the holes, and once the voided space below a cracked surface is filled, the concrete is raised by pressure to meet back where the crack had originally formed. Once leveled and sealed, the holes are filled and the concrete is restored.

Knowing how to fix a concrete crack could save you time and money while protecting the value and appearance of your home and the space around it.

Most concrete projects can be made to be do-it-yourself if you have the time and energy. If you want to use concrete stains, you can even make them yourself. Now, before you begin making your own concrete stains to use, consider that a professional will be able to give you exactly what you need without the frustration of doing it for yourself the first time. Let’s look at how to create a concrete stain for your next do-it-yourself project.

Creating a Concrete Stain

There’s common household items that can be used to create concrete stains, but it’s necessary to make sure you know exactly what you want to do and how to do it before you begin. By creating your own concrete stain, you risk causing issues with your concrete, such as buckling and cracks. You may also take away from some of the natural properties of the concrete that you wanted in the first place.

There are several types of concrete stains you can create, such as:

Acid
Copper
Chromium
Chromium and copper
Iron
Manganese

There are many guides out there for creating specific concrete strains. Refer to them to get the look you want and make sure you’re ready to take on this project. If you’re not 100 percent sure, contact a concrete professional for consultation. This will cost you but you want to do so to ensure you’re doing it right from the get go.

If you’re taking on a big project, you may want to hire a professional to begin with. This can save you the headache of figuring out concrete staining yourself and ensuring you’re getting the concrete finish you want. If you’re ready to take on the project yourself, you can do it with time and energy, no matter the scope.

If you’ve ever seen truly decorative concrete before, you know how beautiful and unique it can be. It can also be a challenge to duplicate the effect yourself. However, if you’re up for a challenge and want to create a concrete stamp to use, you can do it. Let’s look at the basic steps for creating a concrete stamp.

Creating Stamped Concrete

The first thing to consider when creating your own concrete stamp is that it’s not always one of the best things to do yourself. If you mess up stamping concrete, you may have to replace everything you’ve messed up which costs you time and money. Keep that in mind as you decide to create your own concrete stamp and apply it yourself, no matter how small the project.

For the most part, you either buy or rent concrete stamps. This can range in the low thousands of dollars depending on the stamp and how long you need it for. You’ll also potentially need equipment to use the stamp, which will run you even more.

You can create your own concrete stamp, but it’ll take the help of a professional to do it. Don’t believe the do-it-yourself videos or the five minute YouTube channels that tell you how to do it. They don’t know what they’re talking about and will most likely lead you to disaster.

Consult a concrete professional to help you design the concrete stamp of your dreams if it doesn’t already exist. This is the best way to get the concrete stamp you want and get it done properly so that you can create a beautiful floor, driveway or pathway. A concrete professional can help with the process, create the stamp and recommend the best way to use it so that you have a beautiful concrete project for visitors to admire.

Going green is a popular trend in construction and in our daily lives. As people are looking for ways to go green, they’re looking at what they can do around them to help the environment and reduce their carbon footprint. Here’s what you can do as a homeowner when working with concrete to do your part and be green.

How to Go Green with Concrete

When working with a concrete professional, ask what they do with any leftover, ruined or extra concrete. Many will recycle or use it for additional projects, charging you only for what you use and what is used for the project. If there’s anything leftover, or perhaps you’re having old concrete removed, you can recycle it in many cases.

There’s several ways to recycle concrete. If you’re hiring a company to do it, they often will offer to haul it away for you for a fee. You can request to have it recycled. Depending on the condition of the concrete, they may even buy it from you at a discounted price for having to haul it, too. It always pays to see if your concrete company can help you with recycling concrete.

If you’re taking on a project yourself, you can always reach out on Craigslist or into the local community. There are many art, community and school projects that might be in the need of recycled concrete. If this is the case, they’ll often come take it off your hands for free which allows it to be recycled.

There are a variety of ways to go green when owning a home. It takes some time and research, but it can be done. If you’re taking on a new concrete project, consider what steps you can take to help save the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.

If you’re investing a concrete project at home, you need to consider waterproofing. This isn’t something many people think about when building with concrete. If you’re using concrete for flooring, it’s something you should consider, especially with a concrete patio or basement floor. Waterproofing concrete can help alleviate buckling and cracks, giving your concrete a longer lifespan.

Do You Need Concrete Waterproofing?

We wish the answer was easy. It all depends on the scope of your project, its size and where you’re installing it. Floors, for instance, should often be waterproofed because they’re closest to the foundation of a home and can be susceptible to flooding and ground water. Porches and patios are generally waterproofed to help them last longer since they’ll be exposed to ground water, along with rain and other weather conditions.

When taking on a concrete project, you should consult a professional. They’ll be able to go over the entire project with you, suggest waterproofing options, along with other factors you may not have considered. If you’re taking on a project yourself, you should still pay to consult with a concrete professional, because waterproofing concrete is a more advanced process than you may be familiar with or comfortable doing yourself.

Since waterproofing concrete is best done when a project is being started than going back to do it after, you want to make sure you know the pros and cons for your project before you start it. A concrete professional can help you figure that out, give you suggestions and take on the burden for you when you hire them. When it comes to waterproofing, this is the best way to get it done for the best price and right the first time.

Waterproofing concrete will depend on the project, so make sure to check with a concrete company first before getting started.

While water is an important part of mixing concrete, once concrete has set, it serves little purpose for its overall well-being over time. In fact, many homeowners wants to waterproof concrete to ensure it lasts well beyond its shelf life. You can waterproof concrete but it can be expensive in some cases. Let’s look at how to make concrete waterproof.

Enright Companies Guide: How to Make Concrete Waterproof

There are a variety of do-it-yourself and professional systems for waterproofing concrete. Depending on the concrete project, we recommend contacting a concrete professional for a consult before doing it yourself. If waterproofing concrete is important for you, make sure to mention this if you have a concrete company installing and doing the work for you.

Read More: 3 Common Uses of Asphalt

There’s waterproof coating, sealings, finishers, membranes and more that can help waterproof concrete. It all depends on the type of project, whether the concrete is indoors or outdoors, and what surfaces it’s around. This is why it’s important to bring a professional into the mix. You never know exactly what might be best for your specific project and needs.

Waterproof concrete can prevent a myriad of issues, especially when it comes to flooring. Water can seep up and leak into concrete flooring, especially in basements, then buckle and crack causing flooding and other issues. Eventually, you’ll have to outright replace the concrete flooring but also fix any issues that occurred under it to prevent it from happening again.

If you want to make your concrete waterproof, it’s best to do it at the time of installation for best results. While you can do it after, your best bet is to do it during the process for maximum results. Consult with a concrete professional and see what options are available for your project, then invest in waterproofing the best way you can.