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Decorative Concrete is the Alternative to Mold

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9:54 am 9:54 am

Even if we are not aware of it, mold spores can reside anywhere that there is moisture, and can be breathed into the lungs compromising lung capacity, the immune system and creating health problems. As a result, it is essential when building out your basement, to find products and processes that either eliminate or substantially reduce mold growth.

One of the best products and processes available today is the use of decorative concrete. Mold can be virtually eliminated by staining the concrete floor or adding thin layers of concrete on the surface of the slab that is the floor of the basement, and then sealing the new floor, in a process called decorative concrete. Once this is complete, using area rugs and other decorative but portable and removable floor coverings will help combat mold.

I usually do not venture into personal or family aspects when providing information such as this article, however, in this piece I feel it is essential. My family and I moved into a great home on an acre of land in the mostly dry high desert. We were in the process of building out the basement into a family room, extra bedroom and small office.

One of my family members became so ill that in a four month period she went from working and being busy and active 24/7 to barely being able to get from the bed to the bathroom. She was wheezing and her skin was looking pale and gray. The rest of us were getting headaches and having throat problems, but our symptoms were not nearly as extreme. The doctors put her on antibiotics and declared that she had pneumonia. Even with medicine, the symptoms continued.

By sheer accident one afternoon, a friend suggested that the symptoms might be from mold. We had no experience with this, so we started researching and we had the house inspected. There was a tremendous amount of mold growth – under wood and parquet floors and into the walls. We were told to move immediately. Within a week of moving my family member was up and around, breathing better and working again.

Unfortunately, she had to stay on anti-fungal and anti-bacterial medicines and it will take some time for her lung capacity to get better. It may not get to 100% again.

I share this story because of how quickly and seriously a mold problem – particularly in the basement, which was directly under this individual’s bedroom – created a health problem, even though there was no mold to be seen. When the wood floors were pulled up, they were black and green on the under side in room after room.

The inspector who found the mold said that the best way to use a basement was to make sure the slab was clean and then use various colors or textures and seal the floor – in other words, decorative concrete.

My current home does not have a basement, however, I already know exactly what I will do if I purchase a house with one. I will use decorative concrete as an insurance policy to keep my family safe from mold.

Got Decorative Concrete? It’s not Just for Driveways Anymore!

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7:09 am 7:09 am

It used to be that when we thought of concrete, we thought of just a few things, such as sidewalks, driveways and cement slab house foundations. Most of the time the concrete used has been a pretty dull gray. Once in a while, for instance, in some southwestern towns, we could find some sidewalks that were various shades of rust and orange that mimic the beautiful mountains in their midst.

In the past decade, however, concrete has changed from a basic utility to a decorative enhancement, a creative and artistic essential in creating the

mood of resorts and homes throughout the world. Decorative concrete has become an integral part of the planning for many building plans – whether

commercial or private. The colors and textures of decorative concrete have become so important that often they are the centerpiece or focal point of a floor plan.

This phenomenon has changed the way that homes are created and office buildings, malls and other buildings are created. Imagine your basement

floors being the color of your choice, sealed to keep out mold and setting the tone for everything from the color and texture on your walls and the

furniture you buy.

Think about your kitchen counters being custom poured and cured right in your home in the color and texture you want – at about the same cost as a

pre-made countertop. Think of the hundreds of ways you could plan your decor around your custom countertop and matching or complementing floors.

Decorative concrete can do all this and more.

If you are planning to build or remodel a home, office, mall or any other type of structure, landscape, patio or pool, take the time to look into decorative concrete. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Decorative Concrete ? Artistic, Available, Affordable

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6:23 am 6:23 am

Not so long ago, if you had a garage or driveway that was weathered, worn and/or stained, or if you had a fireplace that you wanted enhanced by a rock wall, or you had walk ways or outdoor areas you wanted to beautify, your choices were limited to bricks, blocks, rock, cement and a few other items. Not that there is anything wrong with those items.

More recently, however, decorative elements for a home – indoors or out – have become more readily available. Many of these decorative concrete ideas used to be reserved for the more expensive homes or exclusive estates. Today, the use of decorative concrete to duplicate these types of artistic decorations is cropping up everywhere.

For instance, 30 years ago, if you wanted a fireplace set into a wall of flagstone rock, the rock had to be brought in and set. If the wall was 12 feet high by 6 feet wide, it involved a lot of flagstone. Today, decorative concrete can be used in conjunction with hand carving to create a wall that looks the same, but at a better price, custom look and feel and a fast and long-lasting process.

You might have a patio area that has basic concrete on the ground, but you want something more warm and inviting. You could bring in various types of tile or other materials and have them set, or you could use decorative concrete in various colors and textures, and even stamps. This patio resurface could then be sealed so that it would last for a long time. Instead of purchasing tiles – especially expensive stamped tiles – decorative concrete could be used to create the same effects with much less work and time and a beautiful, custom finish.

You can also learn to do this yourself from professionals who present various workshops through a number of decorative concrete suppliers throughout the country, or you can hire an experienced professional to do some or all of the job for you.

If you are thinking about making changes to enhance any part of your home – indoors, outdoors, walls, floors, patios, decks or more, now is a great time to contact a decorative concrete company in your area.

Decorative Concrete Brightens Up Washington

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10:29 pm 10:29 pm

If you have ever been to Washington State you know it is beautiful.  People might complain about the weather sometimes, but Washingtonians from the west coast usually love where they live.  They have the rugged beauty of dense greenery surrounding them and the exquisite Pacific, including Peugeot Sound and its glory out front as a welcoming mat.  What could make this spectacular area any better?  Creating a home or office that enhances the beauty that surrounds you.

Enter Maverick Specialty Contracting.  This unique company has found some creative and stunning ways to use decorative concrete to reflect your personality, your desires for your home or office and create and artistic ambiance that you – and your guests “will want to talk about.” 

Some of the ways that Maverick Specialty Contracting uses concrete to create or enhance a project is staining – which creates color, covers old impurities and stains and adds durability and easy cleaning.  They also use wall finishes which bring out beauty of natural stone at a fraction of the cost and bring out the look and feel of the artisans of old.  The company also specializes in vertical stains and other processes, all explained on their website, complete with photos.

Whether using various decorative concrete ideas as the foundation or focal point of your design or using them in an artistic way to enhance your home or office and “bring it all together” Maverick Specialty Contracting will work with you to create the results you want.  They work closely with you, discussing your ideas and advising you from long before the actual work is started in an effort to ensure that the finished project will be just what you imagined.

David Cates, owner of Maverick Specialty Contracting, has been in the decorative concrete field for over sixteen years, and has become an expert in his field, even working on Seahawks Stadium, some photos of which can be seen on the Maverick Specialty Contracting website.

School is Out But Concrete is in

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5:03 pm 5:03 pm

Lately there have been several new schools built in my neighborhood and a couple of older schools remodeled. I must say, they are not like schools in the old days with either faded linoleum and pale green or gray walls or with stained carpeting and the same faded, pale green or gray walls.

Schools are being built better, smarter, more eco-friendly and more durable. I visited the newer schools and the remodeled schools to see what they looked like and get an idea of how well the jobs were done.

I was absolutely stunned. Some of these schools look like Marriott hotels! One of the things that jumped out at me immediately was the liberal use of decorative concrete on walls in hallways, on floors – especially in the auditorium and lunch room, and on the exterior of the buildings. Not only did this look state of the art and very attractive, it was obviously easy to maintain and very durable.

In browsing through various special rooms, such as the art rooms and computer rooms, it was as if I was walking through a university. It certainly was not anything like what I used to call school.

That gave me an idea. I went to look at the local university which had expanded and been renovated recently. I was struck by the ingenious use of decorative concrete and polished concrete on floors, walls, stairs and pillars. This was truly a university whose décor and structure had been well thought out and planned. The use of stamped concrete on many of the interior and exterior walls, as well as the rotunda in the student center created an atmosphere that was conducive to learning. The polished concrete floors added a sturdy yet artistic framework to the design and played well off the buttery-yellow walls.

Schools have come a long way and so has concrete. Schools are no longer plain wood, brick and linoleum buildings with pale walls. Concrete is no longer dull gray cement poured into a framework. Both have stepped forward into the 21st century with bright colors, patterns, creativity and durability.

Concrete isn’t just for driveways and sidewalks anymore.