Option Two: No Overlay

Stain or Dye? Acid-Based Stain does more than simply add color. Rather than produce a solid, opaque effect like paint or colored coatings, stains permeate the concrete to infuse it with rich, deep, translucent tones. Stains react chemically with the calcium hydroxide in concrete. If the concrete is exterior and the surface of calcium hydroxide has been worn away, then a thin overlay can be applied to achieve a great look. Stains are more marbling and translucent then most dyes. Stains also leave a residue which has to be cleaned thoroughly and dried thoroughly before the sealer application.

Dyes are the latest buzz in the decorative concrete community. Their ease of use, extensive palette, and vibrancy of color are creating a wave of popularity that is gaining momentum. Dyes are nonreactive and impart color by penetrating concrete. Dyes are much smaller in particle size than chemical stains, thus allowing for easier penetration and color saturation while leaving less residue on the surface. The small dye particles fill the pores of the concrete and are very hard to remove, making dyes nearly as permanent as stains. Because there is virtually no residue, minimal cleanup is required, greatly speeding the application process. Solvent-based dyes tend to be more monotone and uniform in color. The downside to dyes is that they penetrate very fast, leaving little room for error during application. Also, they are not UV stable, so most manufacturers recommend indoor use only.

Rick LaFata
(573)-216-0930
rick@customconcretedesign.info
Custom Concrete Design

Concrete

There are 3 options for Concrete Restoration:

• Overlay
  No Overlay
  Removal & Replacement

For Today’s Blog Post I talk about just the first option

Option One: Overlay

Decorative Concrete Overlay has been given many terms/names such as Decorative Concrete, Concrete Overlay, Concrete Coating, Decorative Flooring Stamped Concrete Overlay, Skim Coat and Epoxy Flooring. The overlay will permanently cover up surface imperfections on existing concrete. With today’s decorative overlays, it’s easy to give almost any concrete surface, indoors or out, a complete face-lift and at a much lower cost than removal and replacement.

There are multiple options available for achieving any look imaginable with a concrete overlay. Custom Concrete Design’s Concrete Overlays/ Polymer Cement Overlays consist of a proprietary blend of Portland cements, 20 various aggregates and proprietary hybrid polymer resins. Unlike conventional cement and concrete mixes, Concrete Overlays can be applied in layers as thin as a credit card or up to several inches thick without DE-laminating or failure. The overlay creates a chemical and mechanical bond with the substrate.
Overlays are great for many concrete surfaces, including:

• Garages
• Walkways
• Front Stoop
• Vertical Walls
• Warehouses
• Basements
• Pools
• Decks
• Patios
• Loading Docks
• Restaurants
• Driveways

And More!

They adhere well to existing concrete and resist damage from salt, chemicals, UV exposure, freeze-thaw conditions, and abrasion. They are much stronger than regular concrete and are used to resurface existing concrete. Overlays can be created in almost any color, pattern or texture. Sealed which protects them from salts, stains, grease and wear.

Come back to my Blog soon and I will talk about the other two options.

Call me at 573-216-0930 and get your FREE Estimate today!!

Rick LaFata
(573)-216-0930
rick@customconcretedesign.info
Custom Concrete Design