Simple Steps to Make Concrete Countertop

Concrete countertop is one of the best options to opt for, if you prefer subtle designs over loud. This countertop will never prick your pocket for sure due to its economic rate. There are precast counters available in the market that are already cured and finished, and delivered straight to your kitchen for installation but it can be built at home as well if you wish to save money. Let’s discuss the steps to make a beautiful concrete countertop:

Steps to make a beautiful Concrete Countertop

 

1: Collect All the Required Material

The basic requirement for creating the countertop includes building the mold, pouring concrete and finishing. There are number of material available for making the form but we are referring to melamine coated particle board. You'll need a piece larger than your desired finished dimensions

2: Build the Form

Measure and mark the countertop on the melamine and set the sides. Build a rectangle with erected walls on the sides in accordance with the thickness you want. Pre-drill the walls in order to prevent any kind of split later on. Once the sides are ready, you need to seal all the inside seams with silicone caulk. Pick a color that is in contrast with melamine.

3: Make the Inner Reinforcement

This is one of the most time consuming and important steps that includes creating an internal criss-cross frame by setting the rebar on Styrofoam blocks. Measure the gap you want to keep in between the blocks. Use high quality sturdy wire to tie onto the rebar to keep everything in place.

4: Pour the Concrete!

For this step, you will be needing a concrete mixer. Two people will be required so that one can work with the mixer and pour the concrete into the form while the other can push the concrete into place.

5: Remove the Air Pockets

You need to remove the air pockets while the concrete is wet as once the concrete starts drying up it will leave the bubble impression on it. One the simplest way is to gently tap on the sides and bottom to bring out the bubbles to the surface.

6: Take out Countertop from the Form

After 7-10 days, you need to take out the countertop face so that you can give it a finishing touch, if required.

7: Time to seal and install

The final step is applying the finish of your choice, there is a wide range available in the market.

8: Finished!

This is the most pleasant time when all your hard work brings fruitful results. Hopefully this has encouraged you to go ahead and experimentwith concrete countertop.

Imperfect Details: The Unique Beauty of Acid Washed Concrete

If you are like many of our clients who are looking for an unusual and distinctive custom flooring option for your home or commercial building, it is hard to beat the beauty of an acid washed concrete finish. Suitable for some indoor and outdoor residential, restaurant flooring, and commercial flooring applications, our acid washed stained concrete service is popular several reasons – it is a cost effective, low maintenance, attractive floor finish, and is available in unlimited colors and design styles.

What is Acid Washed Concrete?

Acid washed flooring is created by applying a solution of acid, water and inorganic chemicals to a cured concrete surface. Variations in the concrete’s porosity, density, and water retention creates the unique marbling effect and extraordinary hues in the finished concrete.

                         Samples of  Acid Wash Concrete by Dreamcoat Flooring

What are the Benefits of Acid Washed Concrete?

1.Our Acid Wash Process adds Versatility: An acid wash finish can be applied to virtually any concrete surface, from flooring to countertops, including surfaces that have been in place for years. Due to the chemical makeup and content and variations in the surface texture, as well as ambient environmental conditions, each acid wash application is unique.

2. Acid washed flooring has a unique aesthetic appeal, a low initial installation cost, is easy to clean, and is very low maintenance. There are numerous style and design options we will help you choose from when selecting an acid washed concrete finish:

• The surface can be etched in virtually any pattern, such as stone, brick, tiles, custom patterns and even monograms.
• Applying a stencil during the installation process results in beautiful, complex patterns.
• Stencils can even be used to emboss patterns into the acid washed concrete.
• Alternately, applying an overlay after acid washing, but before concrete staining creates rich depth and a stunning effect.

3. Our Dreamcoat Flooring acid washed finishes are durable, and resist damage such as chipping, cracking, staining or discoloration from materials being dropped or spilled. Once sealed, the finish is sturdy and forgiving for both living spaces and high foot-traffic areas.

If you are thinking about installing or beautifying your existing concrete surfaces, weighing your design options, or are considering the benefits acid washed concrete flooring vs epoxy coatings, please contact our professional concrete coating contractor company in Phoenix, AZ Metro today!   We can be reached at 480-226-4172 for a free design consultation and floor estimate to help you determine if an acid washed application is right for your home.

“This blog content originally posted @ https://www.dreamcoatflooring.com/imperfect-details-unique-beauty-acid-washed-concrete/ “

Epoxy Flooring vs. Concrete Staining

From teaching your toddler how to ride a bike, to a family day around the pool,  to needing a commercial concrete floor coating for your office or warehouse - your space is much more than just concrete. These areas can be subjected to all sorts of abuse, including weather and chemical exposure and impacts.

Concrete spaces were once just dull, gray slabs that no one paid much attention to. Over the years, concrete solutions have certainly come a long way. Today, there's a variety of options available that offer tons of colors and patterns for a true one-of-a-kind floor.

How Do I Know What Concrete Coating Solution Is Best For Me?

There are 4 general questions you should answer to find the concrete solution that will work best for you.

1.    Will your concrete need to withstand chemical exposure?

2.    What type of traffic will your concrete need to withstand?

3.    Is there a potential for thermal shock?

4.    Will there be heavy loads or direct impact potential?

Once you have your specific needs in mind, you can start envisioning what you would like your new concrete space to look like. The most popular concrete solutions are staining and epoxy flooring coatings. Both applications offer great benefits, so which one is right for you?

Here at Dreamcoat Flooring we want to help you discover the concrete flooring of your dreams. Let's take a look at each of the concrete coating options we use in Phoenix and see how they compare.

Epoxy Flooring vs. Staining

Staining can give your space a great look. Available in a wide variety of colors, you can customize your color to match your existing decor. Compared to epoxy floor coatings, staining your concrete is a bit more budget friendly. It's important to keep in mind that price isn't the only thing you should consider. Staining won't protect your concrete floor over time and some stains can actually damage your concrete.

Epoxy coatings offer superior resistance to damages caused by abrasions, impacts, stains, and moisture. Our industrial-grade epoxy flooring solutions also offer incredible durability against weathering, UV damage, and color fading. The slightly higher up-front cost shouldn't deter your consideration. This concrete solution can certainly save you money in the long term.

The Dreamcoat Choice

Professionally installed epoxy coatings from Dreamcoat Flooring will preserve it's beauty for decades. Our professionals are excited to show you how we can help bring out the beauty in your concrete space. Whether you have need Commercial Kitchen Flooring Epoxy, your driveway concrete improved, or color for your patio floor- we can create the right type and color of coating for you!

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home estimate!

“This blog originally posted @ https://www.dreamcoatflooring.com/epoxy-flooring-vs-concrete-staining/ “

5 Ways to Upgrade Your Yard for Spring

Winter is long gone and the beautiful Phoenix spring has finally arrived. The hotter months are coming and it's time to refresh your yard so you can enjoy the sunny weather in tranquil surroundings. Luckily, you don't need to hire an expensive landscaper to upgrade your outdoor space. By making some of these simple adjustments, you can create a more inviting and stylish outdoor area for your home.

Refresh Your Patio

This winter brought some much-needed rain but the resulting plant bloom has left a lot of mess in Phoenix yards. Create a neater, more organized yard space by integrating a patio or refreshing your current patio area. High quality concrete patios look attractive all year round and they don't require a lot of fixing up. You can even use acid stained concrete to introduce a new color or style to your patio area.

Update Your Garage

Whether you use your garage solely for cars and storage or utilize it as an extra living space, spring is a good time to spruce it up. Add a new coat of paint to the walls and get rid of your outdated concrete floor. By adding an epoxy floor coating to your garage, you can even out the surface, add new colors and designs, and make cleaning more easy at the same time!

Create A Seating Area

Spring is the perfect time to unwind in your backyard with a good book and a pitcher of lemonade. Why not add a seating area to relax in while you enjoy the sun? Outdoor seating can also be a chic place to entertain guests during the daytime and evening hours. If you already have outdoor seating, recover it with fresh upholstery to update it for the new season.

Integrate A Decorative Walkway

Whatever sizes your yard is, a decorative walkway can be a valuable addition. It helps to lead the eye across your space and create a sense of organization and depth. Decorative walkways are also perfect if you have a pool and want to avoid traipsing across grass and gravel between your home and the water. Epoxy and decorative concrete walkways offer you a style that suits your yard without any cracking, slipping, or weathering.

Recover Your Driveway

A cracked and uneven driveway is an unattractive addition to any front yard. If you want to spruce up your outdoor space, redoing your driveway is one of the quickest ways to make a meaningful change. Good concrete flooring solutions can give you a neat and long-lasting driveway that will help to heighten the overall look of your yard.

Spring is the perfect time to get creative and update your outdoor spaces. Stained concrete and epoxy solutions are a simple but effective way to bring a new look to your home. If you decide to upgrade your concrete floor, walkway, or patio, Dreamcoat Flooring has ideas and the years of expertise which you will need. Don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss your Phoenix backyard flooring options and receive your free estimate.

This blog originally posted @ http://www.dreamcoatflooring.com/5-ways-upgrade-yard-spring/

Add A Little Color To Your Life (And Floor) With Colored Concrete!

Exciting Color Options For Concrete Flooring

When it comes to colorful concrete flooring options, the sky is the limit. Dyes, stains and surface coatings make it easy to transform boring plain-jane bare concrete into a work of art. With the availability of nearly every hue imaginable, from rich, earthy browns and golds to fire-engine red, azure blue, and vibrant shades of purple and green, your color choices are only limited by your imagination. The following are the most requested color options and the coloring techniques used to produce them.

What are some of the most Popular Concrete Floor Colors

While they might not initially sound exciting, the most popular concrete flooring color choice, especially for residential applications, is brown tones.  From pale tan to terra cotta to deep cocoa, brown concrete flooring mimics the warm look of wood flooring yet is more durable and much easier to maintain. In addition, the array of shades achievable in the brown palette is infinite, ranging from dark walnut to deep russet to sandy beige.

Another popular color choice for modern homes, businesses, medical facilities or restaurant kitchen floors are the multitude of options in the gray spectrum. Whether you are looking for a silver pearl, a steely grey or a dark charcoal, there’s a perfect hue of gray to choose from. 

For more colorful, whimsical designs consider combining multiple colors for your concrete flooring. Multiple colors can be used to create distinct patterns or swirled together for a mottled effect. With stencils, multiple colors can also be combined to create custom designs, monograms and logos.  

Concrete Coloring Techniques

Just as there are a plethora of concrete floor colorings to choose from, there are a variety of methods to apply the color:

• Water-based Stains – These stains produce a permanent color by penetrating the concrete surface. Typically a blend of pigments and acrylic polymers, the resulting finish ranges from translucent to opaque. They are offered in a broader color spectrum and have a less subtle color effect than acid-based stains, including metallic tints.
• Acid-based Stains – Prized for their unique color combinations and permanence, these are the most tried and true stains for concrete floors. Due to chemical reactions and variations in penetration, each floor is unique. The colors are mainly limited to blue/green and earth-toned hues, and are translucent. 
• Concrete Dyes – This application penetrate the concrete to achieve a permanent, opaque color saturation. Available in solvent- or water-based formulations, concrete dyes are available in a variety of colors. The water-based dyes typically produce more variegation and marbling, while solvent-based dyes provide a more uniform, monotone effect. 
• Epoxy Floor Coatings – While they generally cost more than dyes or stains, epoxy coating is very opaque, making it a good choice for hiding flaws and stains. They are durable and have long-lasting color. Additionally, they can feature color chips, metallic pigments, and are abrasion-resistant, making them a great choice for commercial flooring applications.

If you are considering a colorful concrete floor finish, let the professionals at Dreamcoat Flooring help you select the perfect hue and coloring method. Call 480-226-4172 today for a free flooring estimate and design consultation.