It’s concrete: It’ll last forever…right?

Concrete Sealing is Important

Let’s make sure we’re all on the same page here. Concrete is a very durable, strong and long-lasting material which is why it’s used in foundations of buildings, as roads and driveways, and as floors, patios, etc.  However, after years of exposure to the elements and disuse, concrete will break apart and crumble, leaving evidence of its form, but no longer standing or whole. Don’t want the Grand Canyon running through your driveway or patio? How do you prevent it from getting chipped, broken, pitted or cracked? It’s not rocket science! In fact, breathe easy, it’s really quite simple! Seal it.

Proper care and maintenance of concrete involves sealing it. Concrete surfaces are susceptible to water because it is a porous surface which allows water to move in and out of it. This movement of water coupled with fluctuating hot and cold weather can weaken the integrity of the concrete. Other things can mar the appearance and composition of your concrete such as: oil spills or other engine liquids used in vehicles that may drip or leak onto a concrete driveway, spills of paint, stain or other products used in the upkeep of the exterior of your home or business, dirt accumulation and regular traffic on your concrete. Sealing concrete protects it and extends its life. I think of it as similar to taking care of your vehicle’s appearance – washing it, to clean off the dirt and road salts and other corrosive elements it is exposed to from driving it around, and then applying a wax to protect and preserve the color from fading and to repel the dirt and grime from the road for awhile. Who wants to drive around in a rust bucket? To keep your concrete intact and looking good you need to treat it the same way by sealing it.

Sealers are either topical or penetrating sealers. As you might guess, a topical sealer sits on top of your concrete, usually by forming a thin film that acts as a barrier between the outside elements and the actual concrete; a penetrating sealer actually permeates into the concrete and is virtually invisible when dry. Topical sealers can be either solvent-based or water-based and are used to protect and enhance the appearance of stained, stamped or other decorative concrete, more often used indoors; while penetrating sealers are typically used on exterior or non-decorative concrete, especially since they don’t create a film on top of the concrete that may add to the slipperiness of the concrete. Types of topical sealers include acrylic, polyurethane and epoxy.

Before and After of Sealing

• An acrylic sealer can be used when economy and easy application are necessary, either on an interior or exterior surface. It is a UV resistant, non-yellowing, protection against water and chloride intrusions that also allows for moisture in the slab to escape. Acrylic sealers, when applied, generally dry to the touch within an hour. Because acrylic is a thinner sealer, it wears faster than other sealers and will require reapplication sooner.

• A polyurethane sealer has a protective film that is about twice as thick as an acrylic sealer and offers excellent resistance to abrasion and chemicals. Polyurethane comes in a range of sheens from high gloss to matte, is transparent, non-yellowing and highly durable. They are, however, moisture intolerant until properly cured. This means that upon application, if it comes in contact with moisture or water, it will create a chemical reaction that results in foaming and bubbling of the sealer. Polyurethane also does not allow moisture vapor in the concrete to evaporate out, which could cause problems in an outdoor concrete surface, i.e. a driveway or patio.

• Epoxy sealers are protective films that are hard, long-wearing, and abrasive-resistant. They are very good at repelling water and are much harder than acrylics. Most epoxies are glossy and can be clear or pigmented. Water-based epoxies bond well to concrete and provide a clear finish, but are nonporous and do not allow trapped moisture to escape. Epoxies are generally suitable for interior use because they are susceptible to yellowing with UV exposure.

A penetrating sealer is invisible protection that penetrates into the concrete to form a chemical barrier that shields against moisture penetration and de-icing chemicals. They are breathable, meaning they allow moisture vapor to escape, and are commonly used outdoors because of the excellent protection they provide against harsh exposure conditions, e.g. corrosion and freeze-thaw damage. Some common penetrating sealers are: silanes, siloxanes and silicates. These are good for use on driveways, patios, sidewalks, pool decks and other exterior concrete surfaces.

Contact us today for your free estimate on sealing your concrete surfaces!

Precision Concrete Service - www.precisionconcreteservice.com - 1.251.301.715

Patches Lounge Out Door Renovation - PART 1 (Demolition)

Patches Lounge Outdoor Renovation - Part 1 

Patches Lounge - 5100 Girby Road, Mobile, Alabama

Have you ever been concerned about a trip hazard around your business? Have you ever had this thought? "UGH! The tile and concrete around my business is so dated and unattractive to our customers!" Well the owners of Patches Lounge in Mobile, AL thought this exact thing!

As a business owner, you want to have Curb Appeal. Something that says, "HEY! YOU! Come over here and give us your money. That means upgrades and restoration and repairs, It's part of the game!

Patches Lounge at 5100 Girby Road in beautiful Mobile, Alabama chose to do really nice make over from Precision Concrete Service! They knew that Precision Concrete Service is the #1 Choice for Concrete in Mobile, AL so we were there natural choice!Patches Lounge and it's Owners chose from our impressive list of services. They knew we would take pride in their project from concrete demolition to concrete restoration. The owners knew Precision Concrete Service had the knowledge to make sure that their walkway ramp was ADA compliant and their retaining walls where in a sturdy state.

 

Some of the chief complaints where:

Its demo time!
Precision Concrete Service removing cracked and damaged old terra cotta tiles.

1. Cracked and dated terra cotta tile in some walking areas. This was causing a trip hazard as well as a unsightly view! This building was previously a Hardees. They chose to remove the tiles in those areas as seen here. This area will be resurfaced and concrete will be poured so that a stamped pattern can be placed. 

Patches Lounge' wheel-chair ramp getting a touch up! 

2. We will also repair and replace the wheel-chair ramp. It will be ADA compliant and have a stamped concrete finish as well!

The property is getting new sidewalks and walkways. Here is a little bit of demolition action!

Sidewalk Demolition - Patches Lounge

Sidewalk and Patio Demolition - Patches Lounge

Concrete Construction and Demolition is some times a messy job. Precision Concrete Service strives to keep a clean working site. This customer is working with us so they can keep their business open at night. We are alternating sides that we are demolishing and working on. 

This site had two doors, one on each side.

This allows for the clients, customers and employees to safely access the building. Safety is our number one concern for our employees and your customers!  

 

Precision Concrete Service is excited about this new project! This was the Concrete Demolition part of the Job! We will bring you more photos as the job progresses!

Did you know you can follow us on Social Media? Check us out! Like us on our Facebook Page, Follow us on Twitter and See what we are posting Instagram. 

You can also check out our full website and all the services we offer! You can also contact us by phone or email! 

New Decorative Overlay with Faux Brick

Before the Precision Concrete Service .

We are excited to announce that Precision Concrete Service has finished yet ANOTHER amazing driveway. This driveway was in Mobile, Alabama and has some pretty bad driveway cracks. But with our driveway repair team, we turned those cracks in to a BEAUTIFUL new Decorative Overlay driveway with Faux Brick.

Beginning of the Overlay process.

This driveway repair job required a decorative over lay. The customer requested a brick pattern the accent their brick home. The customer hand selected their pattern color and grout color.

The Customer also wanted a faux Brick border as seen here. This beautiful faux Red Brick border is a fantastic accent to the color combo the customer selected for their driveway repair.

The customer chose to extend their driveway job to their door step and have it all match from stoop to curb.

Matching Door Step with Faux Brick and Overlay

We also chose to extend the faux brick around the edged of the side walk. Here you can see how careful our team is in not damaging your plant life or grass. We know how hard you work to have a beautiful home. We work just as hard to keep it that way while we are on your property.

Edge of the Lawn- Grass Still intact!

Edge of the plants - Not one leaf was harmed!

Here is the FINAL PRODUCT! Our customer was just Thrilled.

If you would like to have a driveway similar to this you should give Precision Concrete Service a call. We do free estimates and walk you through the color and finishing selections.   

Finished Decorative Driveway Product - Precision Concrete Service 

Driveway Ideas - Colored Stain

A Beautiful Stained and Stamped Driveway. A wonderful Decorative Option.

Colored Stained & Finished Driveway

If you have a driveway in poor condition, we recommend bringing it back to life and turning it into a work of art with colored staining. The first step is to super clean the surface, using a pressure washer with a disk mounted cleaner. Pressure washing alone leaves cleaning lines as the operator cannot control the distance the nozzle is held from the surface. We use a de-greasing cleaning agent to help remove stains. We also have a surface grinder that can remove deeply embedded stains.

We do not use a solid color stain, as this would make the surface look painted. Instead, we use our penetrating translucent stain (color of your choice). This would be followed up with our penetration sealer for full protection against new stains.

Contact Precision Concrete Service in Mobile, Alabama for a Custom FREE quote at your home. Check out our Website and feel free to contact us.

Precision Concrete Service - The Gulf Coasts #1 Choice for Concrete.

This is our Official Blog Spot!

We plan to post our daily job site pics as well as a little bit of comedic relief!

Here are some pics to enjoy while we  build our blog page!
Also Check out Precision Concrete Service On the Web