The Do's and Don'ts for Exterior Concrete

Exterior Architectural Concrete Maintenance and Do’s and Don’t’s

Do’s:
1. Wash your concrete regularly when dirty with a pressure washer
2. Use just water to clean (don’t use any detergents or chemicals)
3. Have your concrete resealed every 2-3 years depending on traffic patterns
4. Use non-corrosive snow and ice melting agents
5. Hire an experienced snow removal company
6. Use a sealer recommended by Concrete Arts (typically a solvent-based acrylic)
7. Sometimes sprinkler systems will leave white spots on your concrete (a chalky appearance will be evident). This is hard water stains. A good way to remove this would be to use a product called Xylene. This can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store. Spray this on the affected areas with a garden sprayer and the spots should disappear.

Dont’s
1. Use salt or any chloride product to melt snow.
2. Use an ice pick to remove ice
3. Spray fertilizer or other lawn maintenance items on concrete
4. Let your sealer wear completely off
5. Use any cleaning solutions to clean unless compatible with sealer
6. Reseal it with a non-recommended product (typically home improvement centers do not carry the appropriate products). Contractor supply business such as Brock White, CMI, or Cemstone Contractor Supply can provide you with the right stuff.

Metropolitan State University - Law Enforcement Center

Metropolitan State University just erected a new facility for its Law Enforcement Center. They choose to incorporate polished concrete throughout the main level's entry way, hall ways, and gathering areas.

The polished concrete was colored Slate gray and seeded with specialty aggregates:

• Rib Mountain Red
• Violetta
• Imperial Gray
• Mother of Pearl

They also incorporated Polished Concrete precast stair treads. The stair treads were created to consist of the same color and aggregate to show a continuous look.

Carly Dus

Concrete Art

http://www.concretearts.com/

Exterior Stamping

Concrete Arts did a very unique project this summer at a residential home in St Croix Falls. This beautiful lake home decided to get creative on its siding and used a LifeTime Floors product Karvekrete. The siding was combined with some traditional elements but also created a fairy like castle structure using a Seamless Old granite stamp on the upper elements of the house, a Castle Stone stamp on the base and tower of the house, and a soldier course stamp around windows.

Take a look below at the photos. The home looks absolutely gorgeous and I guarantee there is not another home like this. It has its complete own uniqueness with a beautiful elegance.

Carly Dus

Concrete Arts

http://www.concretearts.com/

New Look to Website

Concrete Arts Web Page

http://www.concretearts.com/

We have finally improved the Concrete Arts website. The new website is a clean and easy site to navigate through with more pictures than ever. Each of Concrete Arts' systems are broken up and then categorized into jobs. Take a look and as always comments are welcome!

Carly Dus
Concrete Arts
http://www.concretearts.com/

Cabin up North

Unlike any other countertop option, concrete allows you the ability to add in your personal touch. This couple wanted a rustic cabin feel for their cottage in Northern Wisconsin. They chose an integral sink in a customized shape that exposes rock aggregates. These Rock aggregates create a beautiful, artistic show piece venturing from ones side of this bath sink to the other including the sink itself.

This concrete bath sink just goes to show you that a small customized piece can take your interior design to the next level.

Carly Dus

Concrete Arts

http://www.concretearts.com/

Appian Cobblestone

We just finished a project where a couple was previously having issues with moles and other rodents. Because they had pavers, the ground would sink in causing pavers to crack and shift creating large divots and valleys. After years of replacing pavers every year, the couple decided to go with stamped concrete.

They choose an Appian texture with a Mesa Beige colorant and nutmeg release. This allowed them to keep the brick/paver look with a sophistication. They absolutely love their new walkway and couldn't be happier.

See the before and after photos below.

Before

After

Carly Dus

Concrete Arts
http://www.concretearts.com/

Bar Top

With Concrete you have the ability to become artistic. In this particular piece, Concrete Arts hand packed the bar top and then slurried on a top coat. This look gives you the ability to customize your colors and the level of "veining."

Carly Dus

Concrete Arts

http://www.concretearts.com/