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Showing posts from July, 2022

Fixing Your Concrete May Help Sell Your House

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  There are many opinions about what are the best items to repair, clean up, or modernize when a homeowner decides it is time to sell their home. Some will say it's the bathroom, others say the kitchen or a new roof or new windows. But let's stop to consider something often forgotten. While these suggested fix ups are supported by some sales statistics, I would like to offer yet another fix that I think can help you sell your home, fixing your concrete. What about the sunken or uneven concrete around your house? Most homes have some concrete, a front sidewalk, steps, a porch, driveways, and more. There can be trip hazards on your entrance sidewalk, sinking steps can cause step heights to vary, and a porch tilting toward the house can cause water damage. Fixing your concrete may  garage flooring tavares fl  help sell your home. Curb appeal, the outside or your home, is what potential buyers see first. It has often been said, first impressions are lasting. Focus on that impressio

Repairing Concrete Sidewalks With Flexible Concrete Considered

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  A cement company in Oregon has found a way to produce flexible-bendable concrete. The number of applications for flexing concrete is astounding, but what about around the home? Did you know you can get this plyable cement and mix it up yourself? You can use it for all kinds of things around the house and it will help prevent the concrete from cracking as trees grow older and their root systems push the concrete up. Flexible concrete is a little bit more expensive than  garage flooring tavares fl  regular concrete, and when mixing it you have to do a couple of extra steps, but it's not as hard as you might think. You can barely tell the difference between plyable concrete when it's next to regular concrete. In the case of an earthquake, you'll be able to tell right away as the regular concrete will crack and a bendable concrete will still be intact after the shaking stops. If you live in earthquake country bendable-concrete makes a lot of sense. However, if you live in a n

Repair Your Pesky Garage Floor Cracks

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  Before you can understand how to address garage floor cracks, it's important to have some foundational understanding of concrete itself. Controlling Concrete Cracks There is one distinguishing characteristic of concrete that remains troublesome to homeowners as well as contractors: concrete cracks. It cracks when  garage flooring tavares fl  and where it wants to. However, contractors can control concrete cracking to some degree by guiding where it will crack with a joint called a "control joint". When new concrete is poured and finished, control joints are either tooled in or cut in to "show" the concrete where to crack. How Are Control Joints Placed? There is a formula or rule of thumb that guides contractors where the joint is placed. That rule goes like this: a joint should be cut or tooled no further than two times the thickness of the concrete in feet. For example, if you have a 4" thick slab of concrete there should be a joint every eight feet. As

How to Repair Hairline Cracks in Concrete Floors - An Easy Solution

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  How to repair hairline cracks in concrete floors is fortunately not as impossible as it might sound. Prior to repairing a crack, the crack should be cleaned and then can simply be filled with an epoxy filler. Putty can also be used for small cracks. For larger cracks a similar process is required, starting with cleaning the crack and then filling it with either a concrete caulk or a concrete patching compound. It is recommended that sand be added to the patching compound before it is applied. The filler should then be allowed to dry. Although an obvious solution might be to purchase crack-resistant concrete in the first place, this solution unfortunately might be obvious only in hindsight. For a company, allowing a competent staff member to perform a minor repair may  garage flooring orlando  save money but expenses could be incurred if they injure themselves. Although many companies may take out insurance as simply a matter of course, the fine print on an insurance policy should be

Concrete Repairs Made Simple

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Have you ever observed concrete problems? If you took a walk outside today I would say you have. Especially in the areas of the U.S. with freezing temperatures. We all know about how the freeze thaw cycles effect concrete and when one puts a patching material down it simply does not last a winter season. So what usually happens is a maintenance staff member will apply more of the same material once the weather warms up. Wouldn't it be great if one could put down a material once and have that material last for more than one year? Take an exterior  concrete sealing tavares fl  stairway at a shopping mall. After years of the freeze thaw cycle and salt being applied to the stairs in the winter the concrete is eroding away. Now comes one of two choices for the operations manager. Choice one is to hire a contractor to come in and repair that stairwell using ready mix concrete or a Portland cement patching material. Choice two is to have internal staff make the repair using a polymer modi

Concrete Polishing Concepts

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  Diamond polishing of concrete as a finished product is a relatively recent concept in construction industry. It 15-20 years old! In Eastern Ontario the concrete polishing ideas came to practicing only 5 years ago... Polishing is suitable for refurbishing old  acid staining raleigh  concrete flooring or producing new durable, low-maintenance, high gloss installations. This process provides cost-effective flooring option that can accommodate tight budgets and creative design. So, why is it so popular and how does the process work? Walk-behind concrete machines with rotating diamond-abrasive heads remove the surface layer of the concrete and achieve a fine polish. Progressively finer diamond-abrasive segments are used, starting with very coarse grinding abrasives that remove thickness quickly, and moving to metal-bonded diamond heads. From there, resin-bonded diamonds achieve various degrees of polishing up to highly reflective sheen. At some point in the grinding process, sodium silica

The Many Uses For Modern Epoxy

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  Epoxy is a powerful substance that once bonded is virtually indestructible. It's made from hardeners and resin, although it is popularly used as glue. It can be used in house repairs, auto repairs, and even to fix your shoes. Adhesive epoxies are one of strongest adhesives available, and they are used in the construction of cars, boats, snow boards, and even airplanes. The chemical structure in epoxy enables it to be changed and developed to go with any type of surface or material. Epoxies are now available  concrete grinding raleigh for metal, glass, wood, some plastics, and stone. They also can be altered to be either rigid or flexible, and colored or transparent, some take a long time to set, while others set very fast. Epoxies are popularly used because they are almost completely chemical resistant and very durable in extremely warm conditions. For repairing vehicles, generally highly adhesive metal repair epoxy is required. For repairing cracks on the engine or camshaft for

Ten Things You Need to Know About Epoxy Floor Coatings

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  Epoxy formulations have been an essential part of the building industry for half a century. Epoxy floor coatings, in particular, are widely-used in floor applications. Here are some things you may or may not yet know about one of the most important coating materials in existence: 1. Epoxy resins are the secret behind high-performing epoxy coatings. Epoxy resins are the core materials of quality  epoxy flooring raleigh  formulations such as epoxy-based primers, top-coats, and sealants. These resins make it possible for epoxy floor coatings to perform well as floor finishes, protective coats, fire retardants, waterproofing and damage-resistance paints. 2. Epoxy coatings are applicable in many surface types. Specific flooring applications need specific coating systems dictated mainly by the kind of material used for the substrate. Epoxy floor coatings are one of the few systems that can work in concrete, steel and nearly all types of surfaces. 3. Epoxy resin molecules are cross-linked,

Concrete Polish - A New Flooring Choice

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 Are you looking for some innovative flooring solution? What do you think about concrete polish? Is it worth investment option? Well, polished concrete is the cost effective solution of new era. It eliminates the need to replace your floor after a certain period. Concrete polishing has become the preferred choice of all who want the ultimate epoxy/ no-wax flooring material. Technological advancement has made  concrete sealing arkansas  our life easy and superior. Due to recent advances in polishing techniques and equipments, both new and old concrete floors are attaining high-gloss finish which do not requires coatings or waxes. Due to excellent durability, resilience and performance of concrete polish, many offices, retail, and warehouses choosing polished concrete flooring. It is possible to polish any concrete slab, regardless of its age. Furthermore, there is no need to make use of special acid agents for preparing the surface. In this process, 12 or more steps are involved for sur

Horrors of Replacing Broken Pipes in Basement Cement Floors

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  Broken Pipes are one big pain in the rear end. It is even worse if those pipes are below a cement floor like in your basement. Homes that were built in the 1960's or before probably have some type of metal pipe hopefully galvanized pipes. At any rate if those pipes break you are in for a wonderful and expensive surprise. Finding the Break The contractors had a snake with a camera on the  epoxy flooring arkansas  end of it so you can slide it in the pipe to view what is happening in there. They push it up to the point where the break occurs. After about 20 feet they found the break. They then decided to cut the cement above the break in hopes of just repairing the break. What they found was amazing. The two steps the contractor took to locate the exact spot where to make the cuts in the cement was: 1. Measure the distance the snake traveled and marked several spots on the cement floor. 2. Used a metal detector to help them locate the precise location of the pipe. After cutting the

Installing Epoxy Resin Flooring

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  One of the biggest changes in home garages over the last decade or two has been the prevalence of concrete floor coatings. Up until recently the only place you would see a floor coating or floor paint would be in a repair shop or an industrial setting. Now, many homeowners are also realizing the benefits of applying some protection for their concrete garage floor along with the safety benefits it provides to guard against slips and falls. Installation of epoxy resin flooring is really  floor preparation arkansas  straight forward but you absolutely must spend the time necessary for completely cleaning the existing concrete surface. Start with a power washer and clean off all the dirt and grime you can. Next, scrub the surface with a detergent and water. Using a push broom works well for this step because you can apply a lot of downward pressure as you are scrubbing. Lastly, use a degreaser to remove any oil spots or other petroleum stains, if you don't do this the epoxy resin wil

Ease the Stress of Flying With Convenient Car Service To and From the Airport

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  Let's face it. When you've got a lot of distance to cover, traveling by air is the fastest way to get there. But that doesn't mean it's an easy route to take. Between getting your boarding passes, checking your bags, knowing what you can and cannot bring in your carry-on, and getting through security, you have more than enough on your plate to worry about. So why not make at least one part of your journey a smooth, uneventful ride? It's simple when you rely on a licensed rental service and leave the driving up to them. At many of the nation's larger airports, you're expected  Limo Car Service  to arrive 90 minutes or more prior to your scheduled departure time. Then, once you've weighed your bags, navigated the terminal, made it through security, and located your gate, the fun really begins. You get to board a cramped jumbo jet, jostle total strangers for a seat, and sit for hours in a tight space while hoping to avoid any turbulence. Whether you'r

Benefits of Garage Floor Coatings - Why Do You Need Them?

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  Generally, floor coatings are designed for protecting different types of surfaces. As a protective layer, they are manufactured tough and durable. Due to its durability, a floor coating is normally found in areas that have heavy wear and tear such as warehouses, manufacturing floors and chemical plants. In addition, they are also used to brighten up or define surfaces and cover stained concrete. Since floor coatings are used as a protection  concrete coatings gold coast  from corrosion, homeowners also use them on garage flooring. Garage floors also undergo heavy abuse and corrosion. To protect and enhance your garage floor, apply some floor coatings. These coatings can also be used to repair cracks and damages before the cracks affect more areas. In turn, these protective surfaces help you save on repair expenses and maintenance cost. As more people become aware of climate change, more industries produce substances that are eco-friendly. Some of these coatings typically meet Environ

Steps Involved in Coating Your Garage Floor

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  Epoxy will not only tops off the look but it also resists oil stains, beads water, and wipes clean like a kitchen offset. If you spend any time at all in your garage, you will understand the draw of having an epoxy-coated concrete floor: the flawless appearance, the easy cleanup, and the robust surface makes working in the garage a much more pleasant experience. There are four steps involved in properly coating your garage floor with epoxy. First you must etch and clean the concrete. Next you should seal the concrete. Third you should apply the epoxy and color chips. Fourth and lastly you should apply a clear topcoat. Doing all these four steps will assure you that your epoxy garage floor coating would last for years without any problems. Do not apply epoxy flooring when  epoxy floors gold coast  an exterior or air temperature is below 50°F (10°C). Before you start, if you notice any tiny crystals or white powder on your floor, it is moisture migrating through the concrete which woul

Making Your Kitchen Less Rodent Friendly

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  A significant part of why rodents enter our homes is that our kitchens offer them unlimited access to the delicious grains and cereals they love as well as other food scraps. In order to make your home less appealing to rodents, you need to limit their access to easily accessible food in your kitchen. Here are a few steps you can take to discourage mice and rats from using your kitchen as a 24/7 buffet. Clean Your Kitchen Your kitchen needs to be spotless to discourage  luxury vinyl plank flooring atlanta  mice and rats from getting their feast straight from your floor or sink. First, wash all of your dishes properly and put them away. Rats will gladly come and nibble on the leftover Chinese food that you were going to wash out tomorrow, and mice have no objections to cleaning your cereal bowl for you. Don't give them the chance to feast on your leftovers; clean dishes as soon as possible. Once your sink is clean, look at the rest of your kitchen. Those spills on your stove or co

What Flooring to Use in Each Room

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  Many people who want to repair and update their home choose to start by upgrading their floors. Deciding which type of floor to use in each room can be confusing and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Certain types of flooring are better for specific rooms than others. Learn more about the types of flooring you should use for the rooms in your house. What to Look At There are two things to take into account when  vinyl plank flooring atlanta  deciding which floor is best: the presence of moisture and the amount of traffic. A lot of flooring materials are affected and even ruined because they don't fit with the purpose or action of the room. High traffic creates excess dirt and pressure, while excess moisture can seep into seams and materials causing mold and distortions. High traffic areas need a sturdy and solid floor. Having a floor in these areas that is weak and pliable can cause scratches and deterioration at an accelerated rate. Some floors are made to handle larg

Hardwood Flooring Species From A to W

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  A hardwood that comes in several varieties including, red hardwood, Oregon and western species. Color is consistent from pinkish brown to almost white. This material usually contains no distinct grain but can have moderate straight uniform grain. Alder is a soft hardwood that can be worked well. It has low tensile strength, is light weight, low shock and dense wood. Since it is a light softer hardwood it can be nailed, screwed and painted or stained. Alder is used in many products from flooring to furniture and kitchen cabinets, often used when a rustic effect is desired. Ash Color ranges from white, through cream, to a light  vinyl flooring atlanta  brown. Usually a straight grain with uniform texture. This species is heavy and hard which makes for strong floor with high tensile strength. With large pores this wood accepts most any stain. Ash is used for flooring, furniture and sporting good. It was once the preferred wood in making tennis rackets. It machines well, good for nails,

Solid Hardwood And Engineered Wood Flooring

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  Hardwood flooring is a popular choice in many homes. Wood floors are extremely versatile in function and appearance; they look great in any home, no matter what your style. When choosing wood flooring for your home, you will need to consider whether you want solid hardwood or engineered wood floors. Each plank of solid hardwood is made  laminate flooring atlanta  from a single solid piece of wood. It is more expensive than engineered wood flooring, but it also lasts longer. Solid hardwood flooring can last for generations if well maintained. Depending on its thickness, solid hardwood can be lightly sanded and refinished many times to revive or change its appearance. If you love your floors but don't love the color, simply sand them down and apply a new stain. Although solid hardwood is quite durable, it should not be installed in areas of the home prone to moisture, such as bathrooms or below grade basements. Engineered wood is a less expensive option which is constructed by laye