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Walkways and Sidewalks: Your Concrete Choice
Never underestimate the use of sidewalks or walkways. These ways are not merely for walking to where you want to go without stepping on grass it also ensures that the appeal of your curb is spot on.
As we all know, sidewalks or walkways that are made of concrete are often plain and gray and can be boring to the eyes however there are certain alternatives to make sure that your sidewalks or walkways don’t look as ordinary as they should.
In the United States, concrete has been the choice for many when it comes to a material that can be easily decorated. It has been raved by designers through its flexibility when it comes to being colored, molded or stained and it can be a great way to personalize a property.
Through concrete’s versatility, there have been many techniques known to make your property shine. Here are few ways to make your property uniquely your own.
1. Stamped
When it comes to popularity, stamped concrete is on top for a reason. If you are bored at how walkway or sidewalk patterns come from bricks, flagstone, slate or even patterns from wood planking then you are in for a unique twist when it comes to stamped concrete. Through stamped concrete, you have the option to blend it to the elements that is found in your home or property. You also have the option to intermingle it with chemical staining or even with other decorative treatments for concrete.
2. Stenciled
This method uses stencils made of disposable paper to make stone patterns or brick patterns or any pattern of choice. Since this method mask a surface underneath, it appears more realistic because there are joints in between the pattern made. This can be done through the application of dry shake which is a color hardener to the concrete that has been exposed before the removal of the stencil used or placed. Since stencils come in various patterns, you can be more creative and even merge patterns that may blend together nicely if you want.
3. Exposed Aggregate
If you think that sidewalks have pebble like structures for appearance alone, then you should reevaluate the design’s purpose again. Sidewalks have texture to not only emphasize the pattern the designer want to appear but also to avoid a slippery surface. In order to achieve the effects of decorative purpose in the walkway or sidewalk you want to make, expose the aggregate in your concrete to get the best results. You can also enhance your results through using stones of different colors and mixing areas that have both smooth and aggregate finish to have better texture.
4. Colored
Color not only enhances appeal it also enhances a designer’s creativity. If you think gray sidewalks and walkways are boring, you can do something about it now. Using chemical stains, dry shake hardeners or integral color create tonal effects that are complex and beautiful.
Looking for a concrete contractor to help you on your next project? Check the Concrete Services Plano website.
Concrete Patio for Your Backyard
You can always make your patio as unique as you want it to be. It always depends on the functionality you need and you will only need to be creative enough to make that space happen or come to life.
Concrete is a great material for your patio on your backyard. Other than being an excellent choice of material for your patio, it is also a material that you can utilize to expand your backyard space. You can use it to make a path to connect with your garden area to keep your home homey and welcoming. Moreover, you can also build some great focal points with it through investing your time with building fountains or fireplaces that works so well in making quality time with your family even without going somewhere far. However, what are some ideas that you can utilize in order to get the best outcome for your patio on your backyard? Well, here’s some ideas to help you start enhance your backyard patio.
1. Entertainment
Patios are a great way to entertain guests while having the chance to lounge with a view. Even if patios are known for this use, patios that are made of concrete are also great at making sure you are expanding your space while maintaining the uniformity of your home and not getting out of the look you started your home with. Through a concrete material you are ensuring that the connection between your indoors and outdoors and connected seamlessly. It is also a great choice of flooring so you can extend an outdoor living area or cooking area while getting the benefit of looking at a view with your fireplace in place as well.
2. Color
Concrete floors also expand your creativity through staining concrete to match the landscape of your outdoor area. Since concrete is a flexible material and you can do a lot with it before it hardens, you are also free to mimic other designs through it. Through concrete, mimicking patios that have brick flooring, slate, flagstone or tile is very easy thus you are in for a lot of options.
3. Cost efficient
Since you are investing for the benefit of your home, make sure that you also benefit in the process. Compared to patios that have bricks or stone which needs to be installed in an intensive way of labor, concrete is easy to handle thus when it comes to labor fee alone, you are already at an advantage. Moreover, overall, concrete is known to be economical when it comes to people who are in a budget.
4. Long lasting without much need for maintenance
If you are looking for a way to improve the look of your backyard or how your backyard’s landscape look, investing in a concrete patio also helps make your space sparkle. When it comes to maintenance, concrete does not demand much thus it is very beneficial not just to people who are busy and have no time for every now and then fix but also to people who want their investment to last without added costs on maintenance. If ever you invest on stones, chances are weeds can grow in between the spaces of the stones and you will need to maintain those weeds or have someone else handles it for you and it can take time thus if you want something easy to maintain, concrete may be your best option.
For concrete services, Concrete Services Plano is your answer!
Things to Do Before Hiring Towing Company
When you own a vehicle, you must know that your safety and security is always at risk. The reason behind this is that no matter how careful you are, when the drivers and car owners around you remain rowdy on the road, then your safety is almost always compromised. This is entirely the reason why as much as possible, you need to make sure that you could seek professional help anytime anywhere, especially when talking about your vehicle. One of the essential professionals that you should keep contact with is a towing company. Same as the aforementioned, you will never know when you could need a roadside assistance, and thus, you need to have a go-to company that you could be in touch with, when the need arises.
While hiring a professional towing company just like Flower Mound towing during the course of a roadside assistance, there are actually some things that you should be able to perform, if you want to ensure the safety of your vehicle. Here are some of these things that you should be able to perform:
1. Pictures Taken for the Damage
One of the most important things that you need to successfully do is to take different pictures that would show the damages that has been incurred, especially when you have just recently been involved in a car accident. This is important, especially when your insurance company will ask for proof of damage especially when you want to avail the services of the insurance. Therefore, as much as possible, you need to collect these evidences by capturing photos before finally calling a towing company that would help you transport your vehicle from the place of the accident to the nearest mechanic. Furthermore, this would also ensure that whatever further damage will be seen during the repair, it would then be the towing company’s fault.
2. Call Insurance
Another important note before you call a towing company is to call your insurance company. That is, a lot of vehicle owners commit mistakes by calling towing companies first before insurance companies. There are times when towing is included in the insurance coverage of your vehicle and before actually paying for the services provided by the towing company, you need to be able to ensure that the insurance will cover all expenses, including towing, in the services that they will provide for your vehicle.
3. Ask for Estimates
Most importantly, you need to know the estimates of how much it would cost you especially when you decide to get your vehicle towed. That is, you need to understand that as much as possible, you will not spend that much considering that you have just been in an accident. Moreover, you could always ask the company for the payment scheme that they accept, especially when they have a staggered payment option for the services that they have provided.
As a vehicle owner, you need to be able to know the different standard operating protocols before you go and decide to call a towing company.
Energy-Efficient Roofing Ideas for Your Residential Property
Energy efficiency and eco-friendliness have been vital trends when constructing urban developments and office buildings. However, the normal property owner is finally starting to apply green building elements into their home’s construction and design. When you are searching for economically friendly ideas, below are some of the best options and tips that you can consider:
Cool roofs
A few of the most famous cool roofing systems for flat roofs utilize a white membrane that prevents heat emission and reflects sun rays to keep rooftop temperatures and cooling costs down. But keeping the heat out could be an issue for folks who live in colder climates.
Solar tubes
Solar tubes can possibly help you gather natural light and save on your energy bills as an alternative to skylights. They begin with a plastic dome on your roof, then a tube will funnel sunlight into any space or area utilizing extremely reflective fixtures. Moreover, solar tubes can give sufficient light that you do not need to utilize overhead lights and lamps. Moreover, when the sun’s usually out, other models are incorporated with LEDs to give light when the weather seems grey.
Integrated solar technology
Solar panels have been more popular as a roof adornment for a homeowner who’s economically conscious and particular. Although, several issues can occur especially if it’s installed improperly, which is sadly pretty usual. If you don’t want to do that, then you can consider film solar as an alternative way to collect solar energy. Manufacturers have added photovoltaic solar cells into different roofing products that are costly now, however, they will be available to the mainstream soon. If you want to avail of solar panels near me, check out this link.
Avoiding runoff
Several eco-roofing firms have considered runoff and drainage containment systems for vegetated roofs. They utilize special rubber edging to prevent rain from draining out of the plants and soil. In this way, the runoff that can pollute our waterways can be prevented. A living roof with such systems can preserve half of the yearly rainfall. However, you will certainly have to guarantee that the membranes will still be in great condition since pooling water has been the roof’s arch-nemesis always.
Looking for the ideal plants
Living roof experts have been concentrating more and more on the selection of plants. Until just recently, plants for green roofs were selected without any real climate consideration. As of the moment, horticulturalists are collaborating with green roofing contractors to select plants that are naturally found in the region, hence, needing minimal care. Moreover, scientists have developed grasses that are more resistant to drought, which makes a living roof simpler to keep up especially during drier climates.
Vegetated/living roofs
A living roof is among the most beautiful and most favored green roof option for you. However, it’s more challenging to pull it off than it seems. When you are aiming for a simple way to plant a roofing garden, you can choose to ask a green roofing contractor to help you out.
Advantages of Commercial Concrete Coating
If businesses with boring and plain concrete flooring are considering to improve the longevity and look of their flooring, then the ideal solution for that would be concrete coating installation. Similar to residential properties, commercial buildings can also take advantage of epoxy concrete coatings. To know how you can benefit from this, check the following items below:
Improved safety
Epoxy flooring is a good option for commercial settings since it enhances the work environment’s safety by making a flooring solution that’s resistant to fire, heat, slipping, and impact. Moreover, such highly glossed epoxy coatings can brighten a working area even more.
Variety
In contrast to what several people believe, concrete coatings are a basic and ordinary flooring alternative, which has the application goes fay over industrial properties and other warehouses. As a matter of fact, epoxy coatings can be utilized to give an aesthetic appeal for commercial flooring. Epoxy is made out if colored acrylic flakes, which come in an extensive range of color mixtures. Business owners have the chance to choose basic custom epoxy floor bends or color options. Moreover, the floors can be arranged into designs and patterns that allow owners to tailor the floor color and patterns, which enables owners to tailor the color and floor pattern for them to enhance the workplace’s appeal and ambiance and match their branding.
Affordability
Among the most cost-effective flooring alternatives, an epoxy concrete coating is included. Actually, the epoxy coating’s cost per square foot is hard to beat once compared to some popular options for your commercial flooring. Since concrete coatings can be directly applied over concrete flooring, the costs of installation aren’t that costly compared to other types of flooring options available. Out of all the concrete coating’s advantages, the most appealing and significant benefit to brand owners would be its affordability.
Resistant to moisture
Basically, epoxy is a waterproof coating. Owning a moisture-resistant floor can be advantageous for a lot of businesses due to several reasons. With the help of concrete coatings, your floor won’t be prone to stains anymore because the surface contains non-porous properties. Because of the epoxy concrete coating’s water-resistant properties, they stop water from harming the subfloor and the development of mold. Businesses such as Laundromats, medical facilities, bathrooms, and kitchens can benefit from applying concrete coatings to their floors.
Durable against wear and tear
It’s difficult to look for a flooring alternative that’s not just as durable but also as affordable as concrete coatings. Concrete floors can easily chip and crack especially when the surface is affected hard enough. Not only that, but solid concrete floors will also display wear and tear in areas with high-traffic. But, business owners can secure their floors from regular wear and tear by applying concrete coatings. If this is done, it makes any surface resistant to deterioration. Epoxy coatings can prevent your commercial floors from flaws such as surface abrasion, staining, and chipping.
Contact Concrete Plano now for more concrete tips and services.
New Landscaping Trends to Try During Spring this 2020
Welcome the spring season by doing a few changes and renovations to your landscape this year. Such trends are currently in and will surely be worth investing in. If you know what trends we are talking about, read on this article:
Going low maintenance
Try to go lower maintenance by having all of your landscaping features. You can place some perennial plants in your garden sot that they will develop and grow back year after year without the need to maintain them all the time. Moreover, utilize an irrigation system so that you won’t need to go around and water everything by hand, which could be exhausting to do.
Utilizing focal points
Try using focal points to be your yard’s anchors. Try to incorporate a few hardscaping features such as stone benches, retaining walls, planters mounted on statement walls, and other fire features for colder days to help draw all your visitor’s eyes at some point during early summer.
A diverse garden
Diversifying and expanding your garden is another way for you to improve your landscaping game. For instance, you can begin to grow carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, and other kinds of food together with the trees and flowers that used to assist boosting your front yard’s curb appeal or to make a more colorful backyard that it usually is. Use hanging planters or pot up some herbs to take advantage of vertical growing techniques even if own a small yard.
The backyard living area
Building up your backyard is a trend that’s mostly used today. You can transform your backyard into another living area while the temperature warms up as you inhale some fresh air. This area could be great to relax in through the fall, summer, and spring season. Moreover, you have the deck enclosed. This way, you can go outside to relish and enjoy the view without actually needing to go out. You can also bring it up a notch by adding fire features or water features that will accentuate the area more.
Contact a reputable landscaping service provider
If you’re still unsure about which features should you and to your landscape or which plants or trees should you incorporate to make a more appealing landscape, it would be best to reach out to a professional landscape contractor. They will surely help you with this by assessing your yard and recommending great tips about sprucing up your place and yard during the springtime.
For these types of services, you can contact Landscaping Richardson today. We are a full-service landscaping company that’s willing to offer construction, design, and maintenance to your residential property or commercial property. Our company is composed of expert Richardson landscapers who are equipped with the proper pieces of training, skills, and equipment needed to complete any landscaping job thoroughly and successfully. Should you have any questions for us, feel free to let us know by calling our hotline number or just by visiting our website right now.
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