Purchasing a home is probably the most important piece of property you'll ever own. Now that you have a place to call home you'll find there might be an excessive amount of space, especially in the backyard. If you're like most homeowners, entertaining is something that people love to do. Having family and friends over for barbeques, games, and swimming is a favorite past time during the hot summer months. If your home already has a pool and you'd like to add a deck or replace an existing one, there are several steps to consider before making a decision.

What Type of Deck is Needed?
Choosing a deck should be based on whether or not you need a rough surface to prevent slipping and falling, or if you'd prefer a smooth layout to keep everyone's feet from scraping the rigid surface.

Concrete Pool Decks
Adding concrete to your pool deck will create a smooth surface and beautiful designs. However, it may lose its color and crack during the colder months or inclement weather. It’s important to keep up the maintenance of your concrete pool decks. Pool decks create a natural look and keep your pool looking healthy and ready for entertaining.

Pool Deck Installation
After you've met with a concrete contractor Pittsburgh, they're ready to have the groundwork begin. Design artists will have created a pool deck for you and they will carefully lay out the details around the pool. First, they'll start by pouring a thick strip of concrete followed by a coating that is stamped and colored with grout. There isn't a need to worry about stains on the pool decks with white concrete. The stamped concrete is a popular idea chosen by many pool owners because it keeps the deck 20 degrees cooler and creates a comfortable surface to walk on during the hot summer months. A white color concrete is a creative idea for concrete stamping. It will make your pool deck installation run smoothly. Stamped concrete is the perfect choice for newly installed pools. Not only does it keep the deck cooler, but its smooth surface makes it easier to walk on. Concrete stamping has made a mark for itself over the years creating a terrific look for any backyard pool deck.

If your pool deck has cracks or creases, don't panic, it's an easy fix. Cracks can be fixed by simply adding textured concrete to establish a more modern look. It will make your deck look beautiful. Those cracks will disappear with textured concrete. You'll be amazed by the finished product. The concrete contractors will help you decide on the best-textured concrete surface for your pool deck.

A concrete contractor Pittsburgh is there to serve you with all your pool deck needs. They have a long-standing in their community with devoted years of service. The concrete contractors are highly skilled in pool deck renovation and they completely understand that your pool is your favorite summer past time.

A concrete driveway should last the life of your home but sometimes due to extreme weather or environmental conditions you're concrete driveway or sidewalk or any other concrete surface May begin to wear. However, there are solutions too solving concrete damage instead of buying an entire new driveway or sidewalk you can simply repair the damage that has been done to your concrete surface. No one likes concrete damage but it's something that happens. A concrete driveway or a concrete sidewalk can cost a lot of money to replace. So it would be much easier too just repair it instead of replacing it.

The first solution to repairing your concrete surface is concrete resurfacing. Resurfacing a concrete surface will cover up existing flaws, and it will also make your driveway look better by you being able to choose a different color than you had before.

The next solution is concrete engraving this is for concrete surfaces with minor cracking or discoloration. You can use this solution to hide the flaws in your concrete. Depending on what design you choose the concrete engraving will benefit the final look of your new concrete driveway or your new concrete surface.

Slabjacking is another solution. This one is most likely for repairing a concrete sidewalk because what it does is it raises the slab back to its original position by using sand, cement, and other material beneath the slab.

The last and final solution to repairing a concrete surface or a concrete sidewalk is recoloring. Recoloring is for driveways that have lost its color due to oil exposure and sun exposure over time. The good news is that out of all the solutions to repairing concrete surfaces recoloring is the simplest one of them all.

Now that you have learned about what causes your concrete to wear, and ways that you can fix concrete damage. You need a professional to do the concrete surface repair work for you, that's where looking for a professional Concrete service comes into play. There are many contractors out there and services are out there that offer concrete surface repair services for reasonable prices. If you're specifically looking around for concrete contractors in Pittsburgh then I recommend Pittsburgh Concrete Contractors- Concrete repair. Good concrete contractors in Pittsburgh, this is a business in Pittsburgh that does a concrete repair at a reasonable price. Pittsburgh Concrete Contractors-Concrete repair is very good at what they do and they have had many satisfied customers.

Just like most things around a home, your stamped concrete patios, walkways, sidewalks and driveways will need some basic maintenance to keep it in tip top shape. The good news is that the maintenance that your stamped concrete requires is fairly easy and simple.

Cleaning Indoor Stamped Concrete
Typically, for indoor stamped concrete flooring, a simple dry or wet mopping is usually enough for routine cleaning. If you choose to use a diluted cleaner be sure to rinse the flooring area with a clean mop soaked in water so that the soap doesn’t dry out and cause spots on the concrete. If you are placing furniture on the stamped concrete floor, another great tip is to put felt pads on the bottom of all furniture legs to avoid scratching and unnecessary wear and tear. Throw rugs and doormats will help prevent the appearance of a path through high-traveled areas.

Cleaning Outdoor Stamped Concrete
Cleaning your outdoor stamped concrete surfaces are much like cleaning indoor surfaces. Sweeping and hosing off stamped concrete surfaces on a regular basis is typically all that is needed. It is safe to use a leaf blower as well to clear off leaves and other debris. For a deeper clean, you may want to consider pressure or power washing the surface every few years to keep mold and mildew at bay.
 
What About Tougher Stains?
If your stamped concrete surface becomes stained it may require a bit of elbow grease and warm water to get the stains to come out. If warm water and elbow grease don’t do the trick you it may be time to consider a pressure washing service. Experienced pressure washing companies will know how to properly use alkaline degreasers that will remove grease and oil stains without damaging your stamped concrete surface.

Resealing
When a new stamped concrete patio, walkway or driveway is first installed the contracts will apply a sealant to protect it from the damaging effects of Mother Nature. While the sealant is very important and does a good job of protecting the concrete surface it will begin to break down at some point and will need to be re-applied. The initial coating of sealant should last for about 2-3 years but varies dependent upon factors like climate and surface use. Extreme temperatures – hot or cold – will speed up the deterioration process and thus sealant will need to be replaced much sooner.  Keeping the concrete sealant refreshed on a regular basis will help ensure that your stamped concrete surface remains undamaged for as long as possible.

If you are not an experienced DIYer, we suggest you call an experienced concrete contractor to handle the resealing process for your stamped concrete. To reseal stamped concrete, the surface will need to be thoroughly cleaned and dried. Sometimes it is best to have exterior concrete surfaces pressured washed to thoroughly remove dirt and debris.
 
Things to Avoid
All in all, stamped concrete surfaces are fairly simple to care for and maintain. Remove debris like fallen leaves and sticks on a regular basis so that they don’t become built up. It is also best not to leave other large items like a tarp on a stamped concrete surface because they have the ability to trap moisture underneath them which will cause stains.
​
For homeowners in colder climates that experience snow and ice it is important to choose de-icing chemicals wisely. It is best to avoid de-icing salt acts as a corrosive chemical that can lead to flaking and peeling. Other snow removal tools like a snow plow or shovel with a metal edge are also best not used on a stamped concrete surface. Snowblowers and plastic snow shovels are safe to use.
​
Stamped concrete is a growing trend amount homeowners for patios, walkways, sidewalks, interior flooring and much more. If you are ready to get started on your stamped concrete project, please consider giving one of our expert concrete contractors a call to discuss your project. 

If you own any piece of property at all then you more than likely have a driveway of some sort. It may be sized for one car or large enough to sell cars. Either way, the upkeep of that driveway is imperative to the value of your property. A driveway replacement will be somewhere in your future. Are you pondering that perhaps that time is now?

Do I Want My Driveway Replaced
Looking to expand or add some decorative concrete? Maybe you just want a new driveway. With the use of dyes and stamps you could have the most eye-catching driveway in the whole neighborhood. Any design or imprint though of can be done.

Does My Driveway Need Replaced?
When done properly and with outstanding weather conditions, a concrete driveway can last up to 25 years! However, as any Pittsburgh concrete contractor knows, Pennsylvania does not have perfect weather. Winter in particular can destroy concrete over time leading to cracks and crumbles. If you notice any of these signs, now is definitely the right time to have your concrete driveway replaced. Keeping the foundation for your parking smooth and damage-free will keep the exterior of your home looking its best.

Resurfacing
Upgrading to concrete from gravel or mere dirt is another way driveway replacement will add value to your home and lifestyle. Children and adults both can benefit from a level surface to play things like basketball or riding bikes. Those who enjoy working on cars, or those that simply have the necessity to do so, know that a rocky surface is painful to lay on. Harsh winters call for plenty of snow shoveling. You won't find that easy to do with a gravel driveway.

Why Choose Concrete
With so many driveway options, including different sized gravel, blacktop and grass, you may wonder why you should choose concrete.

• Tough - concrete is tough and long lasting
• Aesthetics - basic concrete is even and smooth, but there are many decorative twists that can be done to add more beauty if desired
• No smell - blacktop has a harsh smell and can leave residue on shoes and clothes
• Price - not too expensive for such a durable repair

And of course there's the aforementioned property value. If you are looking to sell in the future or just want to keep your place looking nice contact a Pittsburgh concrete contractor now to go with the best option.

In a perfect world, your concrete driveway will last a lifetime or at least the life of your home, however there are some things that may shorten its lifespan. Some homeowners may notice some cracking in their driveway or maybe some discoloration or settlement in certain areas. Typical causes may include improper compacted subgrade, low-quality or inadequate concrete mix, severe weather conditions or poor placement procedures and practices. What options does a homeowner have if any of these issues come up? The good news is that an experienced concrete contractor can often repair a driveway if the concrete is structurally sound thus saving the homeowner money and time.

If you begin to notice some cracking, discoloration or settlement in your driveway or walkways, the first step is to get it inspected by a professional concrete contractor in order to determine what has caused the damage and get some options about the most effective repair procedures. Driveway repair options can vary depending on the condition of the concrete and the budget but they typically range from a simple re-color or color enhancement or a contractor can apply a new top coat of stain. A more involved concrete repair process would include a total driveway resurfacing with a decorative overlay.

Concrete Resurfacing
If the repairs needed to your driveway are a result of cracking, spalling or scaling the best option is to resurface it with a concrete overlay. This process will not only repair and cover the existing damage but it will also upgrade the look of your driveway. Concrete resurfacing allows the homeowner to redesign the concrete surface by choosing new colors and patterns from a variety of options.  A concrete contractor will begin the resurfacing process by first removing and replacing any unstable concrete

Engraving Concrete
Engraving a pattern into a concrete surface may be a suitable solutions for driveways with only minor cracking and discoloration. There are many patterns that a homeowner can select where the minor flaws and cracks actually enhance the new look. The engraving process first begins with staining the concrete surface, then a special concrete routing machine is used to cut the pattern into the surface which mimics the look of grout lines. There are multiple engraving options that your concrete contractor can offer. This is an effective and relatively inexpensive way to repair and upgrade your concrete driveway and sidewalks and will greatly enhance the curb appeal of any property.

​What is Slabjacking?
Concrete contractors use a process called ‘slabjacking’ to repair driveways that are sinking in certain spots. Sinking is most always the result of poorly compacted subgrade or soil erosion. Slabjacking allows concrete contractors to raise the concrete slab back to its original position. This is accomplished by pumping a mixture of sand, cement, fly ash and other additives beneath the sagging slab. While it may sound like a funny or peculiar word, slabjacking is actually a very effective method of repairing sunken concrete driveways.