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CONCRETE
Here at EMCO Services, LLC we provide all phases of custom concrete for residential & commercial applications. Some of our work includes concrete stamping, driveways, sidewalks, patios, exposed aggregate, small repairs, concrete sealing, concrete coloring, ADA Ramps, and more! Give us a call to complete your project!
Fun Facts:
Concrete is a favored material for driveways, and for good reason. Concrete slabs are very strong and durable, and they require very little maintenance. The combined strength and longevity make concrete a relatively good value for large areas of paving. As a driveway surface, concrete is more expensive than gravel and asphalt, but it is considerably less expensive than a driveway made with brick, cobblestone, or concrete pavers. Although plain concrete can be rather dull in appearance, concrete can also be colored and stamped to create a unique and attractive surface.
Stamped Concrete:
Stamped concrete, often called textured or imprinted concrete, replicates stones, such as slate and flagstone, tile, brick and even wood. The wide variety of pattern and color choices make it popular for beautifying patios, pool decks, driveways and more. Because of its superior durability and weather resistance, colored and stamped concrete is the perfect choice to bring the high-end look of stone, brick, or wood to patios, pool decks, driveways, walkways and courtyards.
Patterns:
From an aesthetic standpoint, stamped concrete is hard to beat when it comes to pattern and color options, which are virtually unlimited. Many people get inspiration from their surrounding landscape or home's architectural style and choose patterns and colors that blend with existing stone, tile or textured concrete elements. For example, if your house has a brick exterior, consider echoing that theme with a simple brick-patterned border, or choose a pattern and color scheme that ties in with your surrounding landscape.
Colors:
The most popular colors tend to be grays and earth tones; however, brick patterns are often colored in red or russet hues. Colors can be mixed, layered or antiqued with stains or tints, creating a virtually endless list of possibilities. Multiple colors can be used within the same project for realistic stone coloration, decorative borders or a contrasting color pattern.
What if the driveway cracks?
If your concrete was jointed, cracks are unlikely to be a problem but still happen. Think of joints as "planned" cracks that allow the concrete to expand and contract, minimizing any chance for random cracking.
Although joints will control cracking in most cases, even properly jointed concrete can crack in places other than the joints. Most of these random cracks are simply unplanned joints and won't impact the long-term service and durability of your driveway. But they can detract from the appearance. If you're concerned about random cracking, ask your contractor what measures he will take to prevent it and what his policy is about fixing any random cracking that does occur.
Maintenance:
Many people look at concrete driveways as being virtually maintenance free, but to best ensure long life, it does pay to keep the driveway clean and sealed. A good scrubbing with a hose and stiff brush will usually handle the cleaning, while concrete sealer will add a layer of protection. Sealer should be applied at least once a year. If you live in snow country, the best time to seal a driveway is in the fall to ensure that the slab will stand up to road salts and harsh winter weather.
Concrete is a favored material for driveways, and for good reason. Concrete slabs are very strong and durable, and they require very little maintenance. The combined strength and longevity make concrete a relatively good value for large areas of paving. As a driveway surface, concrete is more expensive than graveland asphalt, but it is considerably less expensive than a driveway made with brick, cobblestone, or concrete pavers—and it typically outlasts all of these.
Although plain concrete can be rather dull in appearance, concrete can also be colored and stamped to create a unique and attractive surface.
Previous Work:
