Minnesota Concrete Blog » Concrete Stenciling

Exterior Concrete Alternatives for Home and Business

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:26:34 +0000

With low cost, durability, and unlimited design possibilities, concrete is the new material of choice for home owners and businesses alike. Outdoor projects like driveways, patios, stairs, walkways, and pools can add value to your property and set it apart from the rest of the houses or buildings on the block. Traditionally patio, pool or other accent area projects could be cost prohibitive using materials like slate, marble, or granite. Exterior concrete is a low cost alternative that can be styled to mimic these materials as well as many more. With Stained concrete you can get the great look you’ve always wanted for a lot less.

Beautifully decorative exterior concrete can add curb appeal to your home or business. Your driveway is often the first thing people will see when visiting your home or office, so why not make it stand out? Driveways are important; they should be functional, but they don’t have to be boring! Flat black asphalt drives or plain grey concrete lack visual impact. A driveway with stain and texture can create an immediate positive impression. Lowell Russell Concrete can help you create a driveway that’s durable and beautiful making it more than just a place to park your car.

Walkways and entryways are also areas that provide an early impression of your home or business. Using the flexibility and nearly unlimited design opportunities of customized concrete can help turn these areas into visually appealing highlights to your property.

Patios are another area where architectural concrete can be used to good effect to enhance and delight. Whether you’re entertaining guests or just relaxing after work, patios enhanced with colored, antiqued, shaped or textured concrete make beautiful spaces to spend your time.

Having an indoor or outdoor pool is unique in Minnesota, but with stamped concrete and border designs you can make your pool area even more special. Installing or remodeling a pool can increase the amount of fun you can have in your home as well as the re-sale value later on. The style and value added to your property is well worth the investment of an indoor or outdoor pool area.

To explore the unlimited possibilities of exterior concrete in Minnesota for your home or business, contact Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or get a quote online. We offer a variety of concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Concrete Ideas: The Benefits of Working with Concrete

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:27:22 +0000

Although most people are familiar with concrete structures, such as home foundations, many don’t consider the versatility that concrete provides. The adaptability of concrete allows for many varieties of shapes, designs, and logos in whatever colors or patterns the customer desires.

From public plazas to private walkways, swimming pools, and patios, a unique look can be created by using concrete stenciling, stamping, or staining techniques. Either with new or existing concrete, sandblast stenciling can create medallions, borders, or company logos which can then be imprinted with highlights and lettering. Brickform blush-tone acid stain can then be applied to create any color combination desired.

Concrete also has many functional and decorative uses inside a home or building, such as for room additions, floors, countertops, tables, and sinks. Indoors, decorated concrete can be used to simulate other materials such as tile, wood, or stone for a unique interior look, such as enhancing a fireplace.

Customers can supply their own artwork which is camera-ready, or they can supply their artwork on computer laser prints and disks. This artwork can then be reproduced in the exact size desired.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of decorative concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of interior Stenciled Concrete for Your Home or Business

admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:01:56 +0000

For those who are looking to put a new mark on their homes, there are a variety of different options available. Some people add a deck, while others remodel their kitchens. One of the best ways to add a touch of luxury to your home is to employ stenciled concrete. Interior stenciled concrete is the perfect way to add an artistic flair to your foyer or bathroom, and is not nearly as difficult or costly to implement as many people believe it might be.

Implementing stenciled concrete is both easy and fun, and most of the work is done by the contractor; you can provide the artwork and go over the specifics, and we’ll get the job done for you. Interior stenciled concrete is also perfect for businesses who wish to brand their locations with a stenciled logo or image. Maintenance of stenciled concrete is extremely easy, making it far superior to other flooring materials such as carpet or hardwood.

To get a better idea of what stenciled concrete looks like, be sure to check out our concrete photo gallery. If you feel as if stenciled concrete is right for your home or office, don’t hesitate to call today for a consultation today.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of stenciled concrete MN for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Interior Decorative Concrete

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:28:27 +0000

Concrete floors, entryways, patios, and even countertops are the perfect areas for decorative concrete. Whether the home is a brand new one or decades old, decorative concrete makes it simple to have the desired look. This is especially true since there are different types available that appeal to the different tastes that people have. Those types are stamped, stenciled, and stained concrete.

Stamped concrete has a pattern upon it that is imprinted. For those wishing to have a brick, stone, tile, or even wood appearance that is affordable, stamped concrete can help achieve that look. It is possible to choose from a number of popular designs or have one custom made. This type works well with patios, courtyards, and pool decks.

Stenciled concrete is possible due to what is called decorative sandblast stenciling. This allows an individual to have any design that they desire upon their patio, driveway, countertop, or flooring. Landscaping projects can be completely unique when this technique is used.

Stained concrete is another way to achieve a unique look by having a translucent effect. A penetrating acidic stain is applied to the concrete, which is available in a variety of colors. Through different colors, it is easy to match the color of the home or the décor outside of the home.

Decorative concrete allows for a high class design without the high class cost. There are so many options available that having a traditional or contemporary design of virtually any color or style is not a problem. And any area inside or outside of the home can be decorated in this way because the concrete will last for many years.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of decorative concrete in Minnesota for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Benefits of Decorative Concrete for Your Home or Business

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:27:18 +0000

You have probably seen decorative concrete in many places but not realized what material it was! Concrete has traveled a long way from gray sidewalks and driveways. Just a few examples of what concrete can be used for are: sleek and durable concrete countertops, innovative concrete walls resembling any material, and high end polished concrete floors of any color. Decorative concrete can also give you a custom look for a driveway, pool, or patio area. In short, concrete can be stained any color, designed to imitate almost any surface, and can be used virtually anywhere.

Concrete has become one of the most sought after materials on the design market for its versatility and many other good reasons. It is less expensive than other design materials, more durable, virtually maintenance free, and environmentally friendly.

One popular option is stamped concrete, this is typically used for outdoor projects and the concrete can be dyed any color or combination of colors. The concrete is stamped when it is wet to give it the look of stone or brick. You can get the same look for half the price of traditional materials. Just a few of the design options are custom walkways, stairs, and retaining walls.

Concrete can also be polished, and when polished it is typically used for maintenance free flooring that will never need to be refinished or waxed! While polished floors have mainly been used for businesses, homeowners are turning to this solution for a custom floor that is a beautiful focal point of their home.

If you have existing concrete that you do not want to replace but you do want it to be more decorative, concrete can also be engraved. An experienced decorative concrete installer can use tools to etch designs into the concrete. The etching can be done alone or accompanied by staining, which can be done in any hue. Contact an experienced decorative concrete installer today, save money, and make your design dreams come true!

The Benefits and Beauty of Interior Concrete Countertops

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:25:47 +0000

For customers in the market for countertops, there’s no better option than concrete. Concrete seamlessly combines durability with elegant simplicity and provides countless options for design.

In addition to durability, concrete is also a sustainable, green product. Concrete contains varying combinations of natural resources, like ash, gravel, limestone, and sand—which are abundantly available locally. Using regionally produced raw materials helps to keep the carbon footprint small, and also keeps the cost lower than other materials such as granite, which would need to be shipped from another part of the country.

Concrete counters are handcrafted; this allows the customer to choose from numerous options to design just the right countertop for their home or business. Because the concrete is cast in molds, the customer can request unique shaping for added interest. A drainboard can be integrated into the countertop to facilitate food production. Or an integrated sink can be made from the concrete, for an efficient, streamlined appearance.

Many techniques are available to add patterns, color, and/or texture to concrete countertops. Staining involves the use of chemicals to create a colored or textured appearance, allowing the counter to mimic the look of tile, wood, or stone. Stenciling is done by using a sandblasting technique to create borders, logos, and original artwork. Embedding is a process by which coins, glass, fossils, stones, or other desired items are added to the counter to create a unique, customized appearance. And concrete countertops can be polished to add an elegant, high-gloss finish.

At Lowell Russell, we are dedicated to excellence in workmanship and customer satisfaction, and we use cutting-edge techniques and equipment to give our customers the counters they deserve.

If you want to investigate the many possibilities of concrete countertops for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.

Decorative Concrete Can Make a Difference

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:25:52 +0000

Using the flexible modern design possibilities of old-fashioned concrete is one of the most innovative modern construction techniques. Today’s decorative concrete technology can produce results that are at once amazingly beautiful, completely practical and surprisingly inexpensive.

Home and business owners are no longer limited to the familiar dull gray “concrete” look, because concrete can be stained in a variety of durable and attractive colors and finishes. Decorative concrete mimics the appearance of costly tile, marble or granite, as well as slate and even wood.

Colors can be chosen to match the color scheme of a home, and geometric patterns can be stamped into the concrete. Designs can stenciled on concrete, lending a designer touch to an otherwise utilitarian product. And glass embedded in the concrete during construction yields an interesting effect. Applying a high polish to the concrete will give the same mirror finish as marble or granite.

Decorative concrete is a handsome and long-lasting choice for the new driveway, sidewalk, patio, pool deck or entryway. Consider impressing either natural or geometric designs on a fireplace mantel or surround.

Countertops designed of stamped or colored decorative concrete are useful in the kitchen, bathroom or bar, but are especially popular for use on patios. Weather resistant for years, decorative concrete will create a stunning patio counter and can color coordinate with the surface of the patio. Concrete patio furniture has become increasingly popular in recent years. Maintenance of the concrete patio is a breeze, requiring occasional washing and resealing every few years.

If you want to investigate the many possibilities of decorative concrete for your home or business, consider contacting Lowell Russell Concrete, Inc. in Lakeville, Minnesota, at 952-461-3710 or Request a Quote online. We offer a variety of decorative concrete services, including interior and exterior applications, staining, stenciling and imprinting of concrete.