Minnesota Concrete Blog » Driveways

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.

Exterior Stained Concrete

admin — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:05:28 +0000

Concrete slabs are very convenient for outdoor living, but until recently, tended to be unattractive. Design issues can now be solved with stained concrete. The stain uses a mild acid solution to etch into the surface of the concrete and react with the lime, which is natural to concrete mixtures. Once the acid does its work, the color penetrates into the surface of the concrete itself. This makes it permanent, and unlike paint, it will never chip off or fade.

The colors available to exterior stained concrete continues to expand. Whereas earth tones and shades of pale blue were previously common, newer dyes now offer tones of red, yellow, purple, and oranges in different shades. The expanding color palette offers the creative spirit many ways to design an ideal look.

Some choose to just stain the entire concrete with one color. But, that is not the only option. You can use these stains to create abstract designs or even recreate logos and works of art on the concrete surface. The possibilities are really endless when you add in stencils and other tools to the mix.

If you are looking for a way to transform the concrete slabs in your life, then look into the concrete staining options available from Lowell Russell Concrete Inc., your Minnesota concrete stain professionals. You will have a masterpiece outside to enhance your walkway, patio, or entrance within a short time.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of stained concrete in Minneapolis 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.

Exterior Stamped Concrete

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:54:56 +0000

Concrete offers many benefits over other building materials, especially when it comes to accenting areas around your home. There is no limit to the uses for concrete, and when you choose exterior stamped concrete, you will be adding beauty and interest to your home and property.

Lower Maintenance
Wood decks rot, but concrete will last forever. When you choose concrete, you won’t have to worry about rebuilding in fifteen years. Concrete patios can last for generations with a small amount of maintenance. Where wood decks should be waterproofed annually to keep them looking their best, concrete only requires a quick sealing coat every few years. Unlike wood, concrete also does not attract insects such as termites, carpenter ants and some bees.

More Stable
A wood deck will only hold a certain amount of weight. But a stamped concrete patio can handle any size hot tub you might want. Concrete is stronger, more stable, and will not get slippery when wet. Concrete also will not leave splinters, and it doesn’t get so hot in the sun that it hurts to walk on.

Possibilities
Exterior stamped concrete is the perfect solution for walkways going into the backyard, or along the driveway. Concrete driveways themselves can be stamped with attractive designs, helping your house stand out more. Wrap around porches are also fun to relax on, and when they are made from stamped concrete, the overall appeal is increased. Pool decks and patios are constant entertaining areas, and stamped concrete is perfect for making them look attractive, unique and interesting. Whatever your need is, exterior stamped concrete can fill it for a reasonable price, and with a look that you are sure to appreciate.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of stamped concrete in Minneapolis 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 Concrete Driveways

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:17:37 +0000

Concrete driveways offer many wonderful and applicable options to the exterior of one’s home. Concrete driveways are durable, look great, are cost effective and can be maintained well.

Most homeowners want the exterior, as well as the interior to look good and that is where a concrete driveway becomes a part of a good-looking home. What makes a concrete driveway an asset for homeowners is its color, texture and a traditional look that not only works well for most homes but highlights the property value of a home.

What some don’t know is that concrete driveways can add an enhanced look to one’s driveway with optional choices that give the appearance of slate, stone or brick. Many designs are available for the homeowner; designs that enhance and upgrade the look of most homes. Browse Lowell Russell Concrete’s photo gallery of concrete driveways for ideas and examples.

What makes concrete driveways an excellent choice for homeowners is its functionality and its many design options. In addition, concrete driveways heighten and enhance the value of one’s property. Concrete also is very durable and can last up to 30 years with little maintenance required.

Once a concrete driveway has been finished, it is advised to apply a high quality sealer on the entire concrete area. This sealer will help protect the concrete from being damaged from thaw and freeze cycles and from absorbing moisture. This is also where it pays to invest in high quality concrete and the experienced workmanship of a contractor.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of Minnesota concrete driveways 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 Concrete Driveways

The Many Uses of Concrete in Your Home or Business

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:24:46 +0000

Concrete is used to pour foundations and walls in buildings and structures around the world, which is a building material made from water, sand, gravel and cement. Approximately six billion tons of concrete are produced every year, and concrete is one of the most durable building materials ever created. Together, steel and concrete can make buildings as high as skyscrapers, but most people don’t realize the elegance and beauty of poured concrete for use around their home or business.

The most popular use of concrete that most people are familiar with is pouring foundations for homes and driveways. Concrete can also be used to create patios in backyards, provide decoration in the form of steps and walkways, lines the outside of swimming pools, and provides the foundation for decks.

Plain concrete is often used for these projects, but a variant called stamped or imprinted concrete is also popular. Stamped concrete is concrete that has been stamped or imprinted with patterns on the surface so as to resemble brick, tile or even wood. Stamped concrete is durable, like plain concrete, and can add a certain elegance to outdoor decor. You can even customize stamped concrete to the pattern that you want, making it easy for home decorators to design the look and feel of their interior and exterior living and work spaces with durable and affordable materials.

If you want to explore the many possibilities of 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 Concrete Driveways

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:11:37 +0000

A finished concrete driveway adds “shine” to a house. Cured out, textured, and stained concrete makes for a premium polish. Durable, easily maintained, and available in an array of colors, patterns, and textures, concrete is a top rate choice for quality driveway material.

Just a short while back, finished driveway materials came in asphalt or concrete, black or white (sometimes gray). Choosing which product to install centered on the cost of initial installation, product life cycle, and personal tastes.

A report by the American Concrete Pavement Association clears up the issue of initial cost and product life span for us (http://www.concreteroads.org/SR992P.pdf). Concrete is a better buy.

So let’s look at taste. Your driveway is the portal to your home. Let it make a good impression. Standard coloring and textures are still available, but there has never been a time of greater choice in concrete driveway applications. The decorative options are astonishing, beautiful, and reasonably priced.

Matching the exterior layout and decor of your home has never been easier. Consider the large array of available texture designs offered by Lowell Russell Concrete:

· Broom finish.
· Stacked bond.
· Basket weave.
· Interlocking.
· Running bond.
· Herringbone.
· Octagon square.
· Clay tile.
· Victorian.

With matching edging, a full crayon-pack of colors, and an easy to use online Exterior Concrete Designer, Lowell Russell Concrete can help you assemble the perfect look for your concrete driveway. And when the vision is fully shaped, Lowell Russell Concrete can also help you put a long lasting, finished “shine” to your home.

Benefits of Concrete Driveways