Stamped Concrete: Today’s Hottest Value in Functional Building Decor

Stamped Concrete.

Today, stamped concrete is quite possibly the best, most popular way to add value to your home or professional building. What more perfect way to add rich-looking, custom touches to a property while actually saving money? That’s what makes stamped concrete so hot in the world of high performance, decorative building elements.

Endless applications.

That’s also one of the key reasons stamped concrete can be found across such a wide array of project types. A truly versatile application, we frequently see stamped concrete adorning everything from driveways, edging and patios to high-end parking lots, theme parks and malls. In addition to affordability and aesthetic appeal, it also brings the benefits of incredibly low maintenance and long-lasting durability to a project. Add to all of those features one more, fantastic slip resistance, and it’s clear see why stamped concrete is often favored over other materials, particularly in outdoor environments.

Benefits = Value.

What do all of these benefits amount to? One word: VALUE. Looking for an inexpensive way to add curb appeal that attracts top-price buyers? Stamped concrete. Wanting to give a long overdue update that’s highly customizable yet affordable? Stamped concrete. Maybe you need to provide flooring for an activity facility that stands the test of time? Stamped concrete.

Call today for your free consultation!

At Unique-Crete Designs, we’re proud to offer many one-of-a-kind concrete finishing solutions, concrete overlay systems and are certified for Retroplate Concrete Polishing System and HTC Superfloor. We love helping our clients come up with new, creative ways to use stamped and decorative concrete in their homes and commercial projects. Like more information for your own special project? Contact Unique-Crete Designs at 615-334-0904. We look forward to hearing from you!

For special savings and offers from Unique-Crete, click the link below: http://www.concrete-finishing-nashville.com/

Unique-Crete provides service to the Middle Tennessee area, 

including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield.

7 Reasons Concrete Flooring Is Best for Your Pet

                                              

Concrete, the perfect flooring for pets.                           

Are you a pet parent? If you’re like us, they’re an important part of the family. Of course, there are a few downsides, like muddy paws, occasional accidents, hidden toxicity among household items, and such. That’s why we’re so happy to find easy solutions that minimize or even eliminate those issues. Speaking of which, did you know that concrete is practically the perfect flooring choice for pets? Here’s why:

ONE

• Concrete is pet stain and odor-resistant.

Today’s concrete flooring is typically finished with a protective sealant that not only repels dust, but also odors and pet stains as well.

TWO

• Concrete is durable.

An active pet can generate a high level of traffic that can wreak havoc on more traditional flooring materials. Concrete is one of the longest wearing materials available.

THREE

• Concrete is scratch resistant.

Those claws grow back fast! It can be hard to keep up with your pet’s toenail trimming, and the damage to traditional types of flooring can be pretty brutal. A concrete floor finished with a protective sealant is practically scratchproof!

FOUR

• Concrete is easy-care & easy to clean.

Their hair - it’s everywhere! Not to mention to mention the grass and mud and everything else. Another outstanding characteristic of sealed concrete flooring is the ease of cleanup. Today’s sealants are specially formulated to repel dust, which works equally well on pet dander, etc. All you need to return your floors to clean is a simple swipe with a towel, broom or mop. Voila!

FIVE

• Concrete doesn’t trap pet dander, fleas or mites.

As we just mentioned, sealed concrete floors are designed to repel dust and dirt, That means it won’t collect or trap animal dander within its surface. This is good news for allergy sufferers, or

in the case of dealing with an outbreak of fleas or mites. You’re outta there!

SIX

• Concrete is nontoxic.

Laminates, synthetic carpets, carpet adhesives & padding, engineered wood, flooring adhesives, and certain binders in types of tile can emit VOCs, also known as volatile organic compounds. Some people have very strong reactions to VOCs. Can you imagine how much more your pet, closer to the floor and with lesser lung capacity (especially among particular breeds) is impacted by these VOCs? Good news: concrete floors can be colored with nontoxic pigment stain, which will not release harmful VOCs into the atmosphere for you or your pet to inhale.

SEVEN

• Concrete can be heated.

In a multi-level home, most pets spend the majority of their time on the ground level. As heat rises, ground level floors tend to be markedly cool, and uncomfortable to sit or lie on for any length of time. Radiant heating not only reduces your heating bill, it also keeps your pets cozy and comfortably warm. In fact, you may find yourself wanting to grab a blanket and stretch out on the floor yourself watching tv or for a little snuggle with your furry friends.

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Want more information on concrete flooring for your home?

Contact Unique-Crete Designs. We offer many one-of-a-kind concrete finishing solutions, concrete overlay systems and are manufacturer certified for Retroplate Concrete Polishing System and HTC Superfloor. For more ideas and information, contact  Unique-Crete Designs at 615-334-0904 today, or click HERE to get a free estimate.

For special savings and offers from Unique-Crete, click the link below:

http://www.concrete-finishing-nashville.com/

Unique-Crete provides service to the Middle Tennessee area, including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield.

Stamped Concrete Ideas

Only getting better

By now you’re probably aware that stamped concrete is all the rage. What’s more, it isn’t going anywhere soon. No sir. While decorative concrete may be one of the hottest trends in decorative building and accent materials, it’s no fly-by-night home fashion fad. Using concrete in new, creative and artistic ways to beautifully enhance your home with minimal cost and maximum endurance is an idea that’s only going to get better.  

Ideas, ideas!

So what are you going to do? How will you take advantage of the incredible, affordable benefits of stamped concrete to add value and enjoyment to your home? The possibilities are limitless. With the addition of stamped texture, you can easily add a bold, exotic flair to your space. Looking for something more elegant? Sawcut diamond grooves mix wonderfully with more understated patterns. For added sophistication, frame your space with stamped borders. Choosing a smaller area to stamp, like a walking path instead of a driveway, is a great way to keep costs down. This will allow you the ability to give your home new style points at a much lower price. Continuing the pattern you used on the walking path on stamped borders flanked the driveway or other adjacent area will create a pulled together look, and add serious “pop” to your curb appeal!

For more ideas, contact Unique-Crete Designs

We love helping our clients come up with new ways to use stamped and decorative concrete to beautify their homes and businesses. A family-owned business, we offer many one-of-a-kind concrete finishing solutions, concrete overlay systems and are certified for Retroplate Concrete Polishing System and HTC Superfloor. For a free consultation about your project, contact Unique-Crete Designs at 615-334-0904 today. We look forward to hearing from you!

For special savings and offers from Unique-Crete, click the link below:

http://www.concrete-finishing-nashville.com/

Unique-Crete provides service to the Middle Tennessee area, including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield.

6 Tips to Help You Choose the Best Concrete Colors

The Best Concrete Colors                                         

You’ve finally decided on your new decorative concrete enhancement for your home, or perhaps your business. You’ve chosen the design and the pattern. It’s going to look great!   Now the only decision remaining to be made is the color. But just how do you choose the best concrete colors for your project?

Color a big decision

It’s true; the decision can be daunting. You want to get it right, because concrete coloring is a much different process than applying paint, and will not be quite as easy to change. Additionally, with so many color options to consider, it gives many people peace of mind to have professional help. At Unique-Crete Designs, we’re here for you every step of the way. Here are some of our top tips to help you choose colors for your decorative concrete project that you’ll love for years to come.

6 TIPS for CHOOSING CONCRETE COLORS

1. Do not expect an exact color match.

A rough rule of thumb is that concrete often dries about two shades lighter than the sample color presented. Factors that impact the depth of the final shade include the cement itself, the aggregate, and weather and atmospheric conditions during application and drying.

2. Stamped Concrete looks best with added contrast color.

A darker antiquing color is typically used to provide depth and highlights. Without this secondary application, a stamped concrete surface tends to look dull and unrealistic.

3. Most sealers darken colors applied topically

Antiquing color and other colorants applied atop the concrete for effect will experience a noticeable darkening. It’s important to consider this when choosing colors in order to avoid an unattractively stark contrast. If choosing an antiquing color lighter than the base, failing to factor in the impact of the sealant can result in an intended contrast color being neutralized to the same shade as the base.

4. Don’t match, “complement”

Aiming to choose a color that perfectly matches the color of a home tends to result in a washed out look that lacks impact. Even worse, with the natural irregularities in final color, an attempt to identically mirror a color will more likely miss the mark. A slight variation in color can be visually unsettling, and often looks like a mistake. Your best choice is to select a color that is an attractively complementary color. Taking a cue from contrasting trim or roof color is always a good  choice.

5. The right color for faux

Are you installing a stamped concrete pattern meant to replicate a natural material like wood or stone? Take your lead from the colors that are found within that item in nature.

6. Color for functionality

A dark color is never recommended on a pool deck or other area where you are likely to walk in bare feet. The sun’s heat is absorbed by darker and reflected by lighter hues, so your toes will be a lot more comfortable on something not much darker than sand. By contrast, darker shades are an excellent choice for areas like concrete driveways and garage floors that would benefit from stain-camouflaging effect of a darker hue.

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Unique-Crete Designs

Provides service to the Middle Tennessee area, including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield. A family-owned business, we offer many one-of-a-kind concrete finishing solutions, concrete overlay systems and much more. We are certified for Retroplate Concrete Polishing System and HTC Superfloor. For more ideas about how to create a stunning custom concrete pool deck of your own without the high-end price tag, contact  Unique-Crete Designs at 615-334-0904 today, or click HERE to get a free estimate.

For special savings and offers from Unique-Crete, click the link below:

http://www.concrete-finishing-nashville.com/

Unique, Artistic Concrete Countertops

Concrete for countertops is catching on.

People are beginning to catch on to the idea of using concrete for countertops. Slowly, but steadily, the trend is building momentum. From a practicality standpoint, it makes perfect sense. Concrete is incredibly durable, not to mention affordable. And today, concrete has the ability to dress up with a mirror-like high gloss finish, dress down in a beautifully basic, more natural look, and spread it artistic wings with staining, stamping, and a whole gamut of artistic expressions!

Stylish and savvy designers have been using unadorned concrete countertops in urban industrial styled spaces for quite some time. Simple buffing and sealing is all that’s required for this look. But now, with the addition of pigments, stains, forms, and special finishes, it seems there’s nothing the once humble concrete countertop can’t do. From amazing wood grain and swirling-veined stone replicas to charming old world looks and one-of-a-kind artistic creations, concrete is quickly becoming one of today’s surface material superheros.

There was a time when concrete countertops were relegated to the either the wealthy or to enterprising diy-ers, but no more. Concrete has gained acceptance and popularity as the countertop medium of choice. At Unique Crete Designs, we are experts at helping you express your unique individuality in your home decor with versatile, affordable concrete - no matter what your style aesthetic.

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Unique-Crete Designs

Provides service to the Middle Tennessee area, including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield. A family-owned business, we offer many one-of-a-kind concrete finishing solutions, concrete overlay systems and are certified for Retroplate Concrete Polishing System and HTC Superfloor. For more ideas about how to create a unique, artistic concrete countertop of your own for superior beauty and performance without the high-end price tag, contact  Unique-Crete Designs at 615-334-0904 today, or click HERE to get a free estimate.

For special savings and offers from Unique-Crete, click the link below:

http://www.concrete-finishing-nashville.com/

Stained & Colored Concrete for Pool Decks

Cruisin’

Don’t you love the way a richly colored pool deck makes the water look bluer, more inviting, and more luxurious? It evokes the feeling of stepping on board an elegant cruise ship, where you’ll be attended to by dashing servers bearing sterling trays. So beautiful!

Concrete: the traditional pool deck champion

When it comes to your pool deck, concrete has always been the champion of materials for the performance and durability you need. But lately, decorative concrete products and applications have catapulted the concrete used for your pool deck from a dependable utilitarian material to an artistic medium, capable of achieving innumerable stunning designs.

Many decorative options available

It’s true that the addition of color or stain to your concrete pool deck will reap dramatic results. The contrast brings a new depth and interest to your outdoor space that gives it distinction. You could also choose to add other decorative concrete applications, like stenciling and stamping to further express your unique taste. Pool deck medallions and monograms are popular as well, reinforcing corporate identity or a cherished family crest or initial.

Favorite colors for pool decks

The image shown above features a deep tobacco colored concrete which has also been augmented with a topical stain washing, giving it a lustrous leather-like feel. The architectural pool coping is done in a contrasting natural slate texture and color, giving it an authentic look that instantly add interest. A variety of attractive shades are available for your custom concrete pool deck. Some of our favorites include sun-soaked earth tones, deep pewter blues and charcoals, and the more traditional and soothing sandy beige and white combinations. Color matching is often possible as well.

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Unique-Crete Designs

Provides service to the Middle Tennessee area, including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Clarksville and Springfield. A family-owned business, we offer many one-of-a-kind concrete finishing solutions, concrete overlay systems and much more. We are certified for Retroplate Concrete Polishing System and HTC Superfloor. For more ideas about how to create a stunning custom concrete pool deck of your own without the high-end price tag, contact  Unique-Crete Designs at 615-334-0904 today, or click HERE to get a free estimate.

For special savings and offers from Unique-Crete, click the link below:

http://www.concrete-finishing-nashville.com/