Racheal – Edmond

Concrete Evaluation
The typical reason for evaluating concrete is that it is somehow damaged—we seldom evaluate the condition of perfect concrete but just accept that it is functioning. So what are we looking for when we go out to evaluate damage? Start by deciding whether the damage is structural or superficial. A large diagonal crack across a concrete beam is serious and means it is time to call an engineer—don’t take on the responsibility of structural work unless you know what you are doing.

If it appears that the concrete structure is not in danger of collapse, evaluate it in a series of steps. The first step is a simple visual examination:

Is the damage local or widespread?
Is the damage superficial or does it go deeper into the concrete matrix?
Is there damaged (corroded) reinforcing steel?
For cracks, are they still moving?
For surface delamination, can you define it as thin scaling or deeper spalling or is it an overlay delamination?

Concrete that is cracked only on the surface, or very thin cracks where each side of the crack is still level (there is no settlement)- can be successfully fixed.
Any patching compound used to patch these other types of cracks will only be a short term fix. You definitely would not want to patch these cracks and then spend money resurfacing the concrete or doing a decorative topping.

1. Redo a bathroom
If you’re planning to upgrade a bathroom, concrete overlays can be used to customize nearly every surface, including the vanity, the sink, the shower enclosure, the floor and even the bathtub. With concrete, you can size and shape elements to fit any space and choose a color scheme that complements or matches your existing décor. Concrete is also waterproof, mold-resistant and low maintenance. See these ideas for using concrete to remodel a bathroom.

2. Renovate a basement
Realtor surveys show that finishing a basement ranks just behind kitchen and bathroom renovations in maximizing the return on the homeowner’s investment, with the payback sometimes exceeding the remodeling expenditure.

3. Replace a wood deck
If you are sick and tired of maintaining that splintering, faded wood deck, why not replace it with a material that will last a lifetime and require little maintenance? Concrete is a superior patio material, both in terms of performance and design versatility.

4. Spice up a kitchen
Kitchens rank at the top of the list when it comes to home renovations, and usually offer the greatest return on your remodeling investment. There are a number of cost-effective ways you can use decorative concrete to change the entire look of a kitchen and improve its functionality. See “Three ways to spice up a kitchen”

Start with custom countertops

The customization possibilities for concrete countertops are endless, allowing you to be as creative as you wish and serve up a one-of-a-kind look. You can design with different shapes, create long seamless runs, vary the thickness, use a multitude of colors, incorporate custom inlays, and more. Get more ideas…

Stir things up with a new floor

If your ugly linoleum tile has seen better days, cover your kitchen floor with a concrete overlay, which you can then stain or dye with a warm, solid hue or a multi-colored design. Concrete can withstand all the wear and tear common to kitchen floors including heavy foot traffic, food and drink spills, and missiles of dropped cutlery. In addition to perking up the entire look of your kitchen, it’ll be the last floor you’ll ever need. See these kitchen floor design options.

Finish it off with a concrete island

If you can’t afford to overlay all your countertops with concrete, consider installing a concrete overlay on your island. Island designs can be separate in any kitchen space, from small to large, and can incorporate built-in cooktops, drainboards, food prep areas, storage cabinets, breakfast bars, and more.

Few remodeling alterations in a home are more coveted than new kitchen countertops. According to a National Kitchen and Bath Association survey, about 94 million linear feet of countertops were installed in homes in 2002, with 58 million (or 62 percent) going into kitchen remodels. And the amount spent on countertops ranks second, just below cabinets, in the kitchen remodeling budgets of US homeowners.

Since the kitchen is the hub of culinary creativity, more homeowners are moving away from the manufactured look of laminates and choosing materials that are as inimitable and timeless as a treasured family recipe. Countertops made from concrete are the latest trend du jour in kitchen interiors. Discriminating homeowners are discovering that this versatile, moldable medium can be handcrafted into a distinctive surface that expresses their individuality, design preferences and even their cooking style. (Note: If you’re open to other materials, you might also want to consider engineered stone and recycled glass countertops.)

“The clients I work with feel that the current crop of countertop choices—granite included—are too ordinary, passé or inadequate to satisfy their particular vision for their kitchen,” says Jeff Girard, founder of FormWorks, Raleigh, N.C., and president of the Concrete Countertop Institute, a training facility offering hands-on instruction in concrete countertop fabrication. Jeff has seen the demand for concrete countertops skyrocket over the past five years, especially among homeowners eager to participate in the creative process. Residential kitchen and bath remodels represent a large portion of his work.

“Concrete countertops are not simply sidewalk slabs slapped onto cabinets,” Jeff explains. “These are carefully crafted, highly engineered slabs that are processed to achieve a high degree of fit and finish.”

A look of distinction

Most concrete countertops are precast in molds built to the customer’s specifications so they can be formed, cured and finished under controlled conditions. However, some fabricators prefer to cast the countertop onsite, setting the mold on top of the base kitchen cabinets and then filling it with concrete. Regardless of the casting method used, these are not cookie-cutter creations. Every casting is custom-made and thus inherently unique.

Concrete countertop makers often develop their own signature looks by using proprietary mix ingredients, casting techniques and surface treatments. Many are artists by trade and will collaborate with homeowners, architects and interior designers on ideas that will add to the character and individuality of the final product. As the photos illustrate, the options for personalizing concrete countertops are endless. Here are just a few of the possibilities:

• Incorporate curves and angles. Customize the color to match another kitchen design element, such as a tile, a swatch of fabric or a favorite piece of china.
• Add sparkle with aggregates or glass chips—even fiber-optic lighting.
• Incorporate personal mementos, such as bits of broken dishware and bottle fragments excavated from the backyard of an old home.
• Integrate built-ins: sinks,, drain boards, soap dishes and trivets are all easily integrated into concrete countertops and, in many cases, are also cast from concrete.

Back to nature

Concrete can be earthy and natural, with a tactile quality not found in synthetic or stainless steel surfaces. Because each concrete countertop is hand-cast, it exhibits subtle variations in color and texture. Concrete countertops can also be adorned with botanical imprints from real leaves or embedded with colorful stones, seashells and even fossils.

The environmental benefits of concrete also appeal to homeowners — especially those who are using eco-friendly cabinet designs. Concrete is an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based synthetic products and nonrenewable natural materials such as quarried stone. Some concrete countertop makers incorporate natural minerals and recycled materials into their creations, such as fly ash (a byproduct of coal production), metal shavings, plastic regrinds, recycled glass and scrap wood chips.

The cost of creativity

Because of the time and craftsmanship required to build a concrete countertop, the price tag can get high depending on the degree of handiwork involved, according to Concrete in the Kitchen, published by The Concrete Network.

“Concrete countertops—like any other custom handmade product—command premium prices,” says Jeff. “They are very labor-intensive to produce, and the quality is entirely dependent on the skill and craftsmanship of the maker.”

But for the homeowner in quest of an artistic, one-of-a-kind countertop that transcends the commonplace, concrete may be well worth the premium.

Re-posted from http://www.hgtvpro.com/