Our family business serving
Idaho's Magic Valley since 1976
Deocorative Concrete
We have specialized in decorative concrete for a very long time! Bill Brackman was the first concrete contractor in the Magic Valley to perform stamped concrete, and that was back in the 1980's when the "stamps" looked more like cookie cutters! He already had a reputation with his beautiful flatwork finishing, including exposed aggregate. Bill traveled extensively, taking in educational courses on the aspects of decorative concrete. Today, we still are stamping, but the traditional decorative finishes that look like authentic concrete, rather than trying to duplicate a different material, are trending back in, and we're all for it! If you want smooth troweling, colored concrete, exposed aggregate, fine brush finishes, decorative joint patterns, stamping, or stenciling, we can do that!
Exposed Aggregate
This has to be one of our favorites! The reasons we like it are many, and include:
1. It wears well- any glossy surface that is subject to hard water (think sprinklers) will quickly show mineral build-up. Exposed aggregate alleviates some of this, because the surface isn't uniformly glossy, and the cement paste between the rocks allows the hard water to drain off of the surface
2. It is a timeless look that blends in with landscaping, rather than sticking out. If you want a more "natural" look in your landscaping, consider exposed aggregate. It can have integral color in the cement paste, but the aggregate (rocks!) themselves are the main color seen.
3. It is bare-foot friendly. Think of a pool deck on a hot day- the exposed aggregate will suspend your feet from full contact with the surface, giving your bare feet a whole lot more comfort!
4. There are lots of options! If you want a custom decorative aggregate, we can "seed" the top of the fresh concrete with it, allowing custom colors of rock from almost anywhere to be used. Just keep in mind, we would need uniformly sized, 3/8" to 5/8" washed rock.
Brushed Finish
A broomed or brushed finish is a very classic look for exterior concrete; in fact, if nothing else is specified, it's the default exterior finish. And for good reason- it has great traction, durability, and when finished correctly, it looks really good. With hand-tooled joints and an alternating broom, it takes on a subtle "checkerboard" pattern. With an integral earth-tone color, it can blend in with the landscaping nicely. Many concrete finishers believe that this is how concrete is supposed to be done, and they have a point- It's classy looking, and not fussy.
It does blend well with other finishes, such as stamped or exposed aggregate borders and walkways. It is the most practical finish for driveways.
Stamped concrete
Stamped, or patterned, concrete is what many people think of when they think of decorative concrete. It mimics the look of various types of stone, tile, brick, or sometimes weathered wood. When done well, it can be very durable. It is usually sealed with a high-gloss sealer, which we always mix with a high-traction additive, but stamped is still one of the slickest surfaces around, so think carefully if traction will be an issue. The glossy finish is also highly susceptible to hard water staining, so it's usually best to separate stamped concrete from the sprinkler-irrigated lawn with drip-irrigated bed, so that overspray from the sprinklers is mitigated.
Other ideas
There are lots of other things to consider if you want to dress up your new concrete investment! Let us know if you have a specific idea, and we will do our best to apply our knowledge and experience to make it a reality. Take a look at these pictures of some creative things we can do.
