Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Concrete with Concrete Stain
Do you have a concrete area around your home that could use a little upgrade? Do not assume that your only option is to tear up your patio and build a new one – there may be an easier solution. Concrete stains from Moon Decorative are a simple solution for renewing the appearance of your concrete area without having to start from scratch.
Concrete Entryway DIY Stain
Steps to Apply Concrete Stain
If you have never worked with decorative concrete products before, the task of staining concrete may be more work than you are equipped to handle. In this case, you should consider hiring a concrete contractor recommended by Moon Decorative. If you are an experienced DIY homeowner, however – especially if you have experience with decorative concrete – then you might be able to complete the job yourself. Below you will find a list of basic steps to follow in applying concrete stain:
- Before you begin preparing the concrete for staining, you need to choose the type of concrete stain. Moon Decorative has a wide variety of options, including water-based stains, acid stains, and concrete dye stains.
- Consider a water-based stain if you are applying a new color to a surface that has already been stained. Choose an acid stain if you want to achieve a more mottled color and if the slab is bare and never been stained or sealed. If you want to blend two or more colors, choose a concrete dye stain. The knowledgeable staff at Moon Decorative can help recommend what products are best suited for your project.
- Protect the lower portion of your house and any landscaping adjacent to the area you will be staining with plastic film.
- Prepare the concrete surface by cleaning it with a either a cleaning product, or cleaning process recommended by the Moon Decorative staff. How you prepare the surface will depend on the system you are using. Ensure the surface is completely clean as per the instructions supplied.
- Apply the stain by following all product application instructions. There are many ways to apply the stain for best results, make sure you know these techniques before starting.
- Depending on the outcome desired, you may wish to apply a second color, to create swirls of color for a mottled or marbleized look or to touch up any areas where the first coat didn’t cover.
- Allow the stain to dry for the recommended time period supplied by the product manufacturer.
- Once completely dry, you can then apply a protective sealer following product recommendations.
By following these steps, you can renew your existing concrete slab with new color, and enjoy the benefits of your hard work!
How to Recolor Old and Worn Stamped Concrete
Stamped concrete driveway with edge borders
When you or your clients want to achieve the look and feel of slate, brick, stone, or another rough-textured material, concrete stamping is a great way to do that. Over time, even the most beautiful and best done stamped concrete can lose its color and begin to look faded and unattractive. Recoloring it with concrete colors can quickly revive the look of stamped concrete.
There are few ways to approach recoloring concrete based on your final outcome desired. Some concrete colors are opaque like paint and will hide and color the entire concrete surface, whereas some concrete colors are stains and add translucent color to concrete, and then there is everything in between. Generally, stamped concrete has natural colored highlights and is not one uniform color, therefore a stain should be used to recolor the concrete to achieve a natural rich look.
In order to get concrete stain to work and stick properly you will want to remove any old or existing sealer on the concrete. You will need to use a stripper like Soy Gel natural paint stripper, this will remove your sealer to expose the concrete and allow it to absorb the new stain you will apply. Using a water based SS rainbow stain system will not only provide a full range of colors to choose from, but this stain system is easy to use, eco friendly and ideal for stamped and other concrete surfaces.
SS rainbow stain can be applied by brush, roller or ideally a good quality industrial sprayer. A sprayer will make quick work of applying stain while giving a natural pattern and finish.
After the stain has dried, you will then want to apply a sealer to lock in the color. Sealers are also applied with rollers and brushes but can also be applied with a sprayer.
Regardless of which type of concrete colors are used, it is important to finish with a clear, water-based concrete sealer. This will help to protect the color of the concrete and ensure a long-lasting finish for the design you can then reapply the sealer yearly or every couple of years to maintain the color indefinitely.
Loss of color in stamped concrete is not an uncommon problem, particularly with outdoor concrete. With the use of concrete stain, it is possible to bring back the beauty and vitality to any concrete surface.
Moon Decorative Concrete hosts the Rocky Geans Business School
Moon Decorative is hosting Rocky Geans to teach Construction Business School in Oklahoma City on February 8 & 9th, 2018 at Moon Decorative.
If you are looking for proven growth strategies…
If you are working 80 hours a week and still not making the money you deserve…
If you are wearing every hat and never take a vacation…
If you can’t sleep at night about your company problems…
If you are new to contracting and want to build a solid business from the ground up…
If you are a good contractor but you lack confidence in your business and management skills…
This event is for you. You will enjoy access at one of the lowest industry rates for this two-day event because Moon Decorative is invested in providing training and education to encourage the growth of YOUR business and the growth of the concrete and construction industry.
You will receive a copy of the 250-page reference book produced by Rocky Geans with field-proven strategies you can use to build an even more successful business for yourself.
In a friendly and relaxing atmosphere, you will join 15-25 peers in learning directly from one of the industry’s most recognizable names, faces and personalities.
I attended the Rocky Geans Business School through ASCC several years ago. I could not believe the wealth of information I was given access to and the impact it had on the way I think about my business. Since then, I have recently attended a one-day version to continue pursuing evolution. – Mary Wilson, president of Michel Concrete, Springfield, Ill.
Business owners and high-level managers will understand their companies in a new light and begin to formulate ways they can immediately improve the wins and the rewards for their teams. This school puts you in the seat with several new partners in the industry that you can begin to share a common journey towards evolving a stronger business.
Given the opportunity by the Ohio Concrete Association, I attended the Business School by Rocky Geans and found him to be a dynamic and energetic speaker that held me captive for the entire two days. The pace of the schedule was right in line with my ability to absorb all he had to say. His ability to encourage participation and make this productive through hands-on was a definite advantage. – William Sean Smith, sales manager for MPW Construction Services, Wellington, Ohio
Agenda
- Thursday, February 8th
- 8:00 am – Noon – Business Class Orientation and Session 1
- Noon – 1:00 pm – Lunch
- 1:00 – 5:00 pm – Business Class Session 2
- Friday, February 9th
- 8:00 am – Noon – Business Class Session 3
- Noon – 1:00 pm – Lunch
- 1:00 – 4:30 pm – Business Class Session 4 / Closing Q&A
Beginning Thursday morning, your day will be filled with concepts of business, some familiar and comfortable but most challenging and energizing. Moving in and out of conversation with your presenter and each other, sharing meals and breaks and exploring these concepts you will finish Friday afternoon in time to head back home. You are guaranteed to spend the weekend not being able to wait for Monday and the gates to open on your chance to make a difference in your business.
This is a limited participation event to maximize the hands-on learning made available by Rocky Geans. Moon Decorative has generated this special opportunity and you can be one of the first 25 members to participate exclusively in this event at the rate of only $395. Contact Christine Spretnjak at christine@moondecorative.com or 405.525.2426 to reserve your place at this event immediately. It will fill up quickly.
Employee of the Month, Marisol Blanco
One of our most important employees is Marisol Blanco, and she is our Employee of the Month. No one deserves this more than Marisol. She is our only bilingual employee and an invaluable team member. Marisol is incredibly skilled at offering and translating technical assistance for our diverse customer base.
Going Strong
Eight years ago, Marisol interviewed on a Thursday, was hired on Friday, and started on Monday. We did not want to miss out on this valuable asset to our company! Specifically trained as a technical assistant, she excels at helping customers as soon as they walk in the front door. Marisol’s loyalty and dedication to the job are impeccable; she has rarely missed a day of work! She will step in anywhere she is needed and is often seen helping load customers’ cars with products.
Play
Marisol is a fierce soccer player but doesn’t get to play as much as she used to. Her children—ages 18, 14, 10, and 2—are (as you can imagine) her #1 priority. كازينو عبر الانترنت Marisol’s love and pride for her immediate family are evident anytime they come up in conversation, but she also very close with her extended family and travels several times a year to visit them in Mexico. كيفية اللعب في bet365
Laughs
Some of our biggest laughs in the office are getting Marisol to try new foods, often saying, “Just take a tiny bit,” or “Here, try this; it’s good,” as we extend a fork in her direction. She tends to be a good sport about this, but it takes a lot of coaxing at times. She has, however, learned to eat Italian food and carrot cake. Marisol is an amazing cook; salsa and pozole are her specialties, and she gets us back all the time with the heat of her salsa. “It’s not that hot,” she says, so really, she gets the last laugh. العاب سباق الخيل
If Marisol won the lottery (and we hope she does), she would use it to pay off debt, help her family, and save more money for her kids. That’s Marisol, March’s Employee of the Month. We are both lucky and blessed that she is a team member here at Moon Decorative.
Brickform’s New StampApp
The coolest thing since sliced bread in the decorative concrete industry is Brickform’s new StampApp. This reality app allows contractors to use their iPad or phone to show homeowners on the spot what different patterns and color combinations will look like on location!
With what seems to be an endless selection of colors to chose from as well as patterns, this app allows you to actually see what your selections look like with your home. Contractors can save favorites for homeowners, and help speed up the process of selection and homeowners can actually see what the vision looks like. We often hear from folks that coming to Moon Decorative is a little overwhelming with 30,000 square feet of ideas. Brickform’s new StampApp actually let you see your exact color with your chosen pattern. We have already found it to be an invaluable tool.
The best thing about Brickform’s new StampApp is that it’s FREE to download and use. We would highly recommend you watch this video below:
Once you’ve installed the Brickform StampApp on your tablet or phone, you’ll need to print or request a free image target to make the application work. But that’s easy. Go here to do this. If you want to see it in action, stop in Moon Decorative and we will give you a demo.
OKC Home and Garden Show
A big “Thank You” to all who visited us at the OKC Home and Garden Show in January. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! The beautiful Bennett Event Center was used for the first time since its construction and Moon Decorative’s booth was in this building. What a wonderful new asset to the OKC Fairgrounds.
We had the opportunity to teach 7 accelerated how-to classes on DIY Acid Staining during the course of the show at “The Shed” located in the Centennial Building. Much appreciation to our trainers: Tim Frazier, Rick White and Dave Handy who all did a spectacular job relating to all of those who participated. Our objective was to introduce home owners to the beauty and practicality of decorative concrete, and also translate their experience into confidence with their own creative concrete projects.
We were pleased that we had the ability to connect with so many over the course of the weekend who range from having interest in using decorative concrete in their existing & new houses as well as those who are starting their jobs tomorrow. We entered everyone who stopped by our OKC Home and Garden Show booth into a drawing for a Amazon Tap, and the lucky winner was Kati Saleider of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Her exact words when we called, “I’ve never won ANYTHING! How cool!” We are happy as well.
Moon Decorative will be at the OKC Home + Outdoor Living Show on March 24-26th. Be sure to come out – we’ll be sure to dazzle you in preparation for spring!
Employee of the Month: Christine Spretnjak
She kinda stays under the radar, but she’s an intricate part of our team. Meet this months Employee of the Month, Christine Spretnjak, Director of Community Outreach. Over the past 3 years, Christine’s roles have been morphing. She started out part time helping with some marketing and odds and ends. Since then, she has worked our way into our hearts and is no longer just working odds and ends.
Christine enjoys creating new things with many others including our current beloved contractors and potential contractors and distributors. She has been reaching out to them over the past 6 months exploring, discovering and striving to fulfill their needs. As a result of her research – listening and asking – Moon Decorative is now expanding its offerings to include rebar so that we can fulfill our ideal to become Oklahoma’s Premier Decorative Concrete Supply Center! We would like to extend a convenience to all of our contractors so that they can receive all of their excellent products, services in one place at a competitive price.
This last fall, she coordinated and arranged an outreach class with OKC Vo-Tech schools bringing students here to learn about the field of decorative concrete. In the past she has set up AIA Lunch and Learns for CEU credits. She is also responsible for attending several industry organizations in the OKC area such as the Oklahoma Home Builders Association, Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of Realtors keeping the pulse on the activities that involve decorative concrete. Currently she is taking the reins on getting us involved at several local trade shows, which is pretty detailed and takes a lot of man-hours in planning, as well as execution.
In her spare time, Christine enjoys sleeping and well, dreaming. Can you believe that she’s been studying nighttime dreams for over a decade? If you have a dream that you’d like to share, she’s always game to give feedback!
Often people butcher the pronunciation of Christine’s last name…. Spretnjak (think Spret-n-jack). And just so you know, its Croatian. Christine’s family heritage might be Croatian, but her immediate family is in Chicago, however, she feels at home here in OKC. We are happy that she is part of Moon Decorative’s family. Congrats to Christine, Employee of the month!
TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE to a Dull Finish
By Tim Frazier, Lead Trainer and Technician
DULL FINISH: The trait of not being glossy, i.e. low gloss, flat appearance.
Cause 1: RECOATING TOO FAST – The application of the second coat before the proper recoat time can diminish the gloss of the subsequent coat.
HOW TO AVOID THE PROBLEM – Be certain the preceding coat has sufficiently dried. Press your thumb nail into the coating, and if no mark is left then it is safe to recoat.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM – Lightly roughen the coating and apply another top coat to restore the proper gloss to the surface.
Cause 2: POOR VENTILATION – If proper ventilation is not provided, then solvent may become trapped in the coating and affect gloss.
HOW TO AVOID THE PROBLEM – As soon as the product becomes tack free, provide exhaust ventilation to remove solvent vapors from the area of the coating.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM – Lightly roughen the coating and apply another top coat to restore the proper gloss to the surface.
Never hesitate to give us a call if you are experiencing a dull finish problem. We want your jobs to turn out as planned and sometimes; you just need a little help and a good technician. 888-848-0059
Sealers And Coatings TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE to Air Bubbles
By Tim Frazier, Lead Trainer and Technician
AIR BUBBLES IN THE COATING: Air bubbles may appear in the coating as small defects or honey comb clusters. In nearly all cases, they are caused by air entrapment in the coating or applied film.
Cause 1: OUTGASSING – Air can escape from porous concrete and be trapped in the coating surface.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Apply a suitable primer to seal off the air in the concrete. Usually a low solids high penetrating primer works best.
Cause 2: AIR MOVEMENT – Excessive air movement from vents, doors or other sources may cause flash drying and prevent air release.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Avoid any condition that can generate air movement across the coating.
Cause 3: TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY – Too hot or humid conditions can result in rapid drying and air entrapment.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Wait until the temperature and humidity are within the ranges as needed to properly apply the material.
Cause 4: DIRECT SUNLIGHT – Floors exposed to direct sunlight can accelerate before sufficient air release has occurred, forming bubbles. Sunlight can cause your surface to heat up and have excessive out gassing.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Close all doors where the sunlight could hit the floor, cover windows and coat the areas exposed to possible sunlight before the sunlight hits that area.
Cause 5: IMPROPER MIXING – Do not entrap air into the coating by using fast speed mixing equipment or improper mixing procedures.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Use slow speed mixing equipment with a paddle type blade. If air is embodied or vortexed into the material, let stand until air is visibly released.
Cause 6: ROLLER COVERS – Too short or too long of a nap roller can cause air to be generated into the coating causing air bubbles.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Use the appropriate length nap roller and apply without vigorous rolling. Use an air removal tool to remove air that is entrapped if necessary.
Cause 7: MOISTURE/HIGH HUMIDITY – Some sealers are sensitive to moisture in the concrete or excessively high humidity’s, causing bubbles.
AVOIDING PROBLEM – Make certain that the concrete is properly dried and the humidity is at the recommended levels before applying the coating.
Never hesitate to give us a call if you are experiencing this problem. We want your jobs to turn out as planned and sometimes, you just need a little help and a good technician to give you a hand. 888-848-0059
Durable and Beautiful Shop Floor
When Jordan Lyles, a car enthusiast, came to us looking for a floor coating for his new shop floor, he knew three things: (1) He did not want a chip floor system. (2) He wanted something that would be easy to clean and hold up to the riggers of automotive grime. (3) He did not want a long, drawn-out process and wanted it done fairly quickly. After discussing all his desires, we decided that SS Specialties’ newest product, Water Based 40 Pigmented Epoxy (WE40P), would be the perfect match, along with SS Specialties’ Polyaspartic 70% as the topcoat.
Just letting this floor dry and excited about moving in and using the space. Owner, Jordan Lyles could not be “more happy” with the way it turned out
Of course, all concrete must be prepped properly, and using this system is no exception. Using WE40P as a prime coat eliminated the 24-hour wait for the concrete to dry after using Surf Prep in the preparation stage. ivermectin 12 mg tablet uses in hindi side effects WE40P has the added advantage of its capability to be applied to damp concrete—something not all coatings are formulated for. It also can handle up to 10 pounds of hydrostatic pressure.
Jordan got started in the afternoon on day one on his new shop floor and did the following:
- He used SS Specialties Surf Prep 1-to-1 with water. He sprayed SS Surf Prep on the floor and allowed it to react for about three hours. Then he neutralized with ammonia and water, rinsing the floor thoroughly till all residue was gone.
- He then mixed SS Specialties Water Based 40 Gray Pigmented Epoxy Part A and B in a 5-gallon pail, 2 kits at a time. He rolled this on using a 3/8 nap roller in one direction. Because the WE40P was only used as a prime coat, he averaged 300 square feet per gallon and waited about 6 hours due to the humidity and air temperature.
The next morning, Jordan came in and finished up:
- His final step was rolling out SS Specialties Polyaspartic 70% with SS Color Dispersion White Night Gray pigment pak added, as a topcoat.
The result was a beautiful gray floor with a durable finish done in 2 days and a huge cost savings when compared to a traditional Polyaspartic floor.
We love SS Specialties Polyaspartic; however, the surface must be ground for a proper bond to take place. Using WE40P as the basecoat allows contractors to skip the grinding, which is time consuming and costly. Unfortunately, we hear of contractors thinking that just acid etching the floor in preparation for Polyaspartic is adequate, and this is far from the truth. However, using WE40P as your basecoat does allow acid etching and can be top coated with Polyaspartic. preiswert scabo It’s a nice way to save some money and get a really durable floor, just like Jordan achieved on his new shop floor! dog ivermectin mange reddit