Don

Steve Kent's October 2006 Newsletter

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Who Says Concrete Has To
Be Ugly and Boring?

By Phoebe Chongchua

      It may not sound like the most decorative alternative, but concrete is becoming a popular choice for homeowners hoping to cut costs while still enjoying pleasing landscape. It is not, though, just any ordinary concrete that's being poured. Decorative/concrete overlay, concrete stamping, and acid staining are alternatives to the use of natural stones.
      While the concept isn't new, it is increasingly becoming more popular due to the expensive cost of real stone. The look of concrete stamping, decorative overlay, and acid staining can mirror stone so convincingly that you might not know one of these alternative methods of décor was used. However, if you have visited a theme park then it's likely that you have seen and walked on concrete stamping or decorative overlay, and acid staining, perhaps thinking it was real stone. These alternative methods transform utilitarian bland concrete into a work of art. The methods are used frequently in large public places and also in homes as a way to perk up otherwise drab concrete by adding texture and color.
      The Style & Advantage: There are numerous patterns and colors that can be used to make concrete look like cobblestone, ceramic tile, a wooden boardwalk, brick, flagstone, and more.
      "It's less expensive. It's more flexible and it can flex with the temperature as the concrete is flexing. Oftentimes with stone it is going to flex at a different rate than the grout and then you end up having little hairline cracks around your stone and over a period of time water will get in there and then it will start to delaminate the stones," says Ken Tyson, licensed contractor and president of Tyson's Inc. His company in Hawaii installs decorative overlay as well as does concrete leveling and repairs.
      Concrete Overlay: Concrete overlay is used on existing concrete to make it look new and fresh. Tyson says, "We're just putting down a quarter inch, sometimes even less, of a polymer-modified concrete."
      To create the effect, a template is used. The concrete is first cleaned with a pressure washer. The area is then inspected. Hairline cracks can be filled with the overlay, but sizable cracks should be repaired first.

A base coat is applied along with adhesive-backed paper stencils, "then we would trowel on or spray on, whichever technique we wanted to achieve a stone-like finish, we would do that over the top of the stencils in multiple colors, giving you random colors just as you would have with real stone."
      After the area dries the stencils are removed, revealing grout lines and a faux-stone finish.
      Decorative Concrete: Stamped or decorative concrete can also be used when the new concrete is being poured to create the same effect as the concrete overlay. "The gray concrete is formed and poured like a normal concrete slab would be," says Tyson. There are several techniques says Tyson. He describes one version. A color hardener powder is applied to the gray concrete using a trowel to make the surface even harder and to transform the grey concrete to a desirable color. The concrete cannot be stamped until it is set because the concrete will need to be walked on in order to stamp it. Concrete patterns are stamped using various stamp mats selected by the homeowner.
      "The stamp mats are in a variety of sizes from 2 by 2 and 60 by 60 and those will have the imprint of the particular pattern that [the homeowner] has chosen and a good place to look at them is," says Tyson. The next stage of the process utilizes a colored-powered release agent that is applied to the wet concrete so that when the stamp mat is used the patterns on the mat drive the color into the wet concrete without sticking to the mat. The next day the stamped colored concrete should be sealed.
      Acid Staining: Acid staining is yet another appealing look that is often combined with concrete stamping. It isn't painting of the new or existing concrete slab, instead it is an actual coloring process. The color is the result of a reaction that occurs when the solution (which consists of water, acid, and inorganic salts) is combined with the minerals that are already present in the concrete. While this décor style is intriguing, a word of caution. Each slab of concrete can provoke a different outcome, so there can be great variations in coloration patterns. With alternatives like these, concrete never has to be boring.

      Home shopping. For first-time homebuyers it's an exciting, albeit nerve-wracking, experience. If you're like others in the market for their first home, you probably have in mind exactly how your soon-to-be home will look. But it's important not to fall into the bad decorating, dingy walls, and dirt-bare back yard equals bad-home trap. If you don't see past the hideous wallpaper, funky light fixtures, and avocado green carpeting, you may miss out on a home with great potential.
      And, if you're looking for a home in a seller's market where homes are being snatched up as soon as they go on the market, you'll come to realize you can't be choosy if you want to make a competitive offer.
      One of the first things to do is to get pre-qualified for a loan and determine the maximum you can afford to offer for a house. Don't look at homes that are asking for more than 5 percent above your maximum, otherwise you'll be setting yourself up for disappointment if you find the perfect - but outside your budget - home.
      So what to do?
      The floor plan of the home is extremely important. If a floor plan isn't quite to your liking, consider rearranging it or adding on. If you're looking at an existing home and will need to remodel or expand to suit your needs, the estimated cost of renovation should play a role in how much you offer.
      Also, consider the features of a home:

Walls. While walls are one of the easiest things to remedy, they also make a huge first impression. If the walls need to be painted, are covered in wallpaper, or are painted a color you find distasteful, picture them crisp and clean in the color of your choice - that's how they could look after you paint them.

Floors. Like walls, carpet or floor surfaces that are old or outdated can be easily replaced. You could even ask for a carpet allowance in your bid, especially if you're in a buyer's market.

View. Things like old, ugly -even dirty - windows and window treatments can make a view appear less desirable. Those things can be improved, so unless the only view you have is of your neighbor's clunker on the side of the house, don't get hung up on what is surely a fixable view.

Landscaping. Your best bet is a moderately

landscaped yard because you can always improve landscaping without spending too much. Worst case, even if you're looking at dirt, landscaping is one of the more feasible projects to tackle. Plus you get to design it however you'd like if you're starting from scratch.

Closets and garages. You can never have too much storage space, which is why so many newer homes have three-car garages. But if you encounter a converted garage that is now a bedroom or storage room, don't give up. Converted garages can almost always go back to their original purpose without much cost or labor.

Kitchen. The most popular room in the house, many homeowners want their kitchen to be large and have modern appliances. Don't let color schemes from the '70s detract you, because there's nothing like a fresh coat (or two) of paint to make a kitchen your own. Plus, if you like the rest of the house enough to make an offer, you can give the kitchen a minor spruce-up with some new appliances, or a major overhaul complete with new countertops, cabinets, and flooring.

The exterior. If the home you're looking at doesn't have good curb appeal, try to picture it with a fresh coat of paint and spruced-up landscaping.

Pools. If you want a pool, buy a home with a pool already built in. The cost of adding a pool starts around $25,000, and paying to add one later will never yield a dollar-for-dollar return on investment. The cost of repairing a pool is less than putting one in, so if you're looking at a home with an old pool that looks like it's in bad shape, it's still a better bet than putting one in later.
When making an offer, bear in mind the things that you can't live without, as well as your budget. Also, be sure you hire a professional home inspector to inspect the house. If the home's systems are in good working order and the house has everything you want except a minor item or two, make an offer accordingly.
Most importantly, keep in mind that unless you're building your dream home from scratch, you'll probably never find the perfect home. But seeing past a previous owner's bad decorating choices to the core of the home and its potential for livability will yield you the home you've always wanted. It may take some work, but hey - it's yours!

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