Concrete Overlay - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

PressurePros · 12-05-2006, 10:01 AM

What do you masons (and others) think of concrete overlays? There are some nice looking pictures out there. It appears to be an inexpensive alternative for covering cracked 'crete and hiding foundations.

6stringmason · 12-05-2006, 10:31 AM

I think its great what you can do with concrete. Stamping and acid staining really adds a whole other element to what people naturally think of concrete. Its not just a boring gray slab you park on anymore.

**Cole** · 12-05-2006, 10:40 AM

My brother(Zack) on this forum does it and it looks great!

concretemasonry · 12-05-2006, 11:27 AM

The applications certainly can be attractive.

Make sure you have solved the reason for the cracks. You may be trying to cover someone else's mistakes.

No matter how pretty the floor, it does not take much for them to telegraph through. - It can takes months before they show.

It takes a special type of contractor that can spend the time and trouble with a critical homeowner with high expectations. You have to build in a lot of extras for the unknowns. - Same reason some contractors will not touch a custom home and will build spec homes instead.

POOLMANinCT · 12-05-2006, 01:42 PM

I have just added concrete overlays to the renovation surfaces.

I have two installers that i sub the work to, each uses a different product.

1. a proprietary blend of polymer & cement. I feel this has a "cartoony" look, it is either a stenciled & "shot/sprayed" application.

2. guy # 2 does an acid stain looks fantastic.

I think it really comes down to the installer my guy #1 is an old school mason, is asssisted by his 75 yr old father. I enjoy watching them work, as his pop barks at him in Italian. These guys are the real deal, you know the type.

guy #2 does the acid stain, work has been good but not great.

this brings us back to the aforemententions "installer/prep", why are you resurfacing? Like anything else it is all prep work.

this is going to be a great service, perfect fit for renovation.

long story short, when a deck is old/ugly i call the "acid stain guy", when a deck is showing signs of failure i call the mason & his dad.

In the pool biz we call patios decks.

btw , in the mid 80s "chatahochi" (epoxy & pebble deck topping) was
big in this area. WHen i run into these, again i call the mason & his dad, as the need to be ground to the decking.

back to original point, both applications when done right are durable, new england weather tolerant and look great.

ray in ct

lukachuki · 12-05-2006, 06:19 PM

I am in the hardscaping/masonry business and would like to learn how to do this as has been mentioned it is a great solution in certain situations. Anyone point me in a direction to begin the learning process? I would like to learn how acid stain/stamp concrete overlay. As of right now we acid/stamp new concrete but not the thin overlay, but I could think of many times when it would save us a tearout, or be an option of that ugly patio.

Thanks

tkle · 12-06-2006, 10:30 AM

Bob Harris' book on the subject is worth the read,though it is not complete.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4858469
http://www.decorativeconcreteforums....php?forum_id=5
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concr...ep_by_step.htm