Vicmix

  With nearly 30 years in the Business, Vic Mix in Melbourne knows concrete, from supplying exposed aggregate and decorative concrete to Melbourne and Victoria's communities to undertaking large scale commercial and industrial projects right across the state.At Vic Mix we believe in and envision becoming the most trusted name in concrete products and we strive to become the biggest concrete supplier in Victoria.  

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What You Need to Know About Concrete Adhesion

Concrete is a material composed of cement, aggregate, and water. Several types of adhesives can be employed to repair concrete. Concrete adhesives come in different formulas tailored to the type of material you’re bonding. Options are available for both small home fixes and larger, more advanced jobs. Whether it’s carpet fitting, gluing metal to concrete, or repairing roads, Loctite has the right concrete adhesive for the job.

How Concrete Adhesion Works

Clear the Surface

Remove any loose chips or stones from the surface area where you will be applying the concrete bonding adhesive. Also, make sure that the surface is relatively clean of dirt and debris by using a broom to sweep it away.

Prepare the Adhesive

Shake the container of concrete bonding adhesive vigorously for a couple of minutes before opening it. Then, pour a portion into a separate container and dilute with clean water; mix about one part adhesive with two parts water. The first application will serve as a primer for the final coat.

Prime the Damaged Concrete Surface

Take a paintbrush and apply the watered-down adhesive directly to the cracks or splits in the surface. Allow this to dry for a couple of hours, or according to the instructions included with your product, before continuing.

Apply the Concrete Bonding Adhesive

Once the initial primer layer has dried a bit, you can begin applying the final coat. Use the paintbrush again to apply the bonding adhesive; this time full strength, directly to the damaged concrete. When brushing it on, make sure to use a thick coat for the best results. Refer to the instructions on the container once again, and wait for the prescribed drying time.

Mix and Apply New Cement

If you'll be putting gypsum or finish plaster (instead of cement) on top of the concrete bonding adhesive, you should apply it while the adhesive is still tacky and not yet dry. Otherwise, continue with regular concrete when the appropriate dry time has passed. Follow the directions on your new cement for mixing it, making sure you have a wheelbarrow or a bucket handy. Then, apply it to the top of your bonding solution. Smooth the surface with a trowel and allow it to sit and cure properly.

What Will Concrete Stick To?

Concrete does adhere to wood, though the connection is often not ideal. Many builders use wood panels as forms that concrete is poured into to create a foundation or floor such as a patio with a pavilion finish or an exposed concrete wall. After the concrete is cured and dry, the wood is removed.

If you don’t want concrete to stick to wood, you would need to use a release agent to make removal easier. Lumber mills often pretreat their wood with oil-based blends to make it stick-resistant. If your wood has not already been treated, you may have to purchase a commercial agent and apply it yourself.

Concrete also sticks very well to plastic. Treating plastic with a release agent before coming in contact with concrete is the best way to ensure your plastic buckets and tools remain free of dry concrete.

What Will Concrete Not Stick To?

Concrete does not adhere to:

Concrete: Dried concrete doesn’t have any natural bonding agents, so to get wet concrete to bond to existing concrete, a bonding agent will need to be used.

Moulds: Most concrete moulds are made from urethane rubbers, which are designed to be resistant to concrete bonding.

Paint: Paint is another material that has no natural bonding agents, so concrete generally won’t stick to it very well.

Oil: Oil or oiled surfaces are often used to make the surface resistant to concrete bonding.

Other agents such as glue and mortar.

To promote adhesion, you’ll have to add the bonding agent yourself to get the concrete to work properly. If you’re repairing existing concrete, you’ll need to get the concrete to bind to these materials so that the repair lasts as long as possible.

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Interesting Stuff You Need to Know About Coloured Concrete

Concrete is one of the most versatile construction materials available, and the range of decorative uses is only just starting to be explored. Concrete colouring enables anyone to use concrete in even more interesting and creative ways; letting you add a new dimension to your home or a building project.

Coloured concrete is as versatile and easy to use as conventional concrete, but it comes with an added benefit because it can be coloured to match existing work. It is a material that will help your home or project to melt into the surroundings, or stand out from other properties depending on the colours that you select and the designs that you choose.

Benefits of Coloured Concrete

Flexible

As a mouldable material, concrete provides you with design flexibility that is far greater than that of many other architectural materials. What is more, a range of textural finishes is possible and so you can achieve almost any effect that you can think of.

Colour Consistency

Not only are a wide range of different colours available with extra bespoke options, but coloured concrete is also dyed in such a way that each and every batch produced is the exact same colour so that you can be sure that whatever your design and concrete use is, it will be consistent and look effective.

Fade-resistant

No matter whether you chose to use coloured concrete inside or outside, an added benefit of the material is that it is fade-resistant and weatherproof so the colours will not be lost, no matter how much sunlight or rain it is exposed to. An added benefit is that coloured concrete is permanent and so you will not have to worry about repainting your surfaces- saving you both time and money.

Durable

Concrete is a very durable material that is sure to last for many years with very little to no maintenance required. Therefore, choosing coloured concrete for your flooring, surfaces or other items, will provide you with a permanent and cost-effective solution that will also add a touch of colour to any space in which it is used. Thanks to the durability of this medium, coloured concrete driveways and paths are possible.

Different Methods on How to Colour Concrete

Integral Coloring

This method infuses the colour with the cement mixture, meaning you can only use it as the concrete is being poured and can’t apply it to existing slabs. It works by adding pigment to the mixture before placing it. These pigments come in liquid, granular and powdered forms and are frequently found in earth tones. These colours allow for concrete that blends well with nature. An earthy reddish colour looks more natural in a lush backyard than the utilitarian grey of standard concrete.

Staining Concrete

Staining is a great way to achieve a deeper, richer colour on new or existing concrete. The stains tend to be limited to natural colours, like those found in stones. The stains are acid-based and react chemically with the concrete. This reaction gives the concrete a mottled look and means that the acid needs to be neutralized after application. Stains are UV-stable, meaning they won’t fade when placed in sunlight.

Dyes

If you’re looking for the most vibrant colour possible, dyes are the way to go. You can branch out from the natural and get colours like purple and blue if desired. Common uses include creating patterns and graphics.

Dyes are applied over the top of existing concrete using a sprayer, brush or sponge. They are often acetone- or water-based stains that mix with water or a solvent. Once mixed and applied, the colour penetrates the concrete. Applying more than one layer can create an especially vibrant surface, but you can also mix multiple colours for a unique result.

One downside to dyes is that they are more likely to fade in the sun. Some are more UV-stable than others, and you can potentially use a sealer to protect dyed concrete if placing it outside. Some dyes even have sealer built in that can do double duty. There are many variables to a dye’s fade resistance, so it helps to check with the manufacturer and contractor.

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How to Paint Walls Like a Professional Painter

Learning how to paint a room properly is essential for Do-It-Yourself enthusiasts, new homeowners, and home improvement experts. It is one of the easiest, risk-free, and most affordable home improvement projects that can be done by virtually anybody and if somebody somehow messed up the whole project, it can easily be fixed. 

If you’re planning to renovate your room and add a splash of colour to your boring old concrete wall, there are a few things you need to know on how to do this job properly. You want your paint job to look like it’s been done by a professional, so it’s best to read this article first on how to paint a wall appropriately before you grab your paint roller and dip it in the paint to apply your first coat. 

Things You Will Need

Drop cloth

Bucket

Dishwashing liquid soap

Sponge

Putty

Putty knife 

Fine-grit sandpaper

Microfibre cloth

Painter’s tape

Stepladder

Primer

Latex paint

Paint tray

Medium paintbrush

Paint roller and paintbrush

Painting Walls for Beginners Step by Step

Protect Your Flooring: Place a drop cloth on the floor or carpet. This is to prevent them from getting spattered with paint. 

Clean the Walls: Using a large sponge and a solution of water and mild dishwashing liquid soap, start the process by cleaning your walls to remove any grime, dirt, dust, or grease that accumulated on your walls.

Fix Dents and Holes: Fill any holes and dents in the wall with spackling compound or commonly known as putty and then smooth it with a putty knife. Let them dry then smooth them with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe with a slightly damp cloth to remove any dust.

Apply Painter's Tape: Mask or protect any surfaces next to the walls, such as floorboards, ceilings, windows, and doorframes with painter’s tape. 

Apply the Primer on the Wall: Pour primer into a tray. Pour in enough so that it almost fills the well toward the bottom of the tray without covering the angled portion of the tray where the ridges are. The angle portion is where you wipe the excess paint from your brush or roller. Priming your walls first allows for the richest and most brilliant colour of the paint to shine on your wall. 

Pour Paint Into the Tray: Once you’re done priming the wall, it’s time to prepare your paint. Open the paint and pour some into a paint tray. Dip a medium paintbrush into the paint until the bottom half of the bristles are coated. Let the excess paint drip back into the paint tray before you take the brush to the wall. Starting at the top of the wall, paint a 2 to 3-inch strip next to the painter’s tape. Do the same in all the corners and next to all of the trim.

Wet the Paint Roller: Slightly dampen a paint roller. Glide the roller over the surface of the paint in the tray, then pull it back along the tray’s grate. The roller should be fully saturated but not dripping when you take it to the wall. Release most of the paint by painting a zigzag shape about 3 feet wide. Then roll the roller with up-and-down strokes over the paint. Roll as close to the masked areas as you can to help cover any brush strokes. Move on to the next area of the wall and continue painting in this fashion until the room is done.

Wait for the Paint to Dry: Allow the paint to dry. Apply a second coat if the first did not completely cover the old colour, then allow the walls to dry again.

Remove the Painter's Tape: Peel off the tape while the paint is still wet to avoid accidentally removing any dried paint along with it.

Clean Your Tools: Clean the paintbrush and paint roller well under running water. 

Tips on How to Perfect Your Paint Job

Wait for Dry Weather: When the weather is rainy, the amount of water vapour in the air is high. Because of this, it takes a longer time for fresh paint to dry compared to painting an exposed concrete wall during sunny weather. As much as possible, try to paint when the weather is dry.

Protect Anything You Don't Want to be Painted: You don’t want any of your furniture and hardware from getting spoiled from all the paint drips so be sure to move them out of the room. If that’s not an option, cover these items with a drop cloth. 

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Make Your Own Unique Concrete Planter for Your Lush Plants

If you are a plant enthusiast and you want to jazz up your greenery aesthetic to the next level, maybe you can change your planters (or plant stands) and place all your plants in a pot with a much more sophisticated or quirky design.

Pots can be expensive, and you don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars for them. What if we tell you that you can have beautiful pots and only spend little money?

Yes, we’re talking about making your own DIY planter. And no, we don’t mean making your own terracotta clay pots, we’re talking about making unique pots in various shapes and sizes and what better material to use than concrete?

Not only concrete is flexible and versatile, but it is weather resistant, can withstand extreme temperatures, and is stable. Plus, you can add embellishments to it making it more customized and reflect your own style and personality.

Whether you place your planter in your office or on your patio, keeping some plants in your abode can be refreshing, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing. With this easy-to-follow tutorial on how to make DIY concrete planters with budget-friendly ingredients and supplies, you’ll definitely add colour to your home and even express a little bit of your personality.  

Portland cement: You can choose any type of cement to use to build your planter, but Portland cement is highly recommended because of its finely ground particles that mix easily with water so you can create a smooth result as you cast its shape on a mould for your DIY planter.  

Water: When making concrete, of course, water should always be available. It’s what you use to mix your cement.

Mixing Container: Your mixing container can be a plastic container or a bucket or even a tub where you mix the water and cement together. Make sure that your mixing container is the one that you will dispose right after use.

Mould container: This container is the one that you will use to form the shape of your planter. You can use paper, cardboard, or plastic containers such as milk or food containers. If you want your planter to have a unique shape, you can use other types of containers that have unusual shapes. Make sure these containers are easy to peel off or remove when your cement has dried up.

Plastic container: You need to have another container to form the insides of your planters and use it to fill with dirt and your plant. It’s up to you what size or shapes your plastic container will be as long as it can fit your plant properly.

Placeholder: When you place the plastic cups into the mixing container that is filled with the cement mix, you’ll need something to weigh the cups down and ensure that they form the space for your plant. You can use craft rocks, natural stones, pebble mix, or a shot glass if your planter is small.  

Sandpaper: You’ll use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the formed dried cement and remove any excess cement that is included.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Make a Cement Planter

-Mix cement and water. Follow a ratio of 4 parts Portland cement and 1 part water.

-To form the planter, pour the cement mix halfway through the mould container. Then place the plastic container in the cement mix and add the placeholder to weigh it down. Then cover this with a breathable wrap to allow airflow since you will be waiting for the mix to dry up.

-Let the planter dry overnight to ensure that it’s completely dry. It has to be dry because you will then remove the mould container and the plastic container to reveal the finished shape. If you remove the containers before they completely dried off, it will deform the cement mix and you have to start from the top.

-Once the planter has dried overnight, remove the outside layer, remove all the containers and the placeholder and peel them off slowly to reveal the finished shape.

-Once all the containers are removed, use a sandpaper or sanding block to smooth the edges of the planter. Remove any excess fragments of the planter if there are any.

-Clean the planter well and once that’s done, it’s time to put your plants or succulents into the planter. Make sure to put enough dirt to situate your plants well inside the planter.

-It’s totally up to you how you will design your planter. You can paste beads, stones, or broken mirrors on the exterior part to make it attractive you can paint it and even draw pictures of whatever you like. The choice is yours!

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Effects of Coloured Walls on How We Think

Concrete works wonders. The building material has been present in the construction field for a long time, beginning in the Roman era when concrete was used to build magnificent structures such as the Roman Colosseum. The beauty and splendour of ancient concrete structures as they stand today are testaments of the might of concrete as a building material – its strength, durability, flexibility, and ease of use are unmatched by any other building material in the construction industry.

 In the modern days of construction, concrete is used as a building material in conjunction with other components such as metal rebars, clays, bricks, and cement. These combinations of materials result in plenty of structures from high-rise buildings to beautiful concrete pavers on a suburb’s driveway. Concrete is used in every aspect of construction, and it’s almost rare to see a construction site or building blueprint that does not involve the widely-used construction material.

 One of the best parts of concrete is its flexibility or its ability to be heavily customized while still retaining its key characteristics. This building material can come in the form of plastic stamps that can be used ask concrete pavers on a driveway, or coloured concrete to add brilliance to a structure’s walls. This is a blessing to architects and construction foremen, as it allocates resources and manpower away from some aspects of hands-on painting, and diverts it to other tasks to expedite their construction processes. 

 The use of coloured concretes is prominent in homes as house owners can be highly particular about the design of their living spaces – and this is for a good reason. The desire to customize one’s place of residence stems from the need to design one’s environment according to personal tastes and characters. A homeowner who intends to reside in a house for many years would undoubtedly desire to personalize their living space. And this idea is amplified by the theory that the colour of one’s house – the combination of brilliance, dullness, hues, and shades – can greatly influence one’s emotions and mood. 

 To understand the importance of colour designs in one’s home, let’s look at the effects of colours on human emotions.

 Red

This is renowned as one of the effective colours in grabbing a person’s attention. Red is a colour that stands out and is easy to see even in one’s peripheral vision. Since this hue is also associated with danger such as pain, blood, wounds, and scrapes, the colour red tends to induce a feeling of distress and is effective in inciting reactive emotions. Because of this, the colour red is best placed in fire exits, emergency pathways, and supply cabinets for fire safety devices and medical tools.

 White

The colour of sanctity, purity, cleanliness, and sanitation. A pure white wall may seem empty and lacking in flavour. However, white rooms amplify the subtle designs and colours of furniture, making it the perfect “Blank canvass” shade that goes with almost everything. Many designers, artists, and painters start with a white canvass. 

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Popular Building Materials Worldwide

Buildings in the modern construction era can be made of different materials. So that begs the question, “Which material is better? Which is stronger, longer-lasting, and superior?” Well, the answer to those is, it depends. This also answers the age-old question of what material you should use for your house – it depends. There are so many materials that exist in the world of construction, and they each have their own uses.

 Different parts of a house can be made of different materials. For instance, you can save construction costs by building a shed out of wood instead of concrete. Patterned and shaped glass can be used on the walls of a living room to make it look more decorated. Or if you want a more decorative floor, you can use polished concrete to achieve a marble-like look.

Let’s look at different building materials and what they can be used for.

 Clay

These construction materials can be shaped easily     according to a mason’s desired shape. We can usually see clays as roof     tiles, decorations, and aggregates for concrete. They’re durable and     fire-resistant. However, clay is also known to be brittle and fragile on     its own. Antique potteries are made of the same material. 

 Brick

This construction material is basically hardened clay.     It is when the clay is hardened in a fire kiln and shaped into squares to     be delivered and assembled on site. Bricks are good as materials for walls     because they’re thick and dense enough to block sound, allowing for a     quiet and peaceful interior. Clay bricks are also more durable than normal     clay because of the hardening process they undergo. They don’t warp, rust,     or fade over time. They’re also easier and cheaper to maintain in the long     run, making them a cost-effective material for houses.

Bricks are usually stacked on top of each other and     bonded through cement pastes to keep them from falling over. 

Because bricks are hardened and thickened through heat,     they are generally fire-resistant. This makes them ideal materials for     firewalls. In fact, they’re rated as the best material to prevent the     spread of fires.

 Concrete

This is the most common building material in the field     of construction, engineering, and architecture. Almost anything that we     see in the modern era of building is made majorly of concrete. This includes     bridges, homes, and roads. 

Take a walk around your home. The walls you touch, the     concrete pavers on your garden, and your driveway could be made of     concrete. The city roads are also made of specialized concrete called     asphalt.

Concrete is easier to apply than brick and is more     versatile. It can be formed to construct complex shapes more so than most     other building materials. It has the flexibility of clay and the     durability of brick. They can also be processed to make beautiful polished     concrete or decorative concrete pavers.

Concrete is generally used in walls, foundations, and     in other cases, decorations. For instance, driveways can be installed with     concrete pavers to make them look more decorative. 

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Popular Buildings that You Probably Didn’t Know Were Made of Concrete

You probably know how well-known concrete is in construction. I mean, of course – you see it everywhere. Where there’s construction, there’s concrete. It’s distinguished as the most used building material in the world, after all. But how famous is concrete, actually? Pretty well-known, you might answer. But let me enlighten you – every modern structure that still stands today is established on or made of concrete. The only exceptions are wooden buildings specifically made to stand as wooden buildings or old native structures preserved as relics.

 Try to come up with all non-concrete structures you can think of. Let’s look at the Eiffel Tower, for example. This French architecture withstands a century of exposure, depreciation, and harsh weather. And yet, it stands still.

 “Wait a minute,” you might say. “Isn’t the Eiffel tower made of steel?”

 Yes. The Eiffel tower is indeed made of steel, a non-concrete material. However, the reason why it still stands in its majestic glory through the harsh test of time is what lies beneath its structure – the foundation. The Eiffel tower was built on top of concrete. This solid foundation holds it through harsh trials like two world wars.

 Concrete is a solid material that’s used in almost every construction detail. In the modern age of construction, it’s rare to find a building that doesn’t stand on concrete as a foundation. Let’s take a look at some famous buildings that are made of concrete.

 Sydney Opera House

If     you’re Aussie, you know what this is. This large, intricate structure is     the iconic building of Australia. Almost every tourist magazine that talks     about Australia will have the Sydney Opera house on its page.

The     Sydney Opera House is made of steel frames, polarized glass, and     reinforced concrete straight from the concrete suppliers of     Australia.

The     opera house’s appearance was enhanced by coloured concrete and     skillful architectural design. Concrete suppliers also     supplied decorative concrete to create patterns in     different parts of the opera house.

 Burj Khalifa

Let’s     think high. What’s the tallest building you can think of? Some of you     might think it’s the Liberty Building in New York or the Eiffel Tower in     Paris. If these are your guesses, think higher! If you’ve thought of the     Middle East or Dubai, you’re probably picturing the Burj Khalifa     skyscraper. And you’re right!

Let’s     compare – the Eiffel tower, the tallest structure in France, is around     three hundred meters long. Now double that – nope, Burj Khalifa stands     higher. It has a height of eight hundred meters, and it shies just two     hundred units away from a kilometer.

The     Burj Khalifa stands on a concrete foundation, and its structure is made of     reinforced concrete, steel, and aluminium. Its insides are designed with     various decorative and coloured concretes.

   The Pantheon

This     temple-like structure is the best-preserved building in Rome. It came from     an era where concrete was recently discovered. That means it surpasses the     Roman Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It’s     a structure that’s withstood two thousand years of exposure, weather, and     depreciation. It’s even more impressive because it’s made from raw,     unreinforced concrete and bricks.

The     designs of this structure were hand-made by skilled artisans. It came from     an era where there was no advanced technology to create decorative     concrete or shotcrete.

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The Wonderful Characteristics of Concrete

For a good reason, concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the world, other than brick and steel. Concrete is renowned for its versatility, as it can be fitted into complex shapes in its paste-like form. For the same reason, architects adore this building material because it allows buildings of unorthodox forms to be possible. Concrete can be considered both a practical and artistic material.

Concrete has been around for a long time, and one of the first accounts of its use was by the Roman empire in ancient times. Roman concrete, as it was called back then, was used to construct various structures for the Roman empire, and one of these structures was the roman colosseum. This mighty structure has been around for many centuries, and still stands as a firm architectural wonder. Another example of an ancient concrete structure is The Pantheon. Constructed many years before the Roman era, it still stands today as one of the most preserved structures in the world. In the modern age, concrete makes up the majority of the world’s infrastructures and homes. Even the Eiffel Tower, which is made of steel, stands on a slab of concrete which has helped it stand through years of calamities, wars, and destruction.

To this day, concrete remains the typical building material in nearly all forms of construction. Concrete simply has the most ideal characteristics for construction and architecture.

Here are the common characteristics of concrete that helps it become the best construction material in the world.

 Durability

Building materials can be made to appear cosmetically pleasing, or they could be built to be practical. But one thing all building materials have in common is that they’re sturdy. They are hard enough to withstand collision and hold strong through the harshest physical punishments. A house of rock will always stand longer through harsh weather than a house of sand. And this is exactly what concrete excels at. Concrete is good for walls and floors, and can also be to appear aesthetically pleasing such as polished concrete walls and concrete paver designs.

 Versatility

Before concrete becomes the sturdy wall that we know it to be, it has to be mixed onsite with a combination of cement, water, and aggregate. What comes out of this mixture is an oozy paste that’s rough and malleable. This malleable form is the beauty of concrete. Because of its liquid state, it can be applied to any surface and moulded into different shapes. Once it is left to dry, it starts to harden, and it becomes the tough, heavy-duty material that it’s known for. Concrete can also come in different styles for different purposes such as polished concrete and concrete pavers.

 Price

The cost of concrete is similar to that of brick. However, the most common building material in the world is a few cents cheaper in Australian dollars. And if you’re constructing a house or a building, the difference in cents add up and can save you money in the long run.

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Children at Home? Here’s Some Methods of Cleaning Ink Stains off Your Concrete Wall

Your family home is always a place that you, your spouse, and your children can retreat to when the day is over. That’s why it’s always recommended to keep your home in tip-top shape. After all, it’s always pleasing to drive up to your concrete paver driveway, and walk the distance from your car to your house door. Once you step inside, you’ll be greeted by the familiarity of your home and the comfort of your room. This is what most people look forward to, and is what usually they think about when they’re coming home from work.

 If you have kids at home, you’ve probably encountered problems such as dirty floors, stained walls, and scattered toys. Children love to play with art materials such as pens, crayons, and clays, and residues of these materials can appear on your concrete walls. Your kids may enjoy tracing the lines between your tiles as well.

 While children usually mean no harm when they draw on your walls and are simply enjoying themselves, ink stains can be tough and troublesome to remove. Many homeowners opt to buy expensive cleaning agents to clean tough stains of their walls, but then find that the chemicals have peeled the paint off their surfaces. Others will try to fight the stains with brute force and proceed to aggressively wipe them with soap and water. However, this can take hours, and it doesn’t wipe off the stain completely.

 Homeowners don’t need expensive cleaning materials for their homes to clean tough ink stains off their walls. Most of the time, many stains, including ink, pencil, and crayon marks, can be removed by simply wiping them off with common household materials.

Here are some ways you can clean tough stains off your concrete walls using materials you can find in your kitchen.

 Detergent and Warm Water

One of the reliable methods of cleaning stains off your wall is simply the use of dishwashing detergent and heated water. First, clean off any dust that’s sticking on the stained wall. Next, drench a sponge or cloth with a mixture of warm water and detergent and gently scrub them on your wall. Be careful not to scrub too hard or you’ll damage the pain. If you’d like to stop worrying about your paint in the future, renovate your walls and replace them with decorative or polished concrete.

 Vinegar

Vinegar is one of those household products that can make you question why expensive cleaning materials even exist in the first place. Strong, potent, and reliable, vinegar can efficiently and effectively clean and deodorize your home without the use of chemical-based cleaning agents. It’s also pretty safe and doesn’t cause any sort of poisoning when inhaled or ingested. Vinegar may smell noxious and sour at first, but the smell will defuse when the liquid dries. It’s useful when cleaning the gaps between your concrete pavers as well.

 Salt and Lemon juice

Another effective method of removing tough stains from your walls such as ink, chalk, and crayon marks, is simply to create a mixture of salt and lemon juice. Put a generous amount of lemon juice in a container, and add enough salt to turn the liquid into a paste. After that, rub a generous amount of the mixture into the stains and let it sit for a few minutes. Once you wipe the mixture off, the ink should come right off. You can better see this effect if you’re removing stains from white polished concrete walls.

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Do You Need a Renovation?

Homes don’t stay the same forever. How it looks from the outside and how everything inside is arranged will change. This is often due to the whims of the owner. As human beings change, so do houses. Exterior and interior redecorations, renovations, and redesigns of homes usually reflect a change in the owner’s personality or desires. And these changes can happen as frequently as weekly, or as rare as every decade. Some owners wish to let their house remain as it is, unchanging over many years, simply due to the sentimental value of its appearance.

How about you? Do you think you need a change in your home? It’s okay if you do. Houses are renovated all the time. You can either do a simple re-arrangement of your furniture or a complete overhaul that would require the help of construction companies and concrete suppliers. It’s all up to you.

If you feel like you don’t need a renovation of your house, there’s no need to. However, you might still need to change a few things around your house once in a while simply for maintenance.

Here are a few reasons you would need a renovation for your house.

There are cracks in your walls

Take a look at your concrete walls. Do you see some     large cracks through the paint? These are no good. They’re common signs of     material damage, and they could get worse if they’re left alone. Not just     cracks – pay attention to craters on your polished concrete walls as well. Such craters are usually caused by     impact, such as furniture bumping into it. If you see any serious cracks     in your wall, you should contact a local concrete supplier and have it     checked and repaired. Don’t let them linger. Not only are they signs of     degrading material, but they also provide spaces for insects to live in.     Plus, their cracks are rarely aesthetically appealing.

Infestation

If you find a disturbing number of insects in your     house, and they keep coming back despite consistent extermination efforts,     the problem may be your walls. Insects like to live in small, dark places     where they feel safe, and the temperature is right for them. Good examples     of these are cracks in your walls or holes in your floors. Spaces under     your tile can be culprits too. If they persist after a few dealings with     your exterminator, consider collaborating with a renovator. They will help     you deal with your infestation problem by checking your house’s condition     and pointing out which part needs to be fixed.

Always keep your house clean with or without     extermination. Remember, a polished concrete wall may look     clean, but it can still house insects inside their cracks.

Simply Because You Want To

Do you feel like you’ve undergone a significant change     in your life, and you want to express it in a significant way as well? You     can redesign your house to reflect your newly found perspective. Or maybe     you just want a bit of colour to your concrete pavers. That’s alright! There’s really no reason to do so. Maybe you     want your guests to associate you with creativity, or you just want what’s     best for your house. It doesn’t matter! As long as you come home, step     past your concrete pavers toward your front door, and feel comfortable.

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What Exactly is Concrete Made of?

Concrete is the most common construction material in the world. It’s used to build nearly every structure in the modern world such as skyscrapers, houses, and infrastructure. If you pass by any construction site, they’re very likely to be using concrete. They could be using it to set up the foundations of a building, or installing concrete pavers on a house’s courtyard.

Concrete is a versatile material, and can be used for both construction and design. Decorative concrete, for example, can be used to add patterns on the walls and floors of one’s house. House owners simply need to contact a concrete supplier, order decorative concrete, and have them installed as patterns on walls or concrete pavers on the floors.

While many think that concrete is a complex material, it’s actually very simple. This is one of the beauties of concrete as well. Plenty of complex materials such as steel require many processes to be durable and usable. Steel requires complex materials to process as well, such as metal. On the other hand, concrete requires simple materials that are abundant in supply and easy to find.

Let’s dive in and take a look at the main components that make up concrete.

Cement

·         A binding material. This is the key part of the concrete that binds the whole thing together. Cement can be simply described as a simple powder that’s turned into a gooey paste, applied to a structure, and left to harden. Cement is usually used in construction like a glue, and can be used on its own to create a solid standing structure. However, cement can be brittle and weak when used alone. Usually, aggregates are added to cement to give it more strength. This way, the paste becomes a lot harder, solid, and durable. And this is how concrete is made – when aggregate materials are added to cement to make it stronger. When it comes to the components of concrete, cement is the glue the holds everything together.

Water

·         A part of what makes concrete so simple is that it uses components that are easy to find, and are in abundance. One of these components is water. Liquid is mainly used on powdered cement in order to liquify it and turn it to the gooey paste it is known for. Just add the correct ratio of cement powder to water. The measurement has to be just right. Otherwise, the cement can’t be as gooey, and may be hard to apply. Any type of water may be used to mix cement – even one that’s not drinkable, as long as they’re not brackish or saline.

Aggregate

·         An aggregate is a term for some solid materials that are mixed into cement in order to form concrete. There are two kinds of aggregates – fine and coarse. Fine aggregates are small particles such as sand and ground stones. Coarse aggregates are harder and chunkier materials such as crushed rocks and gravel. Concrete suppliers usually offer concrete with either fine or coarse aggregate depending on the house owner’s preference. 

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Types of Decorative Concrete for Home and Office Renovations

Types of Decorative Concrete for Home and Office Renovations

Whether you are planning to renovate your home or office,  these 3 types of decorative concretes will make your floor and walls look elegant.

 Polished concrete 

Polished Concrete  refers to a very popular and durable finish that resembles polished stone. Polished Concrete is a achieved by grinding away the top few millimeters of the surface to reveal the internal matrix. Progressively finer grades of cutting and polishing are undertaken to achieve the final finish.

Exposed Concrete

Exposed concrete is a very easy and smart way to add value to your house. After placement of the concrete, the top few millimetres of concrete paste are removed from the surface in order to reveal the stone (called: aggregate) embedded within. A sealer is applied to enhance and protect the finished product. 

Coloured Concrete

Coloured Concrete is done using a pigment. The most common pigments are dry powders, however liquids are also used. Fresh concrete is coloured in two ways: INTEGRAL COLOUR: The colourizing pigment is added to the concrete during manufacture. This is the type of colour displayed in this brochure. SURFACE COLOUR: The pigment is added to the surface of fresh concrete only. These pigments often contain hardeners.