At the Decorative Concrete Experts, we get very busy this time of year and are often asked if we can complete a job before a major holiday. The call volume goes up a week before Spring Break, Easter, and Memorial Day. The problem is that we are generally scheduled out for two to three weeks. Additionally, some pool decks take almost a week to complete. With just about every service that we offer excluding a simple repaint, the deck needs to cure for as much as five to seven days before heavy use. We stay very busy because we do great work at a fair price. If you do have a tight deadline, we will do our best to complete the pool deck in the time alotted, but we can do a better job and work with less stress by scheduling the work well in advance. Don’t get stuck with a contractor that isn’t busy for good reasons. With that said, we have a crew out today on a pool deck repaint that was signed yesterday so that the customer has the area ready for an Easter party next weekend.
As a decorative concrete contractor, I have the opportunity to look at a vast number of pool decks both in plans and in person for remodeling consultations. It is a rare occasion for me to see a pool deck that grabs my attention and makes me want to take a picture so that I can borrow an idea or design. For the most part, pool decks in Orlando, Gainesville, and Ocala are extremely similar in layout and deck surfacing. I would say that most of the pool decks are rectangular in shape and have either a plain acrylic texture coating or pavers installed. There are some features that builders add to make the design visually appealing. Some of these features are landscape beds integrated into the deck and free form pools that take a custom shape. There are a lot of options that can give you a one of a kind pool deck and a back yard oasis that will make people notice.
The first step is finding a concrete contractor and/or pool builder that welcomes custom work. Many pool builders are caught in the trap of selling the same set of plans over and over. If you are building a high end home and are having the pool done a the same time, it can be extremely beneficial to involve your architect in your pool planning. Having a one of a kind pool deck doesn’t have to be extremely expensive. Find a pool contractor that is open to working with a decorative concrete contractor that specializes in more than just basic textures.
At the Decorative Concrete Experts we offer a range of products including acrylic textures, stamped concrete, and a hand troweled StoneCrete surface. The acrylic texture is the most popular type of pool deck surface currently used in central Florida. Many people still call these acrylic textures Kool Deck. Today there are many patterns available to give the deck a unique look. You can visit our decorative acrylic texture page to view some examples of my work.
Stamped concrete is almost non-existent in the Orlando residential pool deck market. This surface has become hugely popular in California, Texas, and Las Vegas, yet it is rarely used on residential properties in central Florida. Simply installing a stamped concrete surface that coordinates with your home will give you the most unique pool deck in your neighborhood. Stamped concrete is a hard product to install and many builders stay away from it because they’ve had a bad experience with someone that didn’t know what they were doing. Click here to see some pictures of our stamped concrete installations. We have the experience and take the time necessary to ensure that you have the best looking stamped concrete available on your pool deck.
Our hand troweled StoneCrete overlay is another surface that isn’t commonly seen on new pool deck construction. This product has the look of natural stone at an affordable price point between acrylic texture and stamped concrete. In addition, this is a great product for remodel work on your older surface. StoneCrete is much easier to work around obstacles than stamped concrete overlays.
If you’re not sure what you are looking for and would like some professional help, contact the Decorative Concrete Experts of Orlando at 407-342-8552. By simply printing out a few pictures that you come across and collecting some color samples that you like, we can work with you to conceive a design that will be truly one of a kind.
The Decorative Concrete Experts of Orlando are your source for professional installation of stamped concrete. When you are looking to add Stamped Concrete to your home or business, it is best to start by looking at the basic construction of the building that the concrete will be accenting. The key to this process is by choosing a surface that will complement the structure, not try to match it. For instance, on a brick home it may be a good choice to implement a brick border on your driveway or walkway but not necessarily install a solid stamped brick pattern. With stamped concrete, incorporating the right color is just as important as choosing the right pattern. Again, the key is not to match but to use hues from the building or complementary tones into the stamping work.
Looking at stamped concrete patterns can be overwhelming. This is where in can be beneficial to talk to a stamped concrete installer. A quality installer will own as many as five or ten popular patterns and will know which ones will work with your project. An installer that owns many sets of stamp mats is serious about this business because these sets are very expensive to purchase. Ask a stamped concrete contractor that you’re meeting with to bring by some common mats that they own to see if any will suit your needs. If the contractor rents his/her stamping mats, it may be best to steer clear.
When the stamped concrete is part of a building remodel or larger landscape project, it can be helpful to get input from the architect or landscape designer. There are lots of online sources for stamped concrete ideas if you are lost. We are a certified installer for Increte Systems and can help you implement any of their products in your project. Increte recommends us for project inquiries in Orlando and surrounding areas. Click here to see Increte’s site for stamped concrete and other decorative finishes. Doing an internet search can be a very valuable source of ideas for your stamped concrete project. The best part is that you can easily print out a copy to show a stamped concrete installer. Now that you are interested in decorative concrete you will probably start to recognize a lot more of it when you least expect it. If you come across some stamped concrete that you really like, take a picture or take note color and pattern. Replicating decorative concrete is made much easier when you have lots of details and pictures available.
There are many great examples of stamped concrete in our theme parks here in Orlando. Stamped concrete is widely used in theme parks for its durability, relative low cost, and ease of maintenance. While visiting the parks keep an eye out for design ideas and which patterns that would work well on your particular project. Contact the Decorative Concrete Experts in Orlando for all of your stamped concrete needs at 407-342-8552.
