The solution was to resurface it with a durable and attractive acrylic topping and add a brick-patterned border to define the edge of the pool and improve the visibility. All rights reserved. The challenge is getting the patch to look as close as possible to the color of the concrete. Then it gets dull again or even starts to haze and whiten. The highlights can be accomplished in a multitude of ways, with release powder being the most common. Knowing how to control the surface from crusting over can certainly go a long way in avoiding this, but some days it just doesn’t seem to matter how hard you try; you still end up with a few cracks on the surface of your concrete. There might even be times that you will need the buffer and acid to get rid of the variations in the color. Resurfacing covers up existing flaws and upgrades the look of your pool by allowing you to add color, texture, and pattern. With the stamped concrete industry still growing every year, the repair techniques for installers are also still evolving. A two-component, polymer modified concrete repair mortar with integral corrosion inhibitor for use in horizontal, form and pour and when mixed to a stiffer Use this mixture to fill in the cracks. Disclaimer: While all the effort has been made to make this service as helpful as possible, this is free service and the author makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness to any information on this website.. Entries for the 2021 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards are now open and accepted through April 19, 2021. B2B platform for fasteners, hardware, tools, components, machinery suppliers, manufacturers, importers,exporters, traders, retailers, distributors, end users Watch this easy-to-understand explanation on repairing spalled concrete, from concrete expert Chris Sullivan. In most cases, this needs to be done every three or four years. This phenomenon, where the sealer is no longer adhered to the concrete, looks a lot like efflorescence from a distance, but on closer inspection is actually more gray or cloudy. REPAIR SPALLED CONCRETE In some large areas, the surface came off completely, down to the aggregate. What makes things worse is that the contractor is refusing to take any responsibility and will not get involved to help figure out what happened. Make sure to have a damp rag with you to clean up any excess slurry in unwanted areas. They provide nice gloss, good color development, and greatly reduce callbacks. As a large portion of the country is starting to defrost from the winter, it’s time to look ahead to the warmer months. Using the ball end of the hammer, start to tap on and around the cracks in a motion that would close up the crack. The holes are patched using a concrete mixture. Here are a few reasons that your concrete surface may have cracks: If you need to fix a crack in your concrete, you can either patch or fill it. ChemMasters, Inc. has introduced SpeedPatch XL, a single component cementitious repair mortar for a wide variety of horizontal, vertical and overhead repairs to concrete substrates. Brokk, a manufacturer of remote-controlled demolition machines, enhances its machine refurbishment and repair, with the addition of its new Demonstration and Service Center in Missouri. 200 copies pressed. Sometimes the release sticks harder in certain spots than others. On a small scale, concrete is fairly easy to work with, but installing an entire patio can be a challenge. 10 Things to do Before the Paving Season Starts. Before the topping could be applied, large cracks in the deck were repaired by stitching and filling them with mortar, and then a swale was installed to help correct a drainage problem. The consumer demand, as well as the skill and craftsmanship of those who install it, are leaps and bounds ahead of where they were just 15 years ago. Instead, this looks like sealer diffusion. Then the concrete is left to cure for several more days. The first thing we need to do is decide if the problem is in the concrete itself or just on the surface. This option can prevent you having to remove your pool deck altogether. Step 2 Power-wash the concrete surface to break apart the sandy finish. Copyright 1999-2021 ConcreteNetwork.com - None of this site may be reproduced without written permission, Discover the best methods for repairing the concrete around your swimming pool, Contact us and view our privacy policy, terms & conditions, and press room, Resurface Existing Concrete with Pool Deck Coatings. The CRACKBOND Concrete Repair and Restoration Product Line - Updated, Testing Concrete With the Maturity Method. You are then left with a stamped slab that has round, discolored spots. It is important to dilute your muriatic acid with water so that you avoid damaging the surface of the concrete. In some instances, it is even more durable than regular, plain concrete surfaces, especially if a dry-shake color hardener has been used. Stamped steel deck shell: Mower deck material: Steel, 12 gauge 0.105 in. Follow the same process described in the blowouts and chips section. It may seem counter-intuitive to the process, but using a ball-peen hammer to get rid of those annoying little cracks.Deco-Crete Supply. 6 Accidental Release Measures 6.1 Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures If the cylinder is leaking, evacuate area of personnel. Resurfaced Concrete Pool Deck Makes a Big Splash. It's easy to pour and build a backyard patio made of concrete in this How To article. Take a small amount of the same color hardener (if you used one) for your base color and run it through a bucket sifter. Case Study: Effectiveness of MCI Surface Protection System in Bridge Preservation Project. If you arrive at the Naval Station, Rota Air Terminal, your sponsor should meet you there after you in-process with getting your orders stamped. There might not be anything you can do to control the weather, but you can learn how to fix some things after the fact. Here are two things you can try next time this happens to you. It may seem counter-intuitive to the process, but using a ball-peen hammer to get rid of those annoying little cracks. Instead, it's probably due to poor installation techniques, poor curing, a bad concrete mix or a combination of all three. Don't Ignore Cracks and Joints Underneath Decorative Overlays, 5 Tips to Optimize Concrete Forming Panel Performance, 2021 Update to Concrete Assessment, Repair and Rehab Guide. Answer: From the picture, it appears that efflorescence may not be the problem. How to Clean an Unsealed Concrete Floor. Consider using a solvent-based acrylic sealer with an 18% to 20% solids content. Water seeks low spots. The concrete should be dry enough to walk on in 48 hours and to ⦠Here are some general guidelines for cleaning and maintaining stamped concrete Cortec’s MCI-2020 Gel is designed to work when proper surface preparation cannot be achieved or is economically undesirable. Virtually any means of getting some contrasting color to stick in the depressions and textured areas of the surface will work. The first is overapplication of the secondary accent color. The deck was poured in August 2005 by a local contractor, who then stamped the concrete in an Ashlar slate pattern using a dry color release. Although there’s not a whole lot you can do to avoid this, they can easily be repaired. Mix the fine powder with water until you have a puddy.Deco-Crete SupplySometimes even the ball-peen hammer can’t fix everything or maybe you missed a few the day after the pour. A 17-in. Set the power washer to a low setting initially and use a fanned tip attachment on the hose. UNDERSTANDING SPALLED CONCRETE Less is more, and this is especially true when sealing decks around pools and hot tubs. Without getting into complex physics, the sealer has lifted (even if only by micro-meters) and it causes the discoloration. Use a sealer with a solids content of less than 20%. Spain: police attempt to arrest a woman for no mask then everyone throws off their mask help the woman BREAKING-NEWS.CA / Q. Decorative concrete expert Chris Sullivan addresses common problems relating to pool decks. In addition to chemical and hard water stains, this indoor hotel pool deck had a rough surface that was unfriendly to bare feet. Another coat of sealer is applied and the concrete looks greatâ¦for a few months. The installers return to acid-etch the project in areas where the release and color hardener did not wash off completely. Question: We have an issue with efflorescence on a stamped concrete pool deck and need your advice. Have you ever considered what secondary color is made of and how it works? I told the contractor that the color was unacceptable and needed to be fixed before the sealing. Apply some antiquing agent after the slab has been cleaned, let it dry for 24 hours, and continue on with resealing. Use less-aggressive stamp patterns. As a former installer and now trainer I’ve seen a lot of stamped concrete both good and bad. Resealing stamped concrete can be a tricky business so make sure you know what you are getting into. Options range from a simple color enhancement to total resurfacing. 175 Likes, 12 Comments - KatherineAnn (@rin_in_nature) on Instagram: “ESF class of 2020 I just graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a…” Another thing it may be is moisture condensation trapped under the sealer. No matter whether you use release powder, stains, washes or tints, you are filling the surface pores of the concrete with solid material. Color variations can be caused by a multitude of different things and once again some of them are out of your control. While we all prefer things to just go as planned during the pouring and stamping process, we do still live in the real world and we all know how unpredictable a concrete project can be. They can be easily peeled off if removed within six months. Cintec first started work on the west block in 1994 when Cintec reinforcement anchors were installed in the south west tower by Public Works based at Plouffe Park Ottawa. Some areas had barely any color while others had too much. If you don't have access to a buffer machine a light muriatic acid wash with some hand scrubbing can also be effective. Despite that, when I wasn't home the contractor went ahead and applied a sealer pigmented with a dark brown stain. This does a great job of removing the existing sealer in a fairly short amount of time without damaging the texture. There is one more thing you can do to solve this problem. Using the ball end of the hammer, start to tap on and around the cracks in a motion that would close up the crack. To fix the problem, I would wait until the winter is over and you get some warmer weather. Finally, a clear coat sealer designed specifically for outdoor stamped concrete is applied. The slabjacking process follows these steps: Some concrete repairs can be done as a DIY, but it is highly recommended to hire a contractor for more complicated tasks. QUIKRETE FASTSet Stucco Patch makes repairs easy, fast and effective. Length: 05:17 These variations can be caused by not applying enough color hardener, improper dosing or mixing of integral color, or sometimes inconstant curing. What is causing the white spots, and what percent of acrylic sealer or type of sealer do you recommend for a stamped pool deck? Surface cracks have always been a battle for the stamped concrete contractor. Moisture-vapor pressure, contamination or over-application of the sealer can cause this problem. Durable but naturally porous unsealed concrete is a common flooring material in basements, garages and work rooms. This will make the concrete look darker or lighter in those areas. run-off. Previous releases includes a classic self-titled album on Corpus Hermeticum and a collaboration LP with Omit on Fusetron. If the sealer holds and does not flake, it may be something else. Imprinted concrete looks pretty bland and unrealistic without highlights or antiquing, which give the pattern definition and color variation. The repair is fairly simple in theory, but more difficult in practice. Had to use the regular pressure washer wand to get dirt out of the cracks and move the dirt off driveway. Antiquing stains can be applied over existing sealer. Resurfacing products are only as good as the subsurface. Maximize concrete form lifetime—and your budget—with these five tips. The only way to permanently fix this is to remove all the old sealer and start over. Before resealing, we cleaned the deck with a mild acid wash, neutralized, and then allowed the sealer to dry. Other popular methods include stains, tints, dyes and colored sealers. https://www.butterfieldcolor.com/blog/stamped-concrete-process If no one is there to meet you, call the Naval Station CDO at 011-34-187-270-203. During the last few decades of significant progress for concrete, today’s most widely used compressive strength standard emerged: the cylinder concrete break tests. The surface was also given a random flagstone pattern created by sawcutting and staining. In my opinion, one of the biggest things that separate high-end decorative contractors from the rest of the pack is the ability to know what can be repaired and how to go about it. In this case, the secondary color makes up almost 100% of the surface color, causing sealer failure. The tips in this article are a great place to start but are certainly not the end of the road. With small patches, using your hand or a small trowel will smooth out the spot. Remember to dilute your muriatic acid with water. Spalling is when your concrete surface starts to chip and flake. The sealer failure can occur within weeks of application, but more often shows up 6 to 12 months down the road. Then mix the fine powder with some water until you have a puddy like consistency. Reviewing some of the common problems with stamped concrete and a few techniques you can try the next time you are faced with a decorative repair and restore challenge. After you’ve washed the release off your concrete grab a ball-peen hammer. If you have lots of "grout" lines and or lots of rough texture, water will puddle in those low areas. There might be times that the end-user has let the sealer completely wear off and some or all the antiquing is gone. Discoloration of concrete pool decks can be due to a number of causes including weathering, sun exposure, improper color application, and attack by pool chemicals. Spain: police attempt to arrest a woman for no mask then everyone throws off their mask help the woman. More detailed instructions can be seen in the following videos: If the color variations are in the concrete itself, more drastic measures will need to be taken. Concrete Decor is a valuable source of information, ideas, product news and training relevant to both commercial and residential work in decorative concrete and related specialties. One of my favorite lines from Jason Geiser is “Never sacrifice texture.” On hot and sunny days this might mean letting some of the details go until after you’re done stamping or even the next day. Once stained, the stamper generally seals the concrete to protect the color. After he washed off the residual dry color from the surface, the deck did not look evenly colored. Poly Fix is a high strength, two-component ultra-low viscosity hybrid polyurethane concrete repair binder. Once the stripping is complete, you can remove any residual secondary color, give the surface a good cleaning, and then allow it to dry before resealing. The Roadware Easy Injection System can make effective structural repairs into 24 inches of concrete or more without pumps or ports. This is usually why we see these types of failures in the spring, after a winter assault of freeze-thaw cycles, deicing salts and snow shovels. Shake antiquing stain before applying to stamped concrete; Apply the stain evenly onto the concrete, the fluid will flow into the crevices and indentations of the surface. This is really an easy fix and it's a better problem to deal with than if the slab was oversealed. Always use a gentle cleaner when washing stamped concrete. Stamped concrete is durable and can last for a long, long time when properly cared for. MCI-2020 Gel Offers Deep-Reaching Solution for Corroding Rebar. You can always add more as you go if needed. For this pool deck makeover, vine designs colored with water-based acrylic stains were used to turn cracks into unique focal points. In the time that I’ve been involved with decorative concrete, we have experienced tremendous growth in the industry. There are many patching and filling products available that make fixing small cracks easy for a homeowner to do themselves. Latest in Repair & Rehabilitation Products. The good news is that in most cases the concrete color can be revived by applying a new coat of acid or water-based stain. In my opinion, the problem is not caused by the contractor's coloring methods. This overlay offers an opportunity to update the decorative appearance of the concrete, as well as cover up any repair work. Be sure to get the patch to look as close to the concrete as possible.Deco-Crete SupplyThis problem could come from the surface drying out too fast or maybe you ended up dragging a stamp or two when you were picking them up. A mid-range to high-end concrete driveway project can range from as low as $12 to as much as $18 per square foot or more, depending on the extra features you choose like several colors, engraving, or hand-applied accents. A good rule to work by is that secondary color should make up 5% to 30% of the final color. Stamped concrete allows you to pave a walkway or driveway to make it look like brick or stone but with the practicality of concrete. The patching process is very similar to filling. Adding stain to stamped concrete is a way to bring out the stamped design even further, emphasizing the details of the design while coloring the concrete to accent the surrounding landscape. The real curve ball is that stamped work with such high ratios of secondary color can look amazing and beautiful. Add clear sealing, and let it dry. A xylene bath (lightly soaking the problem area with a xylene solvent and back rolling) is the first step. Especially in the spring and fall when days are warm, and the nights are cool. If you have never tried this before, you will be pleasantly surprised at how many of those annoying little cracks you can get rid of using just this method alone. We then applied one coat of sealer diluted with xylene followed by a second coat rolled on full strength. Here are the steps to expect when your contractor is resurfacing your pool deck: Tip: Some coatings are formulated to dry quickly, making it possible to give a pool deck a decorative makeover in as little as a day. If you arrive at an off-base location and your sponsor is not there, contact the naval station CDO for assistance. Once the top surface has been breached, it's just a matter of time before the entire top will break apart. Make sure your construction business is ready for the busy season with these tips. As a result, the sealer lifts up in small circular areas and takes the secondary color with it, since the color is all it had to hold onto. If you’ve patched or filled cracks in your concrete pool deck, and are unhappy with the results, you can resurface it with a concrete coating. When your stamped concrete patio is clean and totally dry, you should seal and waterproof it. The deck was poured in August 2005 by a local contractor, who then stamped the concrete in an Ashlar slate pattern using a dry color release. Stamped concrete, like all concrete, will need to be maintained and mother nature will take its toll over the years. 45rpm. The FX-70-6FS fast-set epoxy bottom seal is a three-component, moisture-tolerant epoxy grout designed as part of the FX-70 structural repair and protection system to facilitate same-day filling of underwater fiberglass pile jackets. For concrete with minor cracking or discoloration, you can completely disguise the flaws by engraving or cutting a pattern in the surface. Because the layer below with the stone showing appears to be strong and intact, you have two repair options: totally rip out and replace the slab or remove the top 1 inch and cover the underlying concrete with a stamped overlay. Fix as many cracks as you can the next day with the hammer and only resort to the slurry when you have to. The cleaner will release the dirt that gets trapped in the valleys and crevices of the stamped concrete. Case in point, there might be times that you will need the buffer AND muriatic acid to handle color repair. The challenge here is in the color. Although most concrete stains, color hardeners, integral pigments and other coloring methods are long-lasting and wear-resistant, years of neglect can take a toll. About a month ago, we resealed the deck and now it has white spots (see photo). Remove all objects from the concrete surface that you want to repair and sweep the floor of loose particles and any debris. As the photo clearly illustrates, the top 1/2 to 1 inch of the concrete surface is beginning to come off because the stone, which gives concrete its strength, is pushed down, leaving a weak sandy layer on top. The problem is that you have ticking time bomb, and it is just a matter of time before it explodes. Pool deck repair brings new life to your concrete. How to Prevent, Treat and Remove White Discoloration from Concrete. American Concrete Institute to Offer ACI 562 Repair Code Seminar. Over time the high pressure breaks down the sealer and reduces the protection, the shine and expected life of the sealer. No matter how well stamped concrete is installed, it doesnât meet customer expectations until it has the right sealer applied to it. On this stamped driveway, the secondary tint makes up over 90% of the visible color. That made the deck look even worse, but it isn't my biggest problem. First, prepare and clean the damaged area. To confirm this diagnosis, do a sealer-adhesion scratch test or just lightly scratch the sealer with a key or some other hard blunt-end object. you will need to experiment with the dosage to get the best color match. (See What Type of Pool Deck Overlay Will Stay Cool?). Using something cementitious to patch these little guys up is the only real way to fix them. Concrete Decor, the world's foremost magazine on decorative concrete. In your case, however, the secondary color makes up almost 100% of the surface color. This is not an issue that we have dealt with before, so I am a little concerned. While simple cleaning and maybe even resealing may be done by the end-user, there is still a lot of work out there in the field of stamped concrete restoration. These problems can easily be solved by washing more release off the slab. If things have gotten to a point where there is a heavy buildup of sealer from over-applying. This is the first new K-Group release since 2003, though there was a digital-only album titled "2" in 2015. You will need to treat things differently though when it comes to finishing off the patch. Answer: This is actually one of the most common issues we face with coloring stamped concrete. Because the existing concrete deck had extensive cracking and settlement, the overlay was poured at a 1 ½-inch thickness and reinforced to prevent failure. Decided to buy this for this year and it took half the time. More drastic variations will probably require a stain or overlay. Sealers are responsible for color development, wetting out and highlighting the antiquing release, and providing the âwet lookâ associated with most stamped concrete. This always works best the day after pouring, and keep in mind that after the concrete cures out for a few days this will no longer work. For more information on choosing and applying concrete stains, read these Stained Concrete FAQs. If you used a color hardener for your base color, then simply take a small amount of that same color hardener and run it through a bucket sifter to get rid of the large sand. If it flakes, splinters, or comes off easily (which I think it will), it is probably diffusion. The Canadian Parliament Buildings, (Ottawa, Canada) Cintec West Block Restoration. Use it to hide surface imperfections or to allow metal and wood fixtures to blend in with surrounding masonry and concrete. A cast-in-place concrete overlay, stamped with a fieldstone pattern and a decorative medallion, completely restored this deteriorating concrete pool deck without the need for replacement. Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi. Heat-Radiating Coatings. Answer: Unfortunately, you have a slab of decorative concrete that's in bad shape and beyond easy repair. The winners of the ACI Annual Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards 2020. Things like temperature, sun and shade lines, or getting caught in the rain, as well as a number of other issues, can come up. This should remove the large sand. Tip: Some coating manufacturers sell patch kits, so check with them first. The products best for the job will depend on what part of the country you live in. Sandblasting will remove most or all of the antiquing however and will need to be reapplied before sealing. With color hardener, this is really easy. 2.7 mm: Mower wash port: Yes: Mower drive system: Electric power take-off (PTO) clutch: Mower wheels: Four: Mower wheel adjustment: One bolt: Mower level adjustment: Easy-level deck Some areas had … Make sure to work with your local supplier for the best long-term solution for your area. I did not apply deicing salts, and no water was left lying on the surface. Ten parts water to one part muriatic is a good place to start. First, clean stamped concrete thoroughly. The sealer will encapsulate the solid color in an attempt to do its job, but if there are no pores to fill, adhesion is compromised, which leads to failure when external forces exceed the ability for the sealer to hold. When efflorescence appears, it can be an unsightly problem for your concrete project. Dark colors show everything, especially all the chemical residue from pool water, including chlorine, bromine and salt. Remember to dilute your muriatic acid with water. The small air gap that now exists between the sealer and concrete causes the light to diffuse and create the grayish-white cloudy look. The other benefit of sandblasting is that it opens up the pores on the surface of the concrete just enough to let the new coat of sealer bond even better. low-speed floor buffer with a scrubbing pad works great for pulling off more release. Have you had any major wet weather events in the weeks prior to this occurring? After he washed off the residual dry color from the surface, the deck did not look evenly colored. Jeff Hershberger is a training and store expansion lead for Deco-Crete Supply. Length: 06:08 Pour antiquing stain into a pump-up sprayer. What Type of Pool Deck Overlay Will Stay Cool? More aggressive textures with deep grout lines, lots of deep veins, and rough slate or stone surfaces will accommodate more secondary or antiquing color. The opposite holds true for light textures with smoother surfaces and non-aggressive patterns.