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When it comes time to resurface your driveway, you want to make sure to select a reputable Memphis concrete dealer to supply your materials. Quality will make a significant difference in terms of ease of application, appearance, and durability. As such, you don’t want to simply select the dealer with the most affordable concrete; instead, make sure that it is able to meet your requirements and offer the highest-quality products. If, for example, a dealer works with Sundek products, such as Sun Stone or Sun Canvas, you can trust it to have other high-quality materials for sale and installation, like those at SurfaceScapes. In addition to paying attention to the selection, you want to research the company itself.

Licensing and Qualifications

You should always take the time to be sure that a Memphis concrete dealer is licensed to work in your area and has insurance, including both workman’s compensation and liability. In most cases, insurance is a requirement for licensing, but it is still a good idea to check. Remember that hiring an unlicensed contractor or dealer could leave you without any guarantee concerning the work and no built-in method of dealing with permit violations. While checking for licensing, also be sure that your potential concrete dealer and contractor have the necessary qualifications. This means that they should have training and experience working on a project similar to the one you will be hiring them for.

References and Reviews

As with any other product or service you will pay for, your concrete dealer should have positive reviews and be able to provide you with references. Check the dealer’s status with the Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no open complaints. When looking at reviews, pay special attention to how the professional handled any issues that arose during previous projects.

Get a Contract

Finally, you want to make sure that whichever Memphis concrete dealer you choose to go with is willing to sign a contract. This should outline exactly how much you will be paying as well as what those fees will include, such as supplies, labor, and more.

If you are thinking of installing a patio on your property, it is common to wonder whether concrete is a good choice. Installing concrete patios in Memphis will require a bit of upfront investment in terms of time, money, and labor costs, but it is certainly worth the investment. Between low upfront costs, durability, and versatility, concrete will continue to return your initial investment.

Low Upfront Cost

When considering the cost of Memphis concrete patios as opposed to other materials, you will quickly realize that concrete can be fairly affordable. Opting for decorative concrete with a stamped overlay, such as SunStone, could be significantly cheaper than buying and installing a patio made of real stone. Because of today’s technology in the decorative concrete industry including; quick drying sealers, fast setting concrete overlays, and tools that ensure efficiency in application, contractors are able add patterns and customization to concrete more efficiently. All of this results in a quicker project turn around, than with other materials, reducing the labor costs.

Durable

Concrete patios will also be much more durable than other options available, helping protect your investment. Concrete is sturdy enough to withstand weather conditions, and stamped concrete, such as SunStamp, will last significantly longer than masonry or wood patios.

Simple Maintenance

As a further advantage, concrete patios are very easy to maintain. This comes from the entire unit being a solid surface as opposed to a series of paving stones. This eliminates the risk of uneven pavers leading to a tripping hazard and weeds sprouting between stones. In comparison with wooden patios, concrete doesn’t need to be stained and resealed as regularly or run the risk of splinters, wood rot, or termites.

Easy to Change with Resurfacing

A final thing to keep in mind is that changing the appearance of a concrete patio is generally simpler than doing so with another patio material. You can always resurface the concrete in the future, adding a decorative overlay, such as Classic Texture, or changing the color via SunDye. It is even possible to resurface the concrete and add a new stamp to change its appearance dramatically with minimal cost.

While concrete is an incredibly durable material, it will occasionally experience pitting or chipping. When this occurs, the process of fixing concrete in Memphis can be fairly simple with the help of SurfaceScapes and Sundek Products.  In most cases, repairing chips in the concrete will involve filling them in with a concrete repair material and possibly sealing or resurfacing the area.

Check That Repair Is Possible

Before fixing concrete in Memphis, it is essential to ensure that repair is actually an option. Doing repairs is almost always an option unless the damage is severe. Keep in mind that only patching a small area of the concrete surface could give the repaired area a slightly different appearance. You must either be prepared for this difference in color or also talk to your SurfaceScapes representative about applying  a decorative topping over the entire area, such as Classic Texture. If you are unsure about whether your concrete can be repaired or must be replaced, contact SurfaceScapes to evaluate it.

Prepare the Concrete

The first step that your contractor will take in repairing the concrete is to clean off the area that they will be fixing. This means removing oil stains, sealers, wax, and any other potential bond breakers. They will remove all of the loose and broken concrete. In many cases, chips or pits will extend further than initially thought, so if surrounding areas still sound hollow after testing, it’s best to expose the entire damaged area to prevent future repairs. Finally, the installer will thoroughly vacuum and clean the area to remove all dust and any bond breaking material.

Repair the Surface

Your contractor will then use a Sundek patch repair product based on your substrate type and extent of the damage.  An epoxy-based product may be used if the concrete is to be resurfaced with a SunEpoxy product after. Polymer-modified cement patches are another option, and they are typically used when a resurfacing with an overlay like Tuscan.

Once the repair is properly done and has cured completely, the remaining overlay, color and finish system will be applied, depending on the specifics of the project.