We are living in interesting times. The Coronavirus or covid-19 epidemic has dramatically changed the world in a very short time. This has resulted in an effort to contain the virus through social distancing and other means to minimize the spread of the pandemic.

If you, like me, are spending more time at home, either by choice or self-isolation or just practical social distancing you may find yourself wondering what to do.

While I have seen many silly videos of what people are doing while spending time at home I want to help you to focus on some of the things that you have wanted to do but have been putting them off because you are too busy or at work all the time.

Home maintenance and getting those jobs done while spending lots of time at home will help stave off the boredom and will keep you in shape. Getting outdoors in your garden and working on your house instead of vegetating indoors and binge-watching Netflix or movies and eating junk food will keep you healthy! Vitamin D is an excellent source of building up your immune system, so make sure you do stuff outside!

This is where we can help, our work is outside, we can come and do a free onsite assessment of your situation and help you get your project completed.

We do things like cleaning and sealing. Just as in the photo above we can clean and seal driveways, sandstone, and all types of concrete. We can also apply a coloured sealer as you can see from the gallery photos. Then we can also restore your concrete by fixing concrete cracks and putting on a decorative concrete overlay. Then, we can also do a flake epoxy floor for your garage.

If your business is closed and in much need of some work on the property, please call us, we can turn an eyesore into something aesthetically pleasing.

Whether it’s your driveway you want cleaned and sealed or resurfaced, or your house surrounds and paths, patio or entertainment area, we can help you to get those things done that you want to get done.

Make the most of the opportunity and do whatever you can to help your neighbour and your community get through this crisis.

High in durability and low in environmental impact, concrete is the perfect flooring material for sustainable living

Building homes that are green and environmentally friendly has become the mantra for more and more builders and homeowners, as they discover how easy it can be to attain all the benefits of sustainable construction without sacrificing aesthetics or breaking the budget. In fact, going green often saves money, especially over time, while being kinder to planet Earth.

Decorative concrete flooring is a perfect example of this synergy of beauty, sustainability and economy, giving you a durable, low-maintenance floor that will last the life of your home. Concrete floors, when left exposed, conserve resources by functioning both as a foundation slab and finished floor.

This eliminates the need for carpeting and other floor coverings that would eventually require replacement. In addition to conserving materials, concrete flooring offers many other environmental benefits, such as contributing to better energy efficiency and improving indoor air quality. These are the most compelling reasons to go green with decorative concrete floors.

Design versatility

Typically, interior concrete floor slabs have been hidden under other flooring materials such as carpet, hardwood, vinyl or ceramic tile. But why waste resources and money to add another layer of flooring when you can simply leave the concrete exposed?

Decorative techniques such as colouring, staining, stamping, stencilling and polishing give you unlimited design versatility, allowing you to create floors that mimic more traditional materials, such as tile or slate, or custom design a look that’s totally unique.

If you’re concerned about the toxicity of the products used to colour, stain and seal concrete, you now have more environmentally friendly options available. Although some concrete sealers and coatings are still solvent-based, many products today are available in low-odour, nontoxic versions that won’t affect indoor air quality.

Durability and resource conservation

When properly installed and sealed, a decorative concrete floor should last a lifetime and will never need replacement.

Few flooring materials can boast this same longevity. Carpet, tile and even wood floors eventually need replacement, which uses up resources and creates waste disposal problems. If you stick with a neutral colour palette for your concrete floor, it will easily accommodate any future changes to your interior décor.

Concrete floors also utilize sustainable materials. The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth. Your ready-mix supplier can also make concrete using waste byproducts, which reduces the consumption of raw materials. Fly ash, slag cement and silica fume, all waste byproducts from power plants, steel mills and other manufacturing facilities, are commonly used as partial cement replacements.

Decorative concrete floors can also incorporate recycled products, such as crushed glass, bits of recycled plastic, marble chips, metal shavings and even seashells.

Finally, in the highly unlikely event that your concrete floor ever needs to be replaced, the concrete itself can also be recycled at the end of its long service life.

Another way concrete floors minimize waste: The fresh concrete that goes into a floor slab is manufactured at a local ready-mix plant in the quantities needed for each project. This also saves on the energy required to transport a factory-made product such as tile or carpet from the plant, to the distributor and eventually to your home.

Energy efficiency

Because of their thermal mass and ability to retain heat, concrete floors are ideal for passive solar home designs. When homes are built to take advantage of solar radiation entering through windows in the winter months, concrete floors will absorb the heat from the direct sunlight and release the stored heat as needed at night to keep rooms warmer. Conversely in the summer and in hot climates, concrete floors shielded from the sun will stay cool longer and can actually help lower air-conditioning costs.

Concrete floors are also ideal for use with energy-efficient in-floor heating systems. With radiant heating, coils heated by electricity or hot water are embedded in concrete floors, warming the floor itself to deliver clean, even heat.

The Healthy House Institute says that with radiant heating, people can be comfortable at lower temperatures than with forced-air heating, helping to rein in utility bills. Another benefit: When homes are heated with in-floor radiant heating, no air is being blown around, as with forced-air systems, so no dust or dirt gets recirculated into the air.

Economy

An exposed concrete floor is often an economical alternative to other finish solutions such as hardwood flooring and tile. For new residential construction or commercial projects with site-cast concrete floor slabs, choosing to leave the concrete floors exposed can save big money over the life of the building.

For instance, you don’t have to buy and install an additional floor covering to put on top of the floor slab. In addition, the durability and low maintenance needs of concrete flooring will save you the recurring maintenance and replacement costs associated with less-enduring flooring materials, such as carpet and vinyl tile. In a typical home environment, decorative concrete floors are very low-maintenance, requiring only periodic sweeping or wet mopping.

The answer to this question is – yes! A concrete sealer is essential for protecting surfaces from the elements, stains from dirt, oil and other contaminants, and much more.

So, if you’ve just installed new concrete, whatever kind, make sure it gets sealed before it gets unsightly marks or stains that are permanent.

No matter what kind of concrete, a good sealer will keep it looking spectacular for many years to come while extending its service life. Even if the surface begins to show wear after years of exposure to traffic and the environment, you can often keep it looking its best with a good clean and a fresh sealer application.

Sealing your outdoor concrete

Sealing outdoor concrete surfaces is an essential part of hardscape maintenance. A concrete sealer is a lot like car wax – many people go without it and then regret it when the paint peels. Sealer may not seem necessary at first, but after a few weeks or months of exposure to weather and use concrete can become discoloured, stained and ugly.

There are many kinds of sealers, therefore we advise talking to an expert about the finish you wish to achieve.

A water-based penetrating sealer, such as silanes, siloxanes, silicates and siliconates, penetrate into the concrete to form a chemical barrier that shields against moisture penetration and contaminants. Usually, they provide invisible protection without changing the surface appearance, and most products are breathable, allowing moisture vapour to escape. They are most commonly used outdoors since they provide excellent protection against harsh exposure conditions.

Applications

A penetrating sealer is your best choice if your goal is to:

• Protect exterior concrete surfaces subject to corrosion
• Obtain a natural, matte finish
• Provide invisible protection without changing the surface appearance or leaving a sheen

For driveways and walkways where good traction is important, a penetrating sealer is a better choice than a film-forming product, such as an acrylic or polyurethane because a penetrating sealer does not leave a glossy film, it will not contribute to the slipperiness of the concrete surface.

How to apply a sealer

If you like DIY then its a straightforward job and you can use:

• a low-pressure, high-volume sprayer
• a pump-up garden-type sprayer
• a roller

For your outdoor concrete a penetrating concrete sealer is usually better than a film-forming product for safety reasons, but also because the end result will last longer and looks more realistic and natural, especially when sealing stamped concrete.

We recommend that all types of exterior concrete should be sealed including plain concrete, stamped concrete, stained concrete, integrally coloured concrete, exposed aggregate, stencilled concrete, engraved concrete and overlays.

Each surface lends itself to unique needs when it comes to applying the right sealer. For more information, call us to discuss.

Today we finished an epoxy flake floor for a double garage for a customer in Southport. The finish that was chosen is ironstone, a popular choice for homeowners looking to transform their garage with an epoxy coating.

The process began by cleaning and priming the floor, repairing cracks, removing pin holes and sink backs. We then apply two coats of epoxy, apply the paint flecks and seal it with a high-quality urethane.

In this blog, we will also cover the basic steps on how we apply an epoxy floor. This should not be treated as the only acceptable procedure for applying an epoxy floor, applicators have their various methods and processes, what works for them.

Every flooring project is different. Conditions prevailing in each situation (substrate, temperatures, humidity and needs of end-user) differ significantly from project to project.

The first step is the preparation of the surface. The purpose of surface preparation is to provide a clean surface with the proper mechanical grit that allows both mechanical and chemical bonding. There are different methods recommended such as grinding or shot blasting. When applying thin coats you should use a less aggressive method.

The second step is to vacuum and clean the surface from all the dust. If the dust is not collected, this will lead to debris getting trapped in the coating. Furthermore, bonding between the epoxy and the substrate will be weakened.

The third step is the application of the primer. If you are dealing with areas that rising dampness we recommend that you use a high-quality water-based epoxy primer. Priming is a very important step that should not be overlooked. Priming enables the penetration of the substrate so that the floor is ready to accept the new epoxy coating. Furthermore, the use of primer helps to seal the floor and reduces the chances of bubbling. If the substrate absorbs all the primer, we recommend that a second coat is applied.

The fourth step is to close all the cracks and fill all the holes that are present.

Step five involves applying the base coat (or base coats). Depending on the epoxy floor being applied you may have one base coat, several layers or in some cases the base coat is skipped and just a topcoat is applied. In multi-storey car parks, we tend to apply an intermediate elastic waterproofing layer before applying the topcoat.

One of the benefits of applying a base coat is to get a better feel for the floor and to get an idea of how the final floor will look like. The base coat can bring out any existing anomalies or uneven spots. This is a crucial step before applying the topcoat and corrections will no longer be possible.

The sixth step involves applying the topcoat. Depending on the floor system in question, the topcoat can be either an epoxy coat or a self-levelling floor. If you need a fast curing floor we recommend a polyurea or polyaspartic coat.

The job is easily finished in two days, can hold light foot traffic in 24 hours, and cars can drive into the garage after the solution has cured for seven days.

All up, it makes a massive difference to improving the look and value of your home. If you are wanting to transform your floors, speak to the experts, call Barefoot Concrete today and we will come and give you a free no obligation quote.

Polished concrete is without a doubt the hottest market segment in decorative concrete today. It has held that title for the last few years and shows no signs of giving up the number one position any time soon.

The commercial and industrial flooring communities have embraced polished concrete as the new standard when a combination of aesthetics, durability, reduced construction costs, and minimal environmental impact is desired.

Many large retailers have switched to polished concrete as the standard flooring for both new and existing stores. The word on the street from experts from all fields of polished concrete is that there is a common recurring theme – “growth.” The polished concrete industry barely existed 15 years ago. However, today, it now dominates the decorative concrete marketplace, as evidenced by the annual revenue it generates.

What’s more, the growth in the popularity of polished concrete is unlikely to wane, especially as the word spreads about the many benefits of polished floors. Unfortunately, along with this huge market growth comes the lure of easy money. Many installers have ventured into the industry without a true understanding of the market and the large capital investment required. For many, reality soon replaces perception as it becomes evident that polishing concrete requires a high level of concrete expertise, on-the-job experience, and some deep pockets to survive the initial startup.

The biggest mistake installers new to polishing make is to assume that all concrete is a good candidate for polishing. With polishing, the concrete you start with has the biggest impact on what you end up with, and in many cases, the installer has no control in how the concrete is placed and finished.

Learning to read concrete is an art that comes with years of being on the floor behind the machine, a fact often missed by the novice installer.

In recent years, the level of education provided by the supply side of the industry regarding the reality of what it takes to be successful has been increasing. This trend needs to continue, with emphasis not only directed toward the installer side of the business but to end users as well.

In the early 2000s, polished concrete was marketed and sold to designers and owners as a maintenance-free flooring option. But it didn’t take long before many polished floors began showing significant wear and required some level of maintenance to perform as promised. An industry-wide reality check in the mid-2000s brought the marketing side of the industry in line with the true production capabilities of polished concrete floors. It is a testament to the staying power and market acceptance of polished concrete that the industry absorbed those initial failures, changed the marketing focus, developing new products and systems to meet the demands, and hardly missed a beat.

Barefoot Concrete offers polished concrete coating systems that are carried out in a multi-step mechanical process, with or without aggregate exposure. The most popular finish is grinding the concrete surface to expose aggregates or stones in the concrete and showing the natural beauty of the stone.

Polished Concrete Floors are extremely durable, low in maintenance and create a unique and stylish look with maximum protection due to a seamless finish.

There are two types of polished concrete. The first one is called “grind and seal,” which is followed by the application of a topical surface sealer. The second is called “mechanically polished concrete,” where a densification of the concrete surface is carried out during the process. This happens by mechanically polishing the concrete in stages with finer diamond tools, which is then sealed with a penetrating sealer.

Barefoot Concrete uses industrial-grade, water-based, high strength penetrating potassium densifiers which have been specifically formulated to strengthen and harden the concrete. It provides a surface that will be more resistant to wear, chemicals and dusting. Due to the products unique features, it has excellent penetration, good dry and through cure. Our densifiers are suitable for use on concrete surfaces and exposed aggregates, and an excellent choice for polishing concrete. This high-performance product will increase the life of concrete and provide maximum protection.

Polished concrete flooring is used in many environments such as residential, commercial and industrial applications where a long lasting solution to floor maintenance and a hard wearing protection is required. Call us to find out more.

Polished concrete is fast becoming the ultimate no-wax flooring material. Thanks to recent advances in polishing equipment and techniques, Barefoot Concrete is offering to grind concrete floor surfaces, whether new or old, to a high-gloss finish that never needs waxes or coatings.

Factor in the superior durability and performance of concrete, and it’s no wonder why more retail, warehouse, and office facilities are opting for polished concrete flooring as an alternative to marble, granite, tile, linoleum, or coated concrete. Even homeowners are catching on to the appeal of these smooth, high-lustre floors, which can be stained to replicate the look of polished stone.

Because polishing is a multistep process, you can choose the level of sheen – from satin to high-gloss – that meets your maintenance and aesthetic requirements. This versatility makes polished concrete an ideal flooring material for a variety of applications.

Talk to a Barefoot Concrete consultant to give you a complete overview of polished concrete floors, including the benefits, design options, equipment requirements and maintenance needs.

You’ll learn the basic steps in the polishing process, the differences between wet and dry polishing, and the advantages of polished concrete compared with other flooring materials including carpeting, wood, ceramic tile, natural stone, and vinyl tile. You’ll also find the average costs of polished concrete and what factors affect the final price of installing polished concrete floors.

You’ll learn how the contractor prepares concrete surfaces before polishing to ensure good results, as well as why some concrete floors may not be good candidates for polishing. Also, you will discover the difference between the various levels of shine possible with polished concrete, ranging from low gloss to reflective mirror-like finishes.

Plus get popular design options for polished concrete, including colouring with stains and dyes, decorative engraving, and stencilled graphics. Find ideas for achieving interesting decorative effects by applying multiple colours of dye and using faux-finishing techniques.

Finally, you’ll learn how to clean and maintain polished concrete, how to improve the slip-resistance of polished concrete floors, and the environmentally friendly attributes of polished concrete.

Be aware that the process of polishing concrete floors requires a great deal of expertise and the use of specialised heavy-duty polishing machines equipped with diamond-impregnated disks that gradually grind down surfaces to the desired degree of shine and smoothness. Considering the investment in equipment and the skill required, it’s definitely not a project for the do-it-yourselfer. You’ll want to hire a professional concrete polishing contractor to do the work, therefore, contact Barefoot Concrete.

Garage floor coverings can be installed over most concrete garage floors, provided they are properly prepared. Barefoot Concrete recommends that a professional install the epoxy floor rather than DIY.

Before installing any system to your garage floor, it must be clean and free of any debris that may prevent bonding, such as dirt, oil or sealer. Scrub the floor with detergent and a power scrubber. Acid wash with a solution of four parts water to one part acid, then neutralize the surface with a solution of one part ammonia to ten parts water. Work the neutralizer into the surface with a stiff-bristled brush then rinse with a high-powered washer.

Pay special attention to cleaning any cracks that may be on the floor, as they must be dealt with prior to installing your garage floor covering. Small cracks can be filled with a crack repair kit and then scraped level with the floor. If the crack is large, overfill it with the crack repair mortar, then grind the epoxy to floor level after it’s dry. A fast-drying cementitious material can be used to fill in any deteriorated spots or rough areas. For tooled control joints, a thin bead of simple latex caulk can be applied to seal the bottom of the joint. This will provide a smooth joint for your garage floor system, resulting in an easy-to-clean floor. Saw cut or expansion joints can be filled with a polyurethane caulk.

If you suspect your garage floor has moisture issues that will prevent your new flooring system from bonding, there is a simple test you can do. Cut out a square piece of plastic sheeting, approximately 1m. by 1m, and tape all edges of the sheeting to your floor. If water collects on the underside of the plastic, you have moisture vapour transmission and you will need to put down a good vapour barrier before the primer coat. Discuss this option with your installer.

A good garage floor system will consist of a primer, a base coat and a top coat. A primer coat is necessary to ensure a good bond. Apply the primer with a roller according to manufacturer’s directions and allow to dry. When the surface is dry to the touch, apply the epoxy or urethane base coat. Broadcast the colour flakes evenly into the wet base. The flakes can be applied lightly to show the base colour or heavily for increased coverage and durability. Blow or sweep off loose flakes. Scrape the floor using a metal floor scraper to ensure no paint chips are sticking up then blow the floor again. Next seal the system with a finish coat of polyurethane, which is UV resistant and won’t yellow or fade in sunlight. Allow the floor to dry for 48 hours before allowing foot traffic and up to five days for vehicle traffic. Two sealer coats may be required if a full broadcast is applied.

For additional slip resistance, you can add slip resistant aggregates to the finish coat to increase traction and reduce slip-fall issues. The aggregates are available in different sizes, and issues such as climate and the degree of slip resistance desired must be taken into account when choosing the proper additive. Be sure to discuss the options with your contractor and have him or her show you a sample.

You can also frame the floor for a more finished look. The stem walls, those four-inch borders that go around the perimeter of the garage, can be covered with your chosen garage floor system for a cleaner, more finished look. Apply system as you would for any horizontal surface.

Finally, maintaining your garage floor

Maintaining your garage floor coating is simple. For daily maintenance, a soft broom or dust mop works well. For a thorough cleaning, simply wash the floor with a neutral cleaner and follow with a good rinsing.

To eliminate those inevitable tire marks from your garage floor, use a gentle cleaner or any other citrus degreaser. Be sure to check the labels and stay away from anything harsh.

Although garage floor systems are resistant to many substances, they’re not impervious. Certain substances may damage the floor system if left to stand, so it’s important to clean up any spills immediately. Battery acid is especially harmful to finishes and may cause them to bubble; so if your new garage will house golf carts that need to be recharged overnight, make sure to put a plate under the battery compartment. With a little prevention and minimal maintenance, your garage floor system can be enjoyed for years to come.

Not too long ago, garages were all the same: outbuildings that were storage areas for parked cars, with dull and boring grey concrete floors. Today garages have taken a more prominent place in the design of homes, often integrated into the living area and not just to house vehicles, bicycles lawnmowers and tools. Now more than ever, garages are attached to the home.

Garages have graduated from simple storage areas to organised workshops or can be transformed into gaming or playrooms for the kids. Today, every bit of attention that a homeowner pays to decorating their home is paid to the garage as well, right down to what goes on the concrete floors.

The growing trend to customise residential garages seems to have increased, where building design necessitates utilising every m2, including the garage. The cars can park outside and the extra space used in versatile ways.

Blokes also like to spend time with their tools or toys and tinker around the garage as their space. Its no wonder we are spending more time and finding more uses in our garages than just parking the cars.

With the garages being part of the house, where it’s not too uncomfortable to occupy, garages have become more usable in all corners of Australia, in all kinds of weather. As garages became extensions of living spaces, the organisational needs for the garages evolved as well. One of the first steps in customising garages, the addition of custom cabinets and shelving, may have led to the popularity of garage floor epoxy coatings. With homeowners wanting cleaner and more organised garages, they also want to upgrade the floor as well.

Now homeowners no longer have to settle for boring, grey concrete flooring. Their garage floors can be as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of their home.

Garage floor coverings have the versatility to go with any style of décor. Looks can range from simple grey epoxy to a more complex coloured epoxy with multicolour flecks in it.

Colour flakes come in a wide range of colours and are made of acrylic paint chips. This system provides an excellent wear surface that can stand up under walking and driving on
Choosing the design for your garage floor covering can be as simple as matching the colour of your house or as involved as hiding any imperfections or flaws in the existing floor.

If you coat the existing concrete with only a sealer, any imperfections will show through. A coloured epoxy base coat with flakes would cover any imperfections that may exist. If the floor has no aesthetic reasons to choose full coverage, a medium or light paint chip coverage may be chosen for additional design variations.

Barefoot Concrete provides free onsite quotes and has over 40 samples to choose from. Contact us today to find out how we can improve the look of your garage and transform it into a more versatile living area.

Concrete designs are one of the hot new trends for concrete driveways, patios, pool surrounds, concrete floors, entryways, countertops, paths and more. From high-end new homes with elaborate concrete driveways to budgeted one-room remodels showcasing a decorative concrete overlay system or a colour sealed or stained concrete floor, the attraction is continuing to grow when it comes to using decorative concrete resurfacing solutions.

Concrete is no longer plain, grey and boring, it is now thought of as a canvas upon which a beautiful decorative solution can be designed which will greatly increase the aesthetics of your property. Browse the gallery for a selection of photos of projects like these.

Today’s homeowners, builders, and designers recognise the value in using concrete in their designs and plans. Decorative concrete transforms traditional grey concrete into warm natural earth tones or made to look like expensive designer patios or entertainment areas, to name a few.

Decorative concrete lets you decide which colour will naturally blend your indoor/outdoor area to give you the look you desire and at a cost that is less than you think. The advancements in concrete tools, decorative concrete resurfacing, concrete sealing, stains and dyes, textures, and patterns have made concrete the most versatile, durable and cost-effective material on the market to increase the value of your home, to prepare your home for sale, or to just make it look fantastic!

Contact us today to get an idea of how a custom decorative concrete solution can be used in your home or business to appeal to friends, family and neighbours alike. The other articles in this blog provide a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of concrete resurfacing, or just call us to discuss, we are here to help you get the solution you desire.

Concrete resurfacing or concrete overlays, or using Auzzie terminology “covercrete” is a growing trend with homeowners looking to refinish old, worn concrete floors or exterior pavements.

By using today’s high-performance concrete overlays and coatings, you can make worn concrete look like new again or completely upgrade the surface with a new colour scheme and pattern.

In most cases, resurfacing costs much less than concrete removal and replacement, saving you money you can use to upgrade other areas of your home.

Pros and Cons

Concrete flooring has many benefits, compare them to the drawbacks below to determine if concrete is the right option for you.

Advantages:

• Can be designed for any budget
• Unlimited creative options
• Requires little maintenance
• Will last for many years
• Resists moisture and stains when properly sealed
• Pet-friendly
• Increases the appearance and value of the property

Disadvantages:

• Requires occasional resealing (Inspect every two years)
• Can be difficult to patch
• Cracks can develop over time
• Can become slippery when wet if the texture is too smooth

Cost

One of the major benefits of decorative concrete flooring is its affordability when compared to other options, particularly if you already have a concrete slab that’s ready for staining, polishing or application of a coating or overlay.

The cost per square meter for a basic concrete floor is comparable to linoleum, vinyl, carpet or lower-priced ceramic tile. Mid-range designs are comparable to laminate, bamboo, hardwood and more expensive tile. Higher-end designs are about the same as slate, stone, or marble.

If you want to resurface any area of concrete to rejuvenate the appearance of your property, please call us, we will be happy to discuss options and what will work best in the context of your environment.