Category: Decorative Concrete

Stamped Concrete Maintenance

While properly poured and cared for stamped concrete surfaces are built to last, seasonal maintenance is a crucial step to the longevity. Now that the colder weather is behind us it’s time to clean up our patios, pool decks and driveways and welcome the summer months!

Is your concrete surface in need of a reseal? Keep it looking as good as day 1. Take a look at this stamped patio poured 3 years ago. With a fresh coat of sealant, the beauty still holds true. Periodic sealing is the best way to protect your concrete from moisture penetration, staining, freeze-thaw conditions, de-icing chemicals, and abrasion. Get on a maintenance plan with us at Blackwater to properly maintain your decorative concrete annually.

Check out some other useful tips for keeping your concrete surface clean and clear.

Keep the surface free of debris by using a broom, leaf blower, or rinsing with water.
Exterior surfaces can be pressure washed or scrubbed with a mild detergent. For interior surfaces, wet mopping or dry dust mopping of the floor is typically the only routine upkeep needed.
Don’t allow debris to sit for long periods of time on an area of the surface.
There are a variety of ways to remove stubborn stains such as dirt, tire marks, leaf stains, and grease spots. In these cases, water may not be enough. This is when stronger cleaning chemicals or a power washing and scrubbing may be required. Read more about power washing, using chemicals to clean stains, removing oil on concrete.

One of the first patio’s we did 11 years ago. We just re-sealed again, looks like the day we left. Sealer is key!

Custom Stamped Concrete

Consider stamped concrete for your next patio, pool deck or walkway needs. Custom stamped concrete is our most popular request as clients create their desired look and explain their needs, they discover the endless combinations to match any design element. Today you can benefit from the long lasting, low maintenance world of concrete with an attractive, three-dimensional, two-toned appearance. Get the look of wood without the yearly upkeep, create a walkway with dimension from our Ashlar Slate pattern….the combinations of patterns, textures and colors open to your creativity.

Stamped concrete is a system of adding colors, patterns and textures to a plain concrete slab at the time of pouring. The concrete is poured, colored and then imprinted with a stamp to create the appearance you want. Many different textures are available that simulate slate, granite, brick, cobblestone, or even custom designs and imprinted in concrete. Borders can be created for matching or contrasting patterns. You aren’t just limited to flat surfaces, as this technique can also be applied to stairs and ramps.

During our process, once stamping is completed, a protective sealant is applied that allows the new concrete to resist oil, water, mildew, and stains. This protective sealant further improves the overall strength of the concrete and gives the surface visual appeal. Looking for an anti-slip finish? That can be applied as well.

Have more questions on getting started? See our Frequently Asked Questions.

Upgrade to a Concrete Pool Deck

Does your existing pool deck need a face-lift? Upgrade to a concrete pool deck. Wooden decks demand a lot of maintenance to maintain their lifespan. Fading from the sun, splintering, bowing, warping from water damage, loose boards, cracked paint….the list could go on. Yearly power washing, stripping, re-staining, waterproofing, wooden pool decks require endless attention to look nice and function properly. Create an appealing and inviting entertainment area. Pools are a large investment for most households, add to that property value with a well built and custom designed concrete patio.

The design options are endless, from simplistic to patterns and color stains. Make your space your own and eliminate the constant repair and maintenance that your existing pool deck required. With minimal care, a concrete pool deck will withstand the elements and maintain it’s beauty and functionality.

Our team works with you from start to finish. We will assess your current situation and recommend the best plan of action for demolition of any existing deck, to the design and structure of your new space. We help guide you through the best choices for your design wishes and functionality requirements. We don’t get started until we all agree with the direction to head in. Our projects are finished until you have a complete design that meets all your needs!

What makes our day? Getting feedback like this from our happy clients! “Happy holidays! Just wanted to thank you and your team for the great job they did on my house in Luray this summer. We are very pleased with the results and look forward to many years enjoying the pool area together. I’ve attached some Before/After pictures. – Thanks again, Mario”

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

Why Use Concrete Countertops?

Why use concrete countertops? Well, because they are functional and…they just look cool!

There are multiple reasons that make concrete a great material for countertops. Like any of the countertop surface options you’ll have your pros and cons but it comes down to your needs and desired look. Using concrete has many benefits, let’s cover some.

It’s affordable.
You can create custom colors and designs by staining the concrete surface. Make it your own, match your color scheme, glossy or matte, the options are endless!
When sealed properly it’s water and stain resistant.
You can create a mold for nearly any shape you can think of.
You can inlay objects like rocks, shells, sea glass, figurines, coins, etc.
You can stamp it with a design.
Concrete is heat resistant, but it’s still recommended to use caution when placing high heat directly on the surface.
It cleans easily.

Enhance Your Backyard

Enhance your backyard space with designer concrete. If you have a pre-existing surface we can talk about your options. Keep it, build around it, replace it, there’s always a way we can work with what you have. Create a functioning space that you can’t wait to use. Take your time and design the perfect fit. Our design experts will help guide you in the right direction. Think about the colors, patterns, shapes, and uses you would want to see from your new concrete surface. Do you need a patio, a walkway, a pool deck, a social area with a firepit? Do you have an awkward layout and aren’t quite sure how to make it work? Over the years we’ve seen it all and have successfully coordinated every detail, hope and dream with our clients. We hear you out and see it through to the very end…and then some. We are here to make you happy. We love creating new and custom designs from residential to commercial use. If you can dream it, we’ll find a way to build it.

Stamped Concrete Floor in a Rustic Pole Barn

We love hearing from our happy clients!! John K. from Alexandria, VA reached out not too long ago to share some photos of his rustic pole barn and the beautiful stamped concrete floor it now has:

“Just wanted to follow up on the great work you guys did. You exceeded my expectations. The stamped concrete floor in my rustic pole barn looks amazing. (I knew it would look great when I did a site visit to James Charles Winery. Theirs looks great too).” -John K.

We enjoyed this project very much and think it looks amazing!! Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

Stamped Concrete Floor in a Rustic Pole Barn | Blackwater Concrete

Trowel Down Overlay

A Trowel Down overlay has many residential and commercial applications, especially when the client wants a decorative concrete floor with a handcrafted feel. Most commonly, Trowel Down overlays are used for pool decks, patios, steps/stairs, driveways, walkways, garages, floors and walls.

This material is white and can be stained in many different colors to create the look of a old European floor. That’s because a concrete artisan’s trowel marks are as unique as an artist’s brush strokes, causing stains and tinted sealers to react with the coating unevenly, leading to a marbled or mottled look.

Each Trowel Down project is unique. We will work with you to develop the perfect pattern, color, scoring and shapes in the design to create a surface custom tailored to your exact needs. Contact our concrete artisans today!!

trowel down overlay

Custom Concrete Columns That Have ‘Straight-From-The-Earth’ Charm

The expense of custom masonry or rockwork can be prohibitive to many, while affordable alternatives don’t always deliver the durability or look desired. But this is where concrete truly shines.

When you get custom concrete columns designed and installed by the professionals at Blackwater, you will not be disappointed. Our concrete pillars and columns look realistic from every perspective.

Let our sales and design team guide you through our vast selection of column designs and finishes in varying heights and styles so that you get the correct column for your building. In addition, a custom column may be designed to meet your specific needs.

For this recent column project, we chose a lighter color to provide that straight-from-the-earth charm while remaining complementary to the surrounding concrete.

Enhance your curb appeal today!

column

We Love Our Clients!

Here at Blackwater, we love our clients– Nothing makes our day more than hearing just how much they love their new concrete space!

We recently had a client of ours reach out, thanking us for the quick, thorough and professional service they received from our team at Blackwater. As you’ll see in the excerpt below, the weather worked against our schedule, but we were able to go above and beyond for these clients, giving them the patio and walkway they’ve always wanted.

We Love Our Clients! Check out this beautiful custom patio and walkway designed by Blackwater Concrete in Gore, VA.

“Everyone here at Bear Garden Trail in Capon Bridge, WV, wants to tell you how happy we are with the work Blackwater Designer Concrete did for us.

Although the weather worked against your ability to lay the concrete as scheduled, we understood completely. After the walkways and patio were completed the results exceeded our expectations.

It was a pleasure to work with your management and sales staff; their attention was appreciated.

Your construction team was quick, thorough and professional. Great work guys!

Last, but not least, thank you Donna for staying on top of the project and keeping us informed. Your cheerful voice is a valuable asset.”

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We hope you enjoy your new concrete as much as we enjoyed designing it!

capon bridge|testimonial