Concrete Maintenance Archives | Neil Sullivan & Sons

How to Stain Concrete to Look Like Wood

Concrete is the optimal construction material, used for a variety of jobs because it’s durable and affordable, the only drawback is that it doesn’t offer the most attractive finish. That said, there are things you can do to get the best of both worlds. This month, Neil Sullivan & Sons are here to share with you some concrete beauty hacks, so you can achieve an attractive finish by painting your concrete to look like wood. Cleaning concrete before painting the surface: Use a degreaser to lift any existing dirt Use a straw brush to remove the dirt Rinse thoroughly with fresh…

How Polish & Dye Can Transform a Concrete Floor

Polish or dye can take a concrete floor to the next level, making it a style statement for any hotel, home, business, office, or showroom. Not only that, but polished concrete is becoming a popular choice to add a touch of elegance to flooring without relying on coatings or wax. All you need is the right equipment and the right know-how; in this article, we explore why you should get this sleek, unique look for your home or business using polishing, dying and engraving. What is Polished Concrete? The process of concrete polishing is simple and involves adding chemical densifiers to…

How Do Weather Conditions Affect Concrete?

The beauty of concrete is that it can be poured in all weathers, though it’s worth being mindful of the effects that certain weathers can have on the concrete’s quality, its pouring ability, and its curing time. In this handy guide, we explore three common weather conditions, how you can expect them to impact concrete activities, and how you can address any issues that arise. Concrete in Cold Weather Pouring concrete in cold weather requires care and attention to avoid the final product being unusable. Low temperatures can affect the speed of chemical reactions that occur in the curing process, and…

Concrete Staining: A Fully Comprehensive Guide

Concrete staining is a type of flooring, which adds character to any area its implemented in, as it can completely transform the look of a dull, concrete floor. A concrete stain adds colour to the floor, as well as producing a beautiful opaque effect. When treating concrete floors and walls with the same method, it’s important to keep in mind that the result will differ slightly from area to area, due to a combination of factors such as: Composition of concrete Age of concrete Surface porosity Texture of concrete Environmental conditions Its distinctive look is often described as ‘vintage’ or ‘unique’…

Concrete Quality Control

For almost every material used in every process around the world, quality is crucial, and concrete is no different. Due to the purposes that concrete serves, it is absolutely vital that you use high-quality mixes – if your house or building is built upon poor foundations, you could be looking at more than inconvenience – the consequences could be dire. Here, the team at Neil Sullivan & Sons will give you the rundown of concrete quality control and why it’s so important. How do you control the ‘quality’ of concrete? Unlike a t shirt, a car or a television, for example,…

Fresh Concrete Tests

To be sure that your concrete is fresh and ready to be used, and you’ve not received or created a batch of poor quality concrete, you can conduct a number of tests. Here, the team at Neil Sullivan & Sons will detail what those tests are and how they work. The slump test As well as checking freshness, this test can also be used to ensure the right amount of water has been added to the mix. This method uses a steel ‘slump’ cone. The cone needs to be placed atop a solid base, and then it is filled with fresh…