SureCrete’s WallSpray is a popular choice for coating and protecting the eps foam of ICF block homes, walls, and buildings. The reason for the this is the speed, strength, and LEED point opportunities of this hybrid stucco. WallSpray is a cementitious coating which is self-bonding, spray able, 35% post consumer recycled content and can create maximum impact resistance at thicknesses as thin as 1/4 inch. WallSpray can create textures such as: smooth plaster, classic knockdown, stipple, sand finish, Venetian plaster, and Tuscon. Below you will see a few of the techniques being used with great success!

Location: Sacramento, California

Application: Casa Bella Verde - IntegraSpec ICF Block Wall & Home

Products Used: WallSpray, Custom Base Color Pack, Eco-Stain (Burnt Crimson), SureSeal Super WB (low voc wb acrylic sealer)

Finish: Venetian Plaster

To create this environmentally friendly smooth wall plaster finish, WallSpray was sprayed directly onto the IntegraSpec ICF block. The ICF block was not rasped, only the yellow residue brushed off the ICF block. The reason for this time saving technique is due to WallSprays ability to be used at varying thicknesses. The ability to spray from 1 inch thick to zero is a fantastic attribute to this ICF smooth wall plaster finish. The process for creating the exterior wall plaster finish on this IntegraSpec ICF home are these 4 simples steps.

1. WallSpray was sprayed out of a Graco RTX1500 at about 1/8″ and a 4 ounce fiberglass mesh was troweled into the wet cement based hybrid stucco.
2. The base coat was allowed to cure to an even moisture level overnight and harden. The 2nd coat of WallSpray was tinted with a custom color pack and sprayed onto the wall at about 1/8″ and troweled with 2 passes to smooth material.
3. Eco-Stain, a water based zero VOC concrete stain, was sprayed onto the wall with a HVLP gun and troweled into the wet WallSpray.
4. The next morning SureSeal Super WB was sprayed onto the cured wall to finish the waterproofing system for the exterior of this ICF block home.

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Application: Concrete Block Home

Products Used: WallSpray, Standard Color Pack, Eco-Stain (Espresso), SureSeal Super 20 (solvent acrylic sealer)

Finish: Tuscon Finish

WallSpray was sprayed directly onto the concrete block home in Lubbock, Texas. 806 Concrete worked with the custom home builder to create a Tuscon finish to compliment the colors of the natural stone theme. The process was accomplished in 4 steps:

1. WallSpray was tinted with a standard SureCrete Color Pack and sprayed out of a drywall hopper gun at about 1/16″.
2. The base coat was allowed to cure to an even moisture level and then the 2nd coat of WallSpray was tinted with a standard color pack and sprayed onto the wall at about 1/8″ and troweled with 2 passes to smooth material.
3. Eco-Stain, a water based zero VOC concrete stain, was sprayed onto the wall with a HVLP gun and troweled into the wet WallSpray.
4. The next morning SureSeal Super 20 was sprayed onto the cured wall to finish the waterproofing system for the exterior of this ICF block home.

Location: Castle Rock, Colorado

Project: Eco-Friendly “GREEN” Decorative Concrete Floor System

Installation by: Double Diamond Homes

Material Supplier: Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Total Sq Ft: 1,200  sq ft

Products Used: SureCrete Micro-Topping (trowel down), Eco-Stain, Water Based Polyurethane

When choosing a Eco-friendly “GREEN” flooring system for your home or office in the greater Colorado area you may want to look to Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They carry the latest in concrete product technology for contractors and Do-It-Yourself homeowners who are looking to apply Eco-friendly “GREEN” decorative concrete systems. One company out of Colorado Springs, Double Diamond Homes,  recently used one of these systems. Lets look at this project and see WHY the owner of this property made an excellent choice in choosing a “GREEN” concrete flooring system.

The 1,200 sq ft home in Castle Rock, Colorado was looking to achieve a smooth concrete floor to compliment the color scheme and pattern chosen by the owner. The project began with the proper evaluation of the substrate. This particular home was new construction, so although the floor was a little dirty, there were no real stains, residues or glues to contend with. The reason Double Diamond Homes choose to use SureCrete’s Micro Topping was to change the floor from gray to white, giving more pop to the colors of the concrete stain. In addition to the white color of this trowel down micro topping, it is also Eco-friendly due to its Zero VOC single component mix design.

Once the micro topping had dried, they began the coloring and pattern creation stage. Looking to fulfill the Eco-friendly “GREEN” flooring system request they choose Eco-Stain for the coloring process. As the name sounds, it is environmentally friendly, Zero VOC and uses NO water or chemicals for cleanup, like typical reactive acid stains. With 29 UV-stable colors to chose from the client choose Espresso and Beechnut.

This particular concrete stain only sees the concrete porosity, there is NO chemical reaction. This unique attribute allows the concrete stain to bring the natural trowel marks of the micro topping to life, offering a gorgeous modeled floor affect. Once Eco-Stain had dried they were on to the sealer stage of the Eco-friendly decorative concrete floor system. Typical acrylic concrete sealers could have been used but would need more maintenance, for tis reason the Colorado contractor and owner of the home choose to go with a Polyurethane concrete sealer. Knowing that they would be moving in soon they had concerns of s strong solvent smell from the sealer. Addressing this concern and keeping with the Eco-friendly “GREEN” flooring system they recommended Dura-Kote Water Based Polyurethane. This sealer meant the “GREEN” criteria due to its low VOC makeup and also provided the owner with the aroma free application they requested due to their quick turnaround time needed.

Dura-Kote Water Based Polyurethane comes in satin and gloss finishes. For this application they choose the glossy finish. Two coats of the Water Based Polyurethane were applied to manufacturer specifications. Although light foot traffic is allowed after 12 hours, it takes most polyurethane concrete sealers 3-5 days to reach full cure and become a more scratch resistant finish. The end result was a beautiful floor that is not only functional, easy to maintain, pet friendly but the entire process was done to meet the Eco-friendly “GREEN” Decorative Concrete design by the homeowner in Castle Rock, Colorado.

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How to choose the right concrete stain

Although there are many options, the most popular suggestion, is a  quick reseal with solvent acrylic sealer. The solvent it most cases gives the needed pop to the faded paver. This technique though requires maintenance and resealing to try and keep the paver looking its best. A technique that is often overlooked and does not hit the pocket book that hard is to recolor the paver’s using a concrete stain and than applying the acrylic sealer.

Why is this process a smarter choice? First off it ensures that the color displayed is at its his potential vibrancy and accuracy. Secondly, it allows the consumer to alter, change or unite concrete slabs and sidewalks with their paver’s. Let’s take a look at one example. This project was done in a subdivision in Land O’ Lakes Florida. The situation was faded paver’s that bordered both sides of the concrete sidewalk leading up to the front entry way of the home.

The first step taken was to make sure the concrete sidewalk and paver’s were clean. For this process they used SCR (Super Concrete Renovator), a concrete cleaning solution that is “GREEN” or environmentally friendly and will not hurt the garden or landscaping near by. Once this solution was applied at a 4-1 ratio with water, the surface was pressure washed.

Next was the application of color to the paver’s and the concrete sidewalk. For this they choose the latest in “GREEN” concrete stains by SureCrete Design. The product is called Eco-Stain, a water based penetrating concrete stain that comes in 29 UV-stable colors. This product can be applied via multiple spraying tools or sponged on for faux finishes. After the concrete stain is applied it sits and dries for 30-60 minutes. After it is dried you can apply any type of acrylic sealer. As with any manufacturer, SureCrete does have sealer available also.

We hope these ideas help rejuvenate your fading concrete paver’s and sidewalks and allow for new looks and colors to refresh your own home or business!

Location: Canon City, Colorado

Project: Staining a concrete retaining wall

Installation by: Anderson Thompson

Material Supplier: Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply

Total Sq Ft: 324 sq ft

Products Used: Orange Blossom & Oak Eco-Stain plus SureCrete Water based Clear Acrylic sealer

A concrete retaining wall is an important, functional element to your home. For many though, it is a blank canvas waiting to have someone bring it to life. That is exactly what happened to a homeowner in Canon City, Colorado. With such beautiful scenery surrounding his home, his retaining wall block was a large white eye soar that stood out. After searching online and finding Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply, they realized they could bring their backyard retaining wall to life and do it in a way that was environmentally friendly!

The team at Two Sisters DCS, explained the pros and cons of traditional reactive acid and acrylic based stains offered by many companies. Realizing they did not like the sound of chemical stain or the uniform paint like look of acrylic stains, they choose to go with an environmentally friendly stain called Eco-Stain. This product offers 29-UV stable colors and uses the concrete retaining walls natural porosity to give the modeled and variegated stain look desired. To finish off the installation they choose a low VOC sealer from SureCrete Design, Hi-Gloss Clear WaterBase Sealer. Since the homeowner did not want to take on this project, Two Sisters DCS offered some local contractors, which were qualified for this application.

The process of installation was to thoroughly clean the retaining wall via a pressure washer and SCR. Once the retaining wall was clean, the team with Anderson Thompson Group, sprayed on the two colors of Eco-Stain with a HVLP gun hooked up to a compressor. This technique allowed for an even amount of material, and reduced  the amount of concrete stain being applied. This gave the opportunity to minimize runs and uneven or splotchy  modeling on the concrete retaining wall. After the stain dried, which is typically 30-60 minutes, they then applied the Waterbase acrylic sealer. The sealer was a wise choice as it locks down the color and provides a protection against staining from the soil and other minerals in the ground and water.

Two Sisters Decorative Concrete Supply is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado but offers concrete products and supplies to all of Colorado including Canon City. For more information please contact them at 1-719-661-8978.

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Project: Beazer Home – Community Pool Deck  Renovation

Installation by: ACM

Material Supplier: SureCrete Design

Total Sq Ft: 14,000 sq ft

Products Used: Flash Patch, SureTex, , Eco-Stain, Pigmented SureSeal 20%

A Beazer Home’s community clubhouse had issues with their pool deck, during the initial installation of the almost 14,000 sq ft pool deck it encountered rain and a poor finishing technique. Although the builder was disappointed in the outcome, they were not prepared to do a major overhaul immediately.Why? They wanted the concrete pool deck to naturally go through its curing process and have time to make any movement and cracks. This way they could ensure a new aesthetic and functional  look that would stand the test of the traffic it would bare from it’s community. Let’s see the process that the team at ACM used to make this a successful decorative concrete makeover.

The first phase was to patch all dips and uneven spots that were causing water run off issues. To do this they used a concrete patch and blend product called Flash Patch. After all areas were level the cleaned and profiled the concrete pool deck to get it ready to receive its new decorative concrete surface. With slip and fall a major issue on a pool deck surface, the team at ACM choose a decorative concrete overlay mix from SureCrete, called SureTex. This product is designed to create the strongest bond to the concrete pool deck surface and create a classic knockdown or cool deck look. It’s mix design is single component, “just add water”, and therefore is Zero VOC and considered a Green or environmentally friendly concrete overlay.

After mixing SureTex with a pre-measured color pack and the right amount of water, they began the base coat on all 14,000 sq ft. They were able to cover the square footage with ease using a stand up squeegee. This was probably a wise choice of tool, as it does not require the applicator to bend over and be on their knees for  such a large project.

Once the base coat was dry on the concrete pool deck surface, they mixed up some additional SureTex with color, but this time sprayed it our of a hopper gun hooked up to an air compressor. This technique delivers a splatter affect on the surface, creating the beginning stage of the classic knockdown look. As part of the team is mixing and spraying the SureTex onto the surface the other half are using the stand up squeegee to flatten or knockdown the splatter texture to create the gorgeous new decorative concrete look.

After letting the material dry overnight, they then used a pigmented sealer to waterproof and ensure a consistent color across the entire concrete pool deck surface. As recommended by the manufacturer, they applied 2 coats of sealer for optimal performance and water and stain repellance to complete the project.