How often should you waterproof and pressure wash your concrete? ARTICLE by Mode Concrete In Kelowna BC

Concrete Pool Decks, Patios, Driveways and Pathways - Pressure Washing, Waterproofing, Sealing, Yearly Maintenance, Repair & Refinishing 

ARTICLE and all IMAGES POSTED BY THE PROS AT MODE CONCRETE IN KELOWNA BC.

Now is the perfect time of year to look at your exterior concrete, especially if your concrete is exposed to the extremely hot temperatures we have in the Okanagan.  Applying concrete sealers and waterproofing agents are an essential part of finishing any indoor or outdoor concrete surface. Protect your concrete driveway and patio from weather, staining, oil/gas, salt, and water by making sure you have a surface barrier on your concrete.


How often should you seal or waterproof concrete? 

Everyone has something different to say about how often to seal your driveway. Some say maintenance should be done every 3-5 years, whereas others say every year. The determining factor here should be what sort of climate zone or wear/tear your concrete is exposed to. Factors like how much moisture, wear or heat exposure should be taken into consideration.

If your concrete is exposed to moisture, freeze/thaw zones and lots of sunshine or heat (like the weather here in the Okanagan) your concrete might require re-sealing and maintenance every year or two. If your concrete is exposed to salt or notice your sealer is deteriorating, you might have to reseal yearly. If you ever notice cracks or chips, you should fix these problems immediately. If damaged concrete is left unrepaired, water can seep into the cracks this will quickly deteriorate the concrete.

How often should you pressure wash concrete? 
You will see a noticeable difference when your driveway is pressure washed once a year. It all depends on how clean you would like your driveway to be and how fast dirt collects or how fast moss, mold and algae grow.

Can oil or rust be removed from pressure washing?
A basic power washing of concrete will not get oil spots out. If you do have oil spots which need to be cleaned individually. Due to that fact that driveways are so porous oil spills usually soak right into the concrete and so it may be near impossible to get all of it out. We can usually lighten it up quite a bit by giving those areas some detailed attention. Similarly to oil spots, rust stains the concrete and it is very, very difficult to out, a basic power washing of the driveway will likely not remove rust stains. There are ways to remove or at least diminish the stains but it would not involve pressure washing. If you notice staining, you should get your concrete pressure washed and sealed immediately to eliminate further damage.


Depending on your concrete, a good suggestion to disguise rust or oil is to acid-stain the surface to camouflage the imperfections (like the image to the right).

Concrete services we offer on pool decks, pathways, driveways, patios or concrete slabs:

• Concrete cleaning 
• High power pressure washing
• Concrete yearly maintenance
• Concrete sealing (for stained concrete, aggregate concrete, or stamped)
• Concrete waterproofing
• Concrete patching
• Concrete chip and crack repair
• Adding anti-slip surface finishes onto concrete
• Acid staining, eco-based water staining
• Mildew removal
• Moss removal
• Troubleshooting water damaged concrete

We always offer expert concrete advice, superior workmanship and never cheap out on the products we use.  We only use the highest quality materials to repair, maintain or seal your concrete.  Whether your concrete is brand new, needs maintenance, or needs some repair... we are here to help.  People all over the Okanagan put their trust in Mode Concrete to get the job done right, with long term results.  We always offer free written estimates to our inquiring clients. We always stay within the original estimated price and on schedule (weather permitting... we live in the mountains afterall!).

CONTACT us today for any of the services we discuss in this blog.

Contemporary Tiled Concrete Fireplace - Large Format Ultra-Thin Wall Tiles made in Canada

Our concrete tiles are as beautiful as they are functional. Our clients use our hand cast artisan concrete tiles indoors and outdoors, on floors or on fireplaces. Below are pictures of a contemporary concrete tiled fireplace that we custom designed and created for our West Kelowna client. 

Our ultra thin concrete tiles serve as a truly unique surfacing medium. Handcrafted from start to finish, our concrete tiles will give any surface lots of personality. Our custom made large format concrete tiles will easily withstand fireplace heat. Ultra-thin high performance concrete is mixed up, poured into custom made forms and finished to perfection. Concrete camouflages magnificently and gets a lovely patina with the wear and tear it's exposed to over it's life.

For the above project we've used concrete panels to tile the fireplace from floor to ceiling. Created and designed by pros at MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC.

Cool and Modern Concrete Floors - by MODE CONCRETE

If you want to create a major design impact, consider concrete floors - the flooring for the stylish at heart.  Concrete floors get so much better with age and like freckles, concrete floors help to camouflage wear as it gets older.  With concrete we embrace and look forward to variations, irregularities, and the patina that develops with wear over time. 

Below are images of a natural concrete floor that we recently polished and finished. We love love love the final look!!

Recently, the use of concrete as a residential flooring option has become more popular as more beautiful and economical techniques have become available, and major designers are spreading the word about the amazing benefits of concrete floors. Concrete flooring is so durable that it has become a great option economically and packs quite the style statement. 

Benefits of concrete flooring:

• it's a green, eco-friendly, zero-waste option - the flooring is already in your home
• as your taste or style evolves, it's easy to change the look of your concrete floor
• every house already has a concrete floor waiting to show it's potential and personality
• our process is eco-friendly, dust-free and non-toxic
• it is has great longevity when compared to other flooring materials
• it enhances the integrity of your homes' architectural design elements
• they are super easy to maintain, keep clean and are hypo-allergenic
• it's easy to change, especially if you sell your home; the next owner can place other flooring on top of the concrete slab
• they are great in regions with a lot of sand, snow or moisture

 

Above are pictures of another gorgeous project completed by Mode Concrete in Kelowna BC. Please contact us to discuss any of the services we talk about in our blog. 

Contemporary Concrete Kitchen with Waterfall Countertop - made by MODE CONCRETE in BC

This is a renovated kitchen that we recently worked on. This countertop was overextended and a waterfall edge was added. Waterfall edges are great because they finish off the end of the kitchen cabinetry nicely, while providing extra livable space with the bar edge. 

Waterfall counters (also known as risers) have been THE trend in kitchens all over the world lately, both for their stylistic appeal and long-term durability when compared to other materials. When extended to the floor this countertop instantly looks more modern, clean and high-end.  The concrete surfaces that we create are incredibly durable, waterproof and easy to keep clean and germ free. All of our concrete is top quality and built to last for years!  

MODE CONCRETE specializes in creating custom concrete countertops and we can customize the concrete in a multitude of ways, to perfectly fit within your space.  As for cleaning and maintaining, like most countertops, a mild soap and a cloth are all that should be used for routine cleanup. Be sure to avoid harsh cleansers or anything abrasive.

We also can assist you refinishing or maintaining your existing concrete countertop, concrete floors and any decorative concrete surface.  Contact us today for details on any of the services discussed in this blog. 

Modern Contemporary Concrete Kitchen with Waterfall Countertop - made in Kelowna BC Canada, by MODE CONCRETE

We created all of the the concrete in this kitchen, from the backsplash and to the oversized apron farmers sink.  We hand stained and painted these long tiles and then applied to wall (application is similar to tile). We wanted to combine the elements of both concrete and wood, and imprinted the long concrete tiles with wood grain.  The concrete surface that goes from the countertop up to the cupboards is incredibly durable, waterproof and all of our treated concrete surfaces are easy to keep clean and germ free.

And's let talk about this brilliant innovation. With concrete we can literally imprint anything or customize in any way... like this built-in draining board that is sloped and drains into the concrete sink. Brilliant and functional on so many levels. 

Mode Concrete loves to use bold colors to punctuate raw concrete.  We thought this bright oriental orange would be a lovely contrast against the grey bare concrete. Color blocking is a great way to punch up architectural angles or just add some personality to raw concrete elements.  We also overextended the surface of the countertop, added a waterfall edge and voila... we were able to create this breakfast bar and make some extra livable space in this kitchen.  

Waterfall counters (also known as risers) have been THE trend in kitchens all over the world lately, both for their stylistic appeal and long-term durability when compared to other materials. When extended to the floor this countertop instantly looks more modern, clean and high-end.  We love the look of this waterfall edge and created a plank form looking waterfall edge to match the backsplash and countertop elements.  

MODE CONCRETE specializes in creating custom concrete countertops and we can customize the concrete in a multitude of ways, to perfectly fit within your space.  As for cleaning and maintaining, like most countertops, a mild soap and a cloth are all that should be used for routine cleanup. Be sure to avoid harsh cleansers or anything abrasive.

We also can assist you refinishing or maintaining your existing concrete countertop, concrete floors and any decorative concrete surface.  Contact us today for more details on our services. 

Check out our concrete DREAM LOUNGER at FACTOR FURNITURE in Kelowna BC - Grand Opening this week!!

So the time has finally come, Factor Furniture the Gallery will be opening this week!! They only sell the most outstanding, high quality, modern furnishings available on the market. They will have a grand opening open to the public this Friday (Nov 21st, from 2pm-6pm) and an industry elite event for contractors, designers and fellow industry pros on Thursday (Nov 20, from 12pm-2pm). Check out the flyers below for more details!!

Why should you go check out Factor Furniture the Gallery: 

• They will be selling our concrete Dream Lounger, as featured in Azure and in the Globe & Mail.
• They will be selling some of our modern paintings (all original, ultra modern pieces, created by Mode Concrete co-owner Cindy Manchur).  
• We said it before, and we'll say it again... they only sell the most outstanding, high quality, modern furnishings available on the market. So what are you waiting for? Mark it in your calendar and go check out their goods this week! Did I mention there will be food, drinks, face-painting and a huge giant prize they will be drawing for?!?  
• While you are there, you can also see their super cool and contemporary concrete floor that MODE CONCRETE helped finish and polish.

The Grand Opening details for the masses.

The industry elite Meet & Greet details.

If you'd like any more details about either of these events, please contact Factor Furniture for the low down. Cheers and good luck to anyone who enters their amazing prize giveaways!

Concrete Floors Naturally Look Amazing and Modern - Simple, Inexpensive, Quick Process - ARTICLE by MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC Canada

No concrete floor is complete without the application of a surface treatment. Punch up your concrete surface even further, by applying a staining agent or adding a color to the surface. Taking the time to put down this final layer of protection not only prolongs the life of your concrete floor, but also greatly enhances and preserves its natural beauty and appearance.

All pictures above, is a concrete floor surface finished and completed by MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC.

Think of a concrete floor sealer as a protective layer that will improve its appearance, durability and longevity.  Stain protection is the main reason for sealing concrete floors, especially in areas of your home or business where food and drink will be consumed. Pets may also cause damage to a concrete floors that can be prevented with sealant and wax. New concrete floors should be sealed after they are completed, while existing concrete floors should be sealed every few years based on wear and tear. Properly sealed and maintained concrete (natural or stained) will give the same beautiful appearance for years to come. It is extremely durable, requires very little maintenance, and will likely outlast the home or business which surrounds it. Always make sure that the concrete contractor preforms tests on small areas, or shows you samples of what to expect.

If you like the natural look and color of regular standard grey concrete, we usually recommend sealing and waxing.  It's our favorite look, and totally differs from project to project - every piece of concrete is original in it's coloring, textures, irregularities, and variations that occur naturally when the concrete dries and cures.  And the best thing about finishing your existing concrete floors... usually most projects (like this basement floor pictured below) it takes less than a week!

For more information on sealing, waxing or staining any interior or exterior concrete floors, decks, or surfaces, please contact MODE CONCRETE.  We service Kelowna and the entire Okanagan Valley, in BC Canada.