Natural Concrete Floors - Environmentally Conscience Process is Non-toxic and Produces Zero Waste (by Kelowna's pros MODE CONCRETE)

Natural concrete floors are one of our specialties. We take the raw beauty of concrete and polish the surface to give it this marvelous, durable sheen that easily outlives many other flooring options available. Our floors are easy to repair, inexpensive and created with a dustfree process. No grinding required, non-toxic and eco-friendly. And... best of all, you'll be blown away by how affordable this stylish look costs per square foot compared to the alternatives. 

Over the years we have been trusted by many discerning developers, home-owners and businesses throughout the Okanagan and BC. Contact us for pricing, a free estimate or to see what all the hype is about! 

These two images are floors that MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna naturally polished and finished for our clients. 

Concrete's natural color is always 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... like the two images above. Same process, totally different look. Contractors grade pavement looks absolutely glorious with minimal effort or expense - and the best thing about finishing your existing concrete floors... usually most projects take us less than a week to complete.

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Concrete Maintenance, Repair, Acid-Staining - Pool Decks, Driveways, Patios, Floors - Kelowna's MODE CONCRETE can help you!

Concrete stains can be applied to any horizontal or vertical concrete surface. It's a great way to punch up brand new or boring old concrete, camouflage and disguise cracks or repairs, and a wonderful way to add a designer touch. With concrete we embrace and look forward to variations, irregularities, and the patina that develops with wear over time. Adding a stain can further add a depth and character to your concrete surface and camouflage any naturally occurring imperfections. Here we created a rich patinaed, antiqued brown concrete patio for our Kelowna client.

There are good reasons why interior designers often choose concrete for their most cutting edge spaces. Stained, colored, textured or smooth, concrete boasts limitless design options. It provides a blank canvas upon which homeowners can leave their mark.  But beyond the design advantages, these surfaces are low maintenance and they blend seamlessly with the architectural aesthetics of various design styles.

We have many great dyes and pigment options available.  Concrete staining and sealing is great for driveways, patios, concrete floors, retaining walls , concrete slabs or any concrete surface. MODE CONCRETE provides all the services we discuss in this blog.  If you'd like anymore information please contact us.  We service Kelowna & area, in BC Canada.

DIY concrete staining advice: Concrete art is only as good as the artisan completing the project. DIY'ers contact us all the time... but without proper technique, product exposure and the experience, results could vary greatly in this regard.  We always advise doing test areas to see how the concrete reacts before treating large surfaces.  Due to the high level of unpredictability that concrete naturally exhibits, concrete staining is a tricky project even for the most ambitious DIY'er. Each concrete surface will stain uniquely according to variations in surface density, texture, porosity, and composition.

If you plan to hire professionals:  You usually get what you pay for, and getting the best deal or accepting the cheapest estimate, will probably not get you the best results or greatest longevity of the product. The difference in cost could be quality of materials, quality of workmanship, level of experience and could dictate your general level of satisfaction for years to come.

CONTACT us today for any of the services we discuss in this blog. We specialize in luxury concrete finishing, resurfacing, and concrete repairs in Kelowna and the Okanagan. Contact us for a free estimate or more details! 

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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.