On some levels we are the same as many other contractors, qualified, committed, all saying about the same thing.

 When applying Epoxy Stone Resurfacing products we all deal with the same obstacles. Such as, weather conditions, marketing strategies, installation difficulties, and on and on. 

 So, its not what we do its how we do it.

 Being an industrial flooring contractor for over 25 years, we use standards of installation and preparation that is far more involved than your normal contractor. Our installers  are very familiar with applying our repair products and overlays in conditions that are a lot tougher than around a pool deck or driveway. Fork lifts and heavy equipment are driven on them every day.

 We have multiple, seemingly small differences in our installation procedures that makes a world of difference.

• We apply a primer under our pebblestone system
• We pre-treat the cracks
• We apply an extra seal coat the following year at no charge

 Also, because of our year round industrial coatings division, we buy a lot more resins, higher quality at a lower price, than all other competitors. That filters down to your bottom line guaranteed pricing.

 Check out our “How we do it” video and you will see our difference. Archway Industrial Coatings, we feel, is the #1 contractor in the St. Louis Metro area.

Concrete overlays are growing in popularity due to the high cost of tearing out and replacing existing concrete.  To tear out your swimming pool deck is very risky because it could damage your pool liner or when it is removed allow the pool to float out of the ground.  If your pool deck has some minor damage, there are a variety of spray on or painted resurfacers that could work.  However, if you have some larger cracks, low spots, or heaved slabs your options for resurfacing decrease. 

 Archway Industrial Coatings applies their pebble stone epoxy system in these almost too bad to do situations.  PES works great to level out heaved slabs and low areas.  The system goes right over your existing slab.  There is no tear out necessary.  In case you do have to replace a slab or two, you can then resurface the entire deck to have one consistent surface.  When done, you have a swimming pool deck that is resistant to salt, pool chemicals, freeze thaw conditions and is UV stable, beautiful and unique.

 It is best to call Archway Industrial Coatings to determine if your swimming pool deck is a candidate for resurfacing.  Call now for a free estimate and find out if this the answer for you.

In the past, if your concrete slab was too ugly, cracked, or broken up,  replacement was your only option if improving the appearance of the concrete was your goal. Now there are many types of decorative concrete overlays.  It’s tough to choose which overlay is right for you,  given the large number of options you have.  Decorative overlays or resurfacing products also require a good installer to prepare the concrete surface before applying the new decorative resurfacer you have chosen to end up with a quality product.

Depending on how poor the condition of your existing concrete slab is, not all overlays will work.  The thin skim coat or spray applied products usually aren’t  thick enough to cover the issues you might be having.  Epoxy coatings, spray down resurfacers, stamped overlays, and even self leveling overlays fall into this category.

However, there is a decorative overlay product called pebble stone epoxy system (PES) that can be applied over the worst possible slab you can imagine.  PES is not sprayed or stamped, it is hand troweled on at 1/2” – 5/8” thick, or even thicker where leveling is required. PES is round pebble stone rocks that are mixed with epoxy resin and applied over the entire concrete surface.  This decorative rock comes in many colors to match or contrast your home.  This decorative resurfacer can fix the most difficult projects you can imagine. If PES can not fix your resurfacing problem, then resurfacing is not your answer you will simply need to replace it. 

Many years ago, concrete just seemed to be better.  In downtown St. Louis, notice all the sidewalks?  Some have been there 30 years and look better and have less cracks then the walkways in my new subdivision.  Why?

The answer is simply that it’s not what it used to be.

Labor cost for the concrete finishers has gone sky high.  Years ago the contractor would pour the slab then have to wait 4-5 hours to begin to apply the final finish.  However, with the labor rates going higher and higher people could no longer afford it, something had to change.  The concrete manufacturers started adding chemicals to the concrete to get it to set up faster and this cheapened the concrete itself.  The concrete mix used to be 5-6 bags of cement to a yard of concrete.  Now it’s been reduced to 3.5 bags of cement and 2.5 bags of fly ash.  Fly ash is dust from coal and cost almost nothing.  Calcium chloride has also been added to speed up the cure time so the contractor would not have to wait 4-5 hours to apply the final finish.  Finally, in the old days, the contractor would return the next day and apply a compound to the surface to slow down the curing time to help with shrinking of the slab as the water hydrated out.

During the final step of finishing, contractors now “bless” the surface with water to slow down the cure or else it sets up too fast as he does the final finish.  This also weakens the concrete.

End product, you tell me.  Take a look at the walkways around your home.  So when you replace your slabs, how long will they last?  The existing slab is probably a higher quality concrete than what you would currently have installed.

The answer is to just resurface it when you can.  Use the old substrate to support a beautiful new pebblestone epoxy surface.

Resurfacing or overlays usually means applying something on top of an existing surface (not replacing). There are many resurfacing products on the market with a large range in pricing and with numerous looks and appearances.  When resurfacing your broken concrete patio, pool, or driveway there are a few things to be considered in choosing your resurfacing product.  Is your existing concrete simply old and ugly or does it have cracks and joints? 

Cement based decorative concrete products are manufactured to cover a worn surface.  These products can be stamped, squeege applied, or even sprayed.  They are normally applied at 1/16″ thick.  The problem is most old, ugly, worn concrete is cracked and may have many joints.  Concrete will move and its guaranteed to crack.  Cementitous products will not withstand any movement and cracks will come back through the system since these are applied so thin.  It is tough to hide the larger cracks you may have in your existing slab with these products.

Epoxy Pebblestone Resurfacer (PES) is an epoxy overlay that is epoxy resin mixed with rocks to give you a  beautiful decorative appearance. The cracks are treated and repaired prior to PES application.  PES is then applied at a 1/2″-5/8″ and the cracks are hidden.  Because of the flexible crack repair material any future movement normally will not cause it to recrack.  If it does, the PES system can be repaired easily and quickly, even something you could do yourself.

Your patio, driveway, porch, or pool deck, why should you overlay?

To tear out and replace a concrete structure is extremely expensive and messy.  The time it takes to replace and have your pool deck back in service could run into your pool season.  Overlays simply are applied directly over your existing, ugly concrete with less time and no mess.

Wonder if your existing broken slab can be overlayed?  An overlay is only as good as the substrate it is applied over.  If your ugly cracked concrete is totally destroyed,  the answer is no.  However, the  Epoxy Pebblestone System (PES) goes on at a 1/2″ – 5/8″ thick.  If you pre-treat the cracks and apply PES, it will make that old concrete slab look new again.  PES is a great overlay for your pool deck or a driveway where you will have heavy pool chemicals at times or heavy vehicles driving on it.

PES is a decorative overlay.  When you are done, it won’t  look like concrete, it will have a beautiful stone finish.  You can choose from a variety of colors to match your house and landscape.  There are many overlays on the market today.  Choosing one can be stressful.  The question is, “What do I want to look at, and can I afford it?”.  PES is the most decorative overlay on the market at the lowest price.  It also can be applied over the worst substrate possible.  90% of all other overlays will not hide the damage.

Call for a free estimate to see if PES is your answer!

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