Ashlar Stone driveway – Decorative Coatings

As the owner of an interior design firm, you know everyone has distinct likes and dislikes. Because you work primarily with residential clients, your job is to come up with solutions that change the appearance of different rooms. For entryways, decorative coatings offer the versatility that people want.

The great thing about recommending decorative coatings to your clients is there is a solution regardless of the size or style of the home. In other words, you can create whatever look a client wants in the entryway, whether that person has a small waterfront cottage, a contemporary single-family home, or a multi-million-dollar Mediterranean mansion.

For starters, always have a professional installer or contractor perform the work. Also, that individual should use the best decorative coatings on the market, products like Tuscan or SunCanvas. That way, you’ll have the assurance the finished product will surpass your clients’ expectations. Once professionally sealed, the entryway floor will provide years of flawless service.

When going over the options for decorative coatings with your clients, point out the importance of selecting a color, texture, or pattern that enhances the beauty of the home. Although people should choose something that would appeal to buyers if the house ever goes on the market, they also want to use creativity. With an abundance of options, including custom score lines, masonry effects, and other design elements, anything is possible.

Wear and tear is an additional factor to consider when selecting decorative coatings. If you have a client with a large family, including kids and pets, or someone who entertains often, you want to suggest a flooring system capable of withstanding a lot of foot traffic. Even with few people coming and going, recommend a solution to your clients that is easy to clean and maintain.

Pool Deck Surrounds

Beyond your normal winter activities, you might take the next several months to review or create designs for pool deck surrounds that are unique from the others. Especially if you spend a great deal of time entertaining family, friends, or even clients, you want a backyard area that makes a lasting impression. Although there are no limits as to what you could accomplish, the five designs mentioned are some worth considering.

1. Brick Look-a-Like Overlay – With a product like SunStamp, a professional installer can create a design that looks exactly like genuine brick. However, instead of placing the stamps so that each block lines up symmetrically, you might have individual squares made, each with the same layout. With the entire deck finished, you would see a gorgeous “brick” surface with a one-of-a-kind pattern broken down into individual spaces.

2. Colored Stone – Typically, when people use a stamped overlay around pool deck surrounds to make the surface look like river rock, they go with natural tones. For something eye-catching, why not incorporate color. For this, you could have a tan background with large “stones” of varying colors that coordinate with your house. 

3. Tiered Effect – Another excellent option for pool deck surrounds is to create separate areas. For instance, along with the pool, you could have space to one side with a fire pit for relaxing and an area on the other side for sunbathing. For three-tiers, use one decorative concrete overlay on the two outer spaces and in the middle, something different that enhances them. 

4. Wood Pool Deck Surrounds – Rather than real wood that would warp, split, or crack from the water, go with a stamped design. You can make the deck unique by having planter boxes built on each corner of the pool with the same wood design but going in a slanted direction. 

5. Borders – A sweeping border around the decking is another brilliant idea. Instead of something ordinary, have an expert create a border flanked by a second design on each side.

Garage Floor System

If you own or operate a busy service center at a popular automotive dealership in New Orleans, you know the floors take a beating every day. In addition to providing your technicians with a comfortable and safe work environment, you want every space at the dealership to appeal to customers. With the right garage floor system, you can accomplish both goals.

A superior garage floor system involves the application of either a polyaspartic or epoxy coating. These flooring systems not only look incredible but also are fully functional. Because of that, you can impress customers who visit the shop area yet give your technicians a floor that is comfortable to stand and walk on.

The key is to select an excellent product formulated for this type of application. The right coating is perfect for high-traffic areas. However, a top-of-the-line product also resists hot tire marks, impacts from dropped tools, abrasions from moving diagnostic and other equipment around, and more. Either one of these garage floor systems also resists stains, oil, grease, and other substances commonly found in your New Orleans’ service center.

Another aspect of polyaspartic and epoxy floors is that they have a slip-resistant surface. That means your technicians can work more efficiently and without the risk of sustaining an injury. Along with all the hard work these garage floor systems do, you have options for adding personality and character.

As an example, you can select from a broad range of colors. That allows you to make the work environment more exciting while also coordinating with the primary color of your logo. For something unique, you can have flakes added, which gives you even more creative freedom.

Choosing an excellent right garage floor system for your New Orleans service center will go a long way in motivating your staff and leaving a positive impression on new and existing customers.

Pool Deck Coatings- Waterparks

Now that waterparks in New Orleans have closed for the winter, owners should take the opportunity to devise a plan that will enhance the decking’s appearance and safety. Although there are different options, decorative pool deck coatings land at the top of the list.

For instance, an expert can do almost anything with an acrylic spray-on texture. An application of this coating gives the surface a unique look. For something extraordinary, a professional installer can customize the project with masonry effects, score lines, various types of aggregates, and an abundance of color choices.

For waterpark owners who want to provide guests with the ultimate experience, a pool deck coating that produces a more upscale look and feel is a worthwhile consideration. An architectural limestone coating is another excellent option. This coating also provides guests with a nonslip surface. Even when wet, people can walk around without any concern of slipping. There are also beautiful color choices to create a customized appearance.

With the right pool deck coatings, New Orleans waterpark owners can turn an ordinary business into the “go-to” place where people cool off and have fun in the summer. As competition among waterparks rises, it is essential to offer guests a unique experience.

Remember, not only do pool deck coatings transform the appearance, they also create a safe surface. When you consider how many families visit waterparks in New Orleans, it is imperative that you do everything possible to prevent someone from sustaining an injury.

With several months of downtime, owners of waterparks in and around New Orleans can start planning their next move. Between the incredible colors, textures, and patterns for different pool deck coatings, the sky is the limit.

Acrylic coatings

Whether you have decorative concrete applied to a pool deck, patio, kitchen floor, driveway, wall, or something else, it is essential to have it sealed. As a second layer of protection, the sealer not only keeps the surface beautiful but also extends its life. The question is, which option is better, acrylic coatings or penetrating sealers?

Although there are many different types of sealers, the two that installers use most often are acrylic coatings and penetrating sealers. While both do an excellent job, they work in unique ways.

Acrylic Sealers

Take SunClear UltraProtect as a perfect example. The best-selling clear acrylic sealer on the market, this product forms a protective film on top of the decorative concrete. Similar to wearing a raincoat during a storm, the sealer creates a water-resistant barrier, making it perfect for outdoor applications.

For acrylic sealers, you can select between a water- and solvent-based formula. Either way, tiny particles of acrylic solids are suspended in the liquid carrier. Applied wet, once the water or solvent dries or evaporates, those particles form the protective film. The main difference between the two is that a water-based acrylic coating typically darkens the surface and has a glossier appearance. In comparison, a solvent-based coating produces a matte-like finish with only slight gloss.

Penetrating Sealers

On the other hand, penetrating sealers usually contain silicates, silane, or siloxane, which reacts with the decorative concrete instead of forming a film on the surface. The result is a hydrophobic substance that covers the pores. In other words, penetrating sealers fill pores, sealing the surface from within. As for appearance, there is virtually no change when using penetrating sealers.

The Bottom Line

While both options are excellent, a lot of home and business owners go with a superior-quality acrylic sealer. Although clear sealers are still a popular choice, you can have color added to change or enhance the appearance of the decorative concrete surface.