Vibrant Colors with SunMetal Coatings

For a game arcade to provide consumers with the ultimate experience, two primary things are required. First, an arcade needs a great selection of quality gaming machines. Second, it needs decor that entices people to come inside and then stay. When walking into a reputable arcade, people immediately notice certain things, including sounds, lights, color, and design. Smart business owners know that concrete floors are a great way to enhance the overall experience.

Concrete floors are available in many unique color, pattern, texture, and design options. For a game arcade, floors with a bold graphic design have a better opportunity for achieving success. With the right product, virtually any aesthetic is achievable. Therefore, arcade owners can choose a design that complements a specific theme or color scheme. They can also choose floors that attract a specific age group.

One example is a solid colored floor using the Classic Texture product, coupled with fun gaming terms or designs. Even different colors can be used to create sections based on the type of games. In other words, the area with pinball machines could be a bright orange with a pinball design in the center. For shooting games, the floor could be bright red with a gun design featured.

Not only do concrete floors enhance the interior space and improve the gamers’ experience, they work well for marketing purposes. Products like SunEpoxy 54 or SunEpoxy 100 in a darker color with metallic flakes added could be the foundation. In the center of the floor, a bright and bold design featuring the company’s logo could be added. This creates a wow factor while marketing the brand.

With endless possibilities, arcade owners can be as creative as they want with concrete floors. As people enter an arcade, they initially look down to see where they are walking, so using the right colors and designs is important for making a huge and lasting impact.

Usually, people searching for a reputable decorative concrete contractor will follow a long list of questions or spend hours conducting research to make sure they hire the best one. While this is perfectly fine, you can save both time and effort by learning some quick and easy steps that will help you identify a great contractor almost immediately, whether talking on the phone or meeting in person.

• Online Credentials – Before contacting a decorative concrete contractor, spend about five to ten minutes looking for information on the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List websites. Those two sites alone will reveal a history of closed or open complaints, as well as the type of complaints filed.
• Products Used – Asking what products are used will tell you a lot about a decorative concrete contractor. An expert who uses only top-of-the-line products genuinely cares about the caliber of work performed. For instance, if a contractor uses products like SunStamp, SunCanvas, Tuscan, and SunEpoxy 100, you can feel confident in that person’s ability and dedication to excellence.
• Area of Specialty – In addition, quickly hone in on the area of specialty. While a decorative concrete contractor may be well-versed in all methods, such as stamped concrete, stained concrete, and resurfacing, if you want a specific type of application, make sure the contractor specializes in that area.
• Licensing, Certification, Insurance, and Training – Verify that a contractor is properly licensed, certified, and insured. A qualified contractor will have completed extensive training while continuing to train to be the best that he or she can be.
• Transparency – Regardless if you are requesting proof of licensing, certification, or insurance or asking for references, a superior decorative concrete contractor will be 100 percent transparent. No matter what questions you ask or information you want to see, the right contractor will be quick to provide whatever you need.

Outdoor Concrete Sealers Provide Protection

Whether you are interested in having a concrete patio, deck, walkway, or pool deck sealed, it is essential that the installer use the right sealer. After all, not all outdoor concrete sealers are the same. For example, there can be differences between quality, longevity, color options, application techniques, and more. Therefore, it is important to learn what your options are and the benefits that each provides.

You have a choice of four main types of outdoor concrete sealers, including penetrating, acrylics, polyurethanes, and epoxies.

• Penetrating – These sealers are formulated to penetrate the surface of concrete, where they react to chemicals within the concrete itself. This makes them perfect for shielding against moisture and deicing chemicals. Because these outdoor concrete sealers create an invisible layer of protection, no change occurs to the surface. For protection against the elements, and especially for surfaces subjected to freeze/thaw cycles and corrosion, penetrating sealers are the best.
• Acrylics – Acrylics are available in a nice selection of sheen levels. Not only do these sealers enhance the aesthetics of exposed aggregate and colored stamped concrete, they offer outstanding protection against chlorides and water. For that reason, acrylic sealers are a great choice around the pool and spa area. While these sealers are available in both water-based and solvent-based formulas, those with a solvent base typically enhance color much better. Products like SunColor and SunSand produce superior results.

• Polyurethanes – Whenever a high-build protective film is required, polyurethane decorative concrete sealers are an excellent choice. In addition to various sheen levels, the finish is non-yellowing and transparent. For enhancing the appearance of stamped, exposed aggregate, and colored concrete surfaces, polyurethane sealers work great. Almost twice as thick as acrylic sealers, the surface ends up being extremely resistant to abrasions and chemicals.

• Epoxies – Just like polyurethane decorative concrete sealers, epoxies provide a high-build protective layer on top of a concrete surface. Because these sealers are available in clear, pigmented, or colored formulas, you can choose based on your preferred design aesthetic. The primary benefits include a concrete surface that is hard, abrasion resistant, and long lasting.

Regardless of the decorative concrete product or technique used on any concrete surface, the installation is not complete until a high-quality sealer is applied. Decorative concrete sealers also enrich color intensity, regardless if a stain, dye, or integral color is used on the concrete, as well as create an amazing sheen on the surface. They prevent chemicals, stains, grease, oil, and dirt from penetrating the surface, and they prevent or minimize the intrusion of chlorides and water.

Decorative Concrete Resurfacing

Compared to jack hammering, removal and replacing, decorative concrete resurfacing is usually a much better option. Although most driveways last up to 25 years or longer, some conditions can reduce their lifespan. These same conditions can leave driveways with cracks, spalling, and pitting issues. If you are facing this situation, you might be concerned that your driveway is too damaged for resurfacing.

In some instances, the damage can be severe enough that a complete driveway replacement is recommended, but in most cases, the surface can be repaired and then resurfaced. When professionally done, the driveway appears and functions as if brand new.

To understand the advantages of decorative concrete resurfacing, look briefly at the other two options. When a driveway is patched, it becomes more structurally sound, but from an aesthetics standpoint, it is unsightly. Every filled crack and pit is clearly visible. As imagined, this affects the overall appearance of the home. With a completely new driveway installation, the entire existing slab must be removed. This process is messy, and it takes quite a bit of time to complete.

In comparison, decorative concrete resurfacing involves making repairs to mild to moderate damage, prepping the surface, and then applying an overlay of your choosing. To achieve the desired results, it is important for the installer to use top-of-the-line products, like Tuscan, SunStamp, or SunStone.

Numerous benefits go hand in hand with decorative concrete resurfacing. As mentioned, not only are existing flaws on your driveway covered up, an overlay upgrades its appearance. You will have multiple choices of color, pattern, and texture, regardless of the chosen technique. That way, your newly resurfaced driveway will complement your home and vice versa.

One important thing to note is that prior to decorative concrete resurfacing, the underlying cause of the problem needs to be identified. Only then can the issue be fixed so that future problems do not arise.