Put on the pressure

One of the easiest ways to clean your concrete is with a pressure washer. Before you start, be sure to clear your driveway of any loose debris that could go flying when sprayed, potentially hurting people or damaging your car or your house. It’s best to spray with the slope of your driveway so the water runs away from your house and, if you can, runs to your grass and lawn, and not storm drains.

Soak it up

The majority of stains on a driveway are usually car-related – oil, gas and antifreeze are the usual culprits. There are chemicals and commercial cleaners you can purchase but before you do there are actually possible solutions right in your house. Baking soda, cat litter and corn starch all have absorbent properties that can soak up the stains on your driveway. If the stain is fresh and still wet simply apply the powder and let in sit for an hour of two and sweep up. If the stain is dry you can scrub with water and baking soda and then add more baking soda and let sit. You may need to repeat the process several times. It’s also important to do this on a clear day with no wind so your application doesn’t get washed or blown away.

Another popular way to remove stains is to use powdered dish detergent or baking soda and boiling water. Wet the stained area slightly and apply a liberal amount of detergent or baking soda, then pour a pot of boiling water on the stain and scrub vigorously with a stiff-wired brush and rinse off. Again, you may have to repeat this several times to get desired results.

Your driveway is literally one of the first impressions people have of your home, so it’s important to do everything you can to keep it looking its best. If you have any questions about driveway maintenance please contact us and one of our friendly team members will be happy to answer your question!

The post Keeping Your Driveway Clean appeared first on Textured Terrain.

Do you think that a concrete floor is cold and industrial, and best suited for a factory or a garage? Think again. Concrete floors can be a beautiful, durable and economical addition to your home. If you’re currently weighing your flooring options, here are a few reasons to add concrete to the list:

It’s durable

There’s a reason concrete floors are used in factories and warehouses – they can withstand a lot of traffic and abuse without damage. A concrete floor will put up with moving furniture, shoes in the house and the occasional dropped glass with ease. If your floor is properly sealed and cared for, a concrete floor will outlast anything in your house, saving you money in the long run. And any small cracks or imperfections in the floor, if they don’t impede traffic, actually can add a nice character and warmth to the floor as it ages. Upkeep and maintenance of a concrete floor is a breeze too.

You have options

A concrete floor doesn’t mean settling for a flat, drab sea of grey under your feet. There are almost limitless colour and texture options when pouring a new floor, from a polished sheen, to a natural stone look, to a faux wood look and much, much more. And there are also options for an existing floor, including acid staining, dying and paint. When it comes to taking the grey away, you’re really only limited by your imagination.

It can save you money

If you’re refinishing an existing concrete floor the cost is minimal, compared to adding another flooring option on top of it. Even pouring a new floor can provide cost savings over other options, especially when you factor in the durability and longevity of a concrete floor.

Concrete floors are a beautiful and dramatic flooring choice that will last a lifetime, and then some. Contact our team to find out more about concrete in your home.

The post Welcome Concrete Home appeared first on Textured Terrain.

There’s a few things to consider when keeping your driveway and walkways free from snow and ice this winter.

Shovelling. Scraping. Chipping. Snowblowing. It’s a rite of passage for every Saskatchewan homeowner from November to (hopefully) February. And while it’s not on anyone’s list of favourite winter activities, there are things you can do to make snow removal a little easier, and ensure you’re not damaging your driveway.

The right tool for the job

Winters in Saskatchewan can throw more than one thing at you, so you should have more than one snow removal tool to deal with it. If you’re shovelling, have a smaller, ergonomic shovel to save your back when scooping and throwing snow, a larger snow pushing shovel to plow through and move deep snow, and pointed shovel to chip through ice and packed snow. And be sure to move small, manageable loads of snow and take frequent breaks if there is a lot of snow– the combination of physical exertion and cold weather can cause cardiac arrest or heart attacks, especially in middle-aged people, those with a more sedentary lifestyle or anyone who is at high risk for a heart attack.

If you get a snowblower, get the right one for your situation. You don’t need a heavy-duty beast of a machine if you have a small driveway, and a small, underpowered machine will leave you frustrated if you have a long, winding driveway.

Say no to cracks

Cracks in driveways that occur during the winter usually happen as snow melts into water, seeps into the concrete or asphalt, then refreezes and expands. Keeping your driveway and walkways as clear as possible will help this, as well as shovelling snow to a place that angles away from your property, so any melting snow does not run back onto the area you cleared.

The de-icer you choose can also cause cracks. Rock salt, while being the cheapest de-icing option, can seep into cracks or pores in your concrete and actually attract water, causing cracks or making existing cracks worse. And because it only works at a higher temperature it can cause more frequent thaw and freeze cycles, which can cause more cracks. Calcium chloride is a much better option as it has a lower freezing point and will cause less damage. However chloride can be toxic to pets, so be cautious or be sure to buy a clearly marked “pet-friendly” alternative. Cutting your de-icer with sand will also improve grip on ice and make you de-icer last longer.

If you are experiencing cracks or driveway damage we can help – the team at Textured Terrains are experts at driveway removal and replacement. Check out our driveways page to see some of our recent projects and contact us if you have any questions or want to discuss your project.

Happy shovelling!

The post Keep your driveway clean and crack-free this winter appeared first on Textured Terrain.

This is because at Textured Terrain, we take great pride in every project we do. From start to finish you know that our services are guaranteed the first time.

We are a company built on reputation, trust and quality. Our work includes new concrete construction, including decorative concrete work, and concrete repair as well as restoration work. For years, our customers have trusted us for their residential concrete construction needs specializing in footings, poured concrete foundation walls, patios, sidewalks, garages, driveways and aprons.

“I would absolutely recommend that anyone wanting to have some concrete work done, whether it’s a big or small job, should get in touch with Mike and the boys at Textured Terrain. You will not find a better group of guys to work with who are professional from start to finish and their finished product is second to none.”

– Henry Shirran, Regina Saskatchewan

If you need a concrete specialist that offers exceptional service and expertise, call us today 306-533-8251!

We do concrete and we do it right!

The post Our Services are Guaranteed appeared first on Textured Terrain.

Concrete sidewalks and walkways generate a lot of foot traffic especially if you have a busy office, store or family.

That is why at Textured Terrain, our concrete sidewalks and walkways are durable and safe in any weather condition. We do this by ensuring our concrete has been mixed properly and poured evenly to prevent cracking, warping or shifting. We guarantee that our products are safe and structurally stable so your home or business is safe for years to come.

If your sidewalk is damaged and in need of help, we will remove the old sidewalk and replace it with brand-new cement one.

We will handle every aspect of your new builds, renovations or commercial project, doing the job right the first time and for reasonable rates. Call us today to schedule your consultation with one of our professionals 306-533-8251.

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