Facts Tulsa Homeowners Need to Know About Concrete

Many homeowners have a lot of assumptions about concrete—for example, that concrete only comes with a chalky, grey appearance. However, professionally poured concrete is much more customizable and versatile than most homeowners realize and offers other unique benefits, like low-maintenance upkeep, added home value, and improved safety.

If you’re considering a concrete project for your residential property, keep reading to understand all the nuances and “ins and outs” of concrete.

What Homeowners Should Know About Concrete

1. Concrete is versatile and customizable.

There are dozens of ways to customize concrete—from patterns and textures to finishes and colors. For example, popular concrete finishes include troweled, broom, salt finish, and exposed aggregate. Trending stains include brown, rust, and tan.

Many residential concrete companies, like R&M Concrete, offer stamped concrete designs. Stamped concrete can mimic the appearance of stone, brick, flagstone, slate, and other beautiful surfaces while providing more durability and less maintenance than the original materials—at a fraction of the cost.

2. Concrete can be used for multiple surfaces.

When you hear “concrete,” you might think of driveways or sidewalks, but this substance can be used for more purposes than you might realize! Residential concrete services often include patios, pool decks, foundations, poured walls, retaining walls, decorative projects, and so much more!

3. Concrete requires low-maintenance upkeep.

Concrete is a durable material that can withstand heavy traffic and significant wear and tear with minimal upkeep. It doesn’t require frequent sanding, staining, and sealing, like some other surface materials, and can be quickly swept clean of dirt and debris. 

However, that doesn’t mean concrete doesn’t require any maintenance. Some basic upkeep is necessary to keep it in great shape. Concrete should still be regularly cleaned with gentle soap and water to clear away dirt, oil, and other stains. Sometimes, you may need a power washer for tougher stains—just don’t use too much pressure to avoid damaging the concrete.

You may consider resealing your concrete every few years (though it isn’t necessary). Sealing improves the appearance of concrete surfaces and makes regular cleaning and maintenance significantly more manageable.

4. Concrete can boost your home’s value.

Concrete is durable, low-maintenance, and long-lasting, so homeowners will naturally be drawn to properties with well-maintained concrete surfaces. However, cracked, chipped, or sunken concrete will have the opposite effect—it will detract potential buyers. 

You’ll be surprised how much replacing driveways, walkways, patios, and other concrete surfaces can boost the value of your home. If your surfaces could use some “tender loving care,” be sure to call a residential concrete contractor before putting your home on the market.

5. Concrete replacement improves safety.

Damaged concrete is more than just aesthetically unpleasing—it’s a significant safety and liability concern.

If someone falls and injures themselves on your property because of a sunken, cracked, or damaged piece of concrete, you’ll likely be “on the hook” to cover their medical bills. You can eliminate this costly risk by replacing damaged concrete as soon as you notice it.

6. Concrete should be installed and repaired by a professional residential concrete contractor.

Pouring concrete seems easy enough, right? Well, despite what many enthusiastic “do-it-yourself” homeowners might think—they come to discover that pouring a stable, even, and good-looking concrete surface is much more challenging than they previously thought.

Before pouring concrete, it’s crucial to understand concrete dry times, proper consistencies, and structural support issues. Instead of learning this all on your own, it’s much easier (and smarter!) to trust a residential concrete professional, like R&M Concrete, to complete the job for you. Then, you can rest assured your concrete driveway, walkway, patio, or pool deck is structurally sound and will look and perform great for decades to come!

Invest in Concrete Installation with Tulsa’s Trusted Residential Concrete Contractor

Now that you have a better understanding of the nuances of concrete, you might have some creative ideas about how to use concrete to beautify your driveways, patios, walkways, and other home surfaces. 

R&M Concrete would love to help with your concrete installation! We’re a family-owned business founded on honesty and integrity—based right here in Oklahoma. We pride ourselves in offering high-quality craftsmanship and a one-year warranty on all our work. 

Still need some project inspiration? Browse through our photo gallery to see some before and after photos of our residential concrete projects. And if you have any questions about our work or past projects, please don’t hesitate to contact us!