With summer coming quickly to a close (it will be over before you know it!), we hope you have had the opportunity this summer to use and enjoy concrete spaces at your home.

Your Racine stamped concrete patio or your Pleasant Prairie concrete driveway, are made to be enjoyed, whether by hosting family and friends, and shooting hoops with the kids.

But if your concrete is no longer in the pristine shape it was once in, we can help. While it’s known for its durability, concrete isn’t meant to last forever, and a broken driveway or patio can be a dangerous hazard for guests.

Our harsh winters wreak havoc on concrete, as water is absorbed and expands and contracts in varying temperatures. The result is damaged concrete. And while it take years for this process to negatively  impact a well-poured driveway or patio, repairs early in deterioration can save you high-costs later.

We have the knowledge and ability to fix damaged concrete issues of all sizes, from repairing cracks, to full rebuilds for concrete driveways or patios. And if it’s a sidewalk or walkway that needs repair, it’s best to fix it as soon as possible, to remove any potential liability if someone falls on your property.

Furthermore, we can replace existing driveways and patios with beautiful designs to beautify your home and add value.

For any and all of your damaged concrete needs, contact us today.

With the unofficial start of summer now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to warm weather months perfect for pouring a new, eye-catching concrete driveway.

When it comes to concrete projects, few are as rewarding as a new concrete driveway. It adds value to your home and makes a lasting first impression among visitors. After all, a concrete driveway is one of the first things friends and family see when they come to your home.

And driveways have a come a long way over time, allowing homeowners the flexibility to have a simple driveway that’s functional, or create beautiful masterpieces, incorporating stamped concrete or stains that match the existing decor of your home.

At Urban Creative Concrete, we can help you design the concrete driveway that’s perfect for your home. We can incorporate stamped concrete to give the appearance of brick and stone, at a lesser cost than the real thing. And with our colored decorative concrete, we can add color before it’s poured to give you a one-of-a-kind driveway to best suit your needs.

If you’re looking to beautify an existing concrete driveway, we can use acid staining to it to provide a design that’s as unique as you are.

Regardless of the design options you choose, rest assured your new concrete driveway will be durable and able to withstand Wisconsin’s cold winters and warm summers and last for years.

And speaking of summer, now is the time to scheduled the completion of work on your concrete driveway. With warmer temperatures here, we often book quickly. Contact us today to learn more about concrete driveway options and to schedule your appointment.

This winter, we’ve already seen varied weather, including snow, freezing rain, and high temperatures well above — and below — the average. The recent freezing rain has made concrete surfaces slick, making it treacherous to navigate hard surfaces, requiring concrete ice removal.

We still have plenty of time for winter weather, and it’s likely we’ll again see freezing rain and ice, so it’s time to reiterate the best options for concrete ice removal to make your driveway, walkways, and patios safe.

There are several types of salt commonly used for concrete ice removal, including calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and sodium chloride, best known as rock salt. These solutions have their own pros and cons as outlined below:

Calcium Chloride:

—  Effective to minus-25 degrees

—  Fast acting

—  Can damage grass and plants if over applied

—  Approximately $10-$20

Magnesium Chloride:

—  Effective to minus-13 degrees

—  Environmentally friendly; safer around pets, but can be lethal to animals with kidney disease if swallowed

—  Can damage plants if over applied

—  Approximately $10-$20

Sodium Chloride:

—  Effective to 20 degrees

—  Lethal to pets if ingested

—  Can damage asphalt, concrete, bricks metal, grass and more. (Don’t use on concrete less than 1 year old.)

—  Inexpensive. Usually less than $10.

Once you determine the best deicer for your needs, be sure to first clear any snow accumulation and use the right amount — or risk damaging your concrete surfaces.

So whether it’s a Racine concrete driveway, or a Lake Geneva stamped patio, be sure to pick the right concrete ice removal product to keep you slip free, and keep your concrete strong.

Contact us today to learn the best way to keep your concrete surfaces ice free.

While the weather outside is frigid, all of us at Urban Creative Concrete want to take this opportunity to wish you the warmest of holiday greetings.

The holidays are a magical time filled with the warmth of friends and family. We hope you have the opportunity to spend the holidays with those you love, and take the time to reflect on 2016 and the year ahead.

If concrete work is part of your 2017, we hope you give us the opportunity to provide services that will beautify your home or business and increase its value.

And there’s no need to wait for warm temperatures for our work. We offer a variety of products year-round. Our beautiful and durable concrete countertops — a great alternative to granite or other expensive options — and our customizable concrete floors for your basement or anywhere within your home can be completed during the winter months.

When the weather does warm, we can complete to your satisfaction a variety of residential or commercial outdoor concrete projects. From a Kenosha concrete driveway to a Lake Geneva stamped patio, we have the knowledge and experience to provide solutions that will last indefinitely.

But until then, we encourage you to contact us with any questions you might have about your concrete needs, whether about your Milwaukee decorative concrete patio, your Oak Creek concrete steps, or advice on how best to deice your driveway.

Until then, all of us at Urban Creative Concrete wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and a joyous new year!

We encourage homeowners to do their homework when considering a new driveway and walkway for their home. Homeowners are faced with two options for the driveways, which includes concrete or asphalt, another popular option.

But concrete offers several key benefits over asphalt. And in Wisconsin, we have to consider our frigid winters and hot summers, and the way the concrete or asphalt react in those temperatures.

—     In climates like ours, where temperatures fluctuate between bitter cold and sweltering heat, only concrete stands up to both extremes. In high temperatures, asphalt can become sticky and soft, and in winter, ice, snow, and salt can create divots in your driveway, making it unpleasant and in need of repair.

—     Furthermore, concrete is much more durable and requires very little maintenance. Concrete can last for decades, a much longer life span than asphalt, which requires sealing approximately every 2 to 5 years. And it’s true, concrete also needs sealing, but not at the frequency as asphalt.

—     Lastly, concrete has many more options when it comes to beautifying your property, creating a lasting impression and adding value to your home. Concrete can be stamped or stained into an eye-catching design that can’t be replicated in asphalt.

When considering the options, and learning more about the benefits of concrete, there is no comparison when comes to deciding between concrete or asphalt. Concrete truly is the better option.

At Urban Creative Concrete, not only will we pour your Racine concrete driveway, we also have the knowledge and ability to make it beautiful. We created beautiful concrete projects throughout Southeast Wisconsin, from Oak Creek decorative concrete patios to Lake Geneva decorative concrete floors.

For more information about our services or to learn more about concrete, contact us today.

In many construction and remodeling projects, concrete is becoming the material of choice due to its versatility and durability, including concrete floors.

Concrete floors can be found in all types of environments, from upscale restaurants major metropolitan areas, to Racine decorative concrete floors and Lake Geneva decorative concrete floors. Concrete floors can be beautifully decorated and no longer just a drab grey slab. Business owners and homeowners alike are attracted to a variety of benefits a concrete floor provides.

Your concrete floor can be acid stained, painted, dyed, or include patterns or textures. Concrete floors are a great choice for interior rooms because of the options of colors than can seamlessly mesh with other elements in the room — so much so that many people don’t realize they are standing on a concrete floor.

And while a concrete floor can be beautiful and durable, it’s also a cost-effective options, especially if you’re finishing an existing concrete slab. A concrete floor costs similar to carpet, ceramic tile, linoleum or vinyl, and an extravagant design will cost just less than slate, marble or granite.

But unlike many of the other options listed above, a concrete floor requires minimal upkeep because of its durability.

Another selling point of a concrete floor is that when finished, it’s simple to maintain. A properly sealed concrete floor needs no more than a dust mop and can be cleaned easily with a non-volatile cleaner and water. Heavier traffic areas might require more care.

At Urban Concrete, we help home and business owners choose and install the right concrete flooring for them with beautiful results. We can help resurrect broken and cracked concrete floors in the basement or garage to make those spaces beautiful and functional again.

For more information about a concrete floor, contact us today.

A concrete countertop offers a variety of benefits compared to other popular options like granite, laminate, engineered quartz and more.

Concrete countertops are a versatile choice and are available in an unlimited number  of colors. And unlike other options, a concrete countertop can be cast in any shape or size to meet your needs and those of your kitchen, bathroom, or any other room that needs a countertop.

Other benefits include:

—     Having no visible seams or grout lines when a seam filler is used.

—     Being stain resistant.

—     Offering endless edge details, giving you the option to design your countertops to match the existing decor of your home.

—     Accepting inserts and inlays to customize your countertops with embedded items like seashells or glass, for example, giving a one-of-a-kind design.

—     Enhanced appearance with age: Concrete ages over time, which can add color, beauty and character to your home, all while maintaining its extreme durability.

—     Being less expensive, on average per square foot, than all but tile and laminate countertop options — options that aren’t as strong as concrete.

Concrete countertops are a beautiful and durable option for homeowners considering a unique addition to their kitchen or bathroom. When sealed, a concrete countertop is water resistant, which helps prolong the life of you counters in any room in your house.

Urban Concrete can help you design and install concrete countertops, providing you the options you want in your home. Additionally, unlike many outdoor concrete projects, we can install countertops year round, even in the freezing Wisconsin winters.

Whether you’re in Milwaukee, Oak Creek or Racine, a concrete countertop is a great option for your kitchen or bathroom. For more information on the benefits of concrete countertops or to schedule an estimate today, contact us today.

Cracked concrete can be unsightly and dangerous, but fixing it isn’t a terribly tough or time consuming job.

There are many reasons why concrete cracks and avoiding repair will only make matters worse in due time. It’s best to keep in mind however, that cracks in concrete are common and inevitable due to freeze-thaw cycles, the weather and frequency of use.

Depending on the size of the crack, many homeowners can repair the crack inexpensively in less than half a day. Of course, larger cracks might require more work, or even calling us at Urban Concrete to fix or replace the concrete.

To repair smaller cracks, simply follow the following instructions:

—     Use a chisel to rid the crack of larger pieces. While this sounds counterintuitive, use a chisel to essentially make the crack slightly bigger at the surface, clearing out larger pieces of concrete. This will help the patching material bond with the existing concrete.

—     Thoroughly clean the crack, getting rid of any dust or debris. Use a broom to sweep up the bigger pieces, then follow with a wet-dry vacuum to suck up the dust.

—     Using any number of concrete patch products on the market — often found at your local hardware store — fill the crack and use a trowel to smooth out the filling material. Allow the material to cure overnight or per the instructions from the manufacturer. If needed, repeat the process until the crack is filled.

—     To make your concrete seal last, seal it with a heavy-duty water-based polyurethane to prevent stains from being absorbed by the concrete. It’s best to add a second coat, or, if in a heavy traffic area, three or four coats.

At Urban Concrete, we can help repair any unsightly or unsafe cracked concrete, whether it’s your Racine stamped concrete or your Lake Geneva decorative concrete floors.

To learn how to fix cracked concrete, to learn how we can help, or to learn about our other concrete services, contact us today.

Millions of Americans this time of year expect to get a tax refund and use the return to improve their homes, adding value and beauty. The addition of decorative concrete will do both, and impress guests all at the same time.

While many people consider only decorative concrete for their patio or driveway, decorative concrete can be used in basements, fireplaces, counter tops and more. And decorative concrete is available in a wide variety of colors and styles to match the existing decor of your home.

Decorative concrete can include:

—     Stamped concrete, which adds texture and color to make concrete resemble stone, cobblestone, brick and more.

—     Concrete dyes and acid staining, both of which can color concrete a number of different shades.

—     Exposed aggregate, which exposes the smooth textured stones and pebbles that are part of the concrete. It creates random patterns and visual interest by creating a variety of colors.

Urban Creative Concrete can help make your concrete creations come to life. If you’re looking for stained, stamped or exposed concrete, we can make it happen and improve your home.

We have more than 22 years experience and the knowledge to provide top quality service and work that is completed to your satisfaction, whether for a new Racine stamped concrete patio, a Lake Geneva decorative concrete driveway, or a Milwaukee decorative concrete floor.

We create custom work that exceeds your expectations and looks beautiful inside and outside your home.

To learn more about your options, and how to beautify and add value to your home through decorative concrete, contact us today.

With spring officially upon us, warmer temperatures are in sight. And with warmer temperatures comes the eagerness to entertain on your Racine stamped concrete patio.

Like so many areas of your home, your concrete needs a good spring cleaning before use. Cleaning concrete will not only make your concrete look beautiful, it will give you the satisfaction of a ready-to-use space.

Below are several dos and don’ts for cleaning concrete.

(For all of the suggestions below, be sure to test any cleaners on a small, inconspicuous section of concrete — especially colored concrete — to make sure it doesn’t ruin your concrete.)

Before any concrete cleaning, be sure to move all grills, tables, benches or anything else that could get in the way of cleaning. Also, be sure to thoroughly sweep the area to remove any debris, including leaves, branches, or dirt.

For concrete cleaning after a cold, long winter, use a 10-to-1 mix of warm water and an environmentally safe, biodegradable cleaner. You can leave the mixture on the concrete for as long as 15 minutes before scrubbing with a stiff broom and rinsing.

For stubborn stains on your concrete, simply add bleach to the mixture. One cup of bleach will clean approximately 100 feet.

While pressure washers are often considered safe for concrete cleaning, it’s best to avoid them. While the high pressure water dislodges dirt and debris, it can also chip concrete. It’s instead best to use gentle brushing, low pressure and biodegradable cleaners to keep your concrete clean, beautiful and performing as it should.

To learn more about the best way to clean your concrete, including your Racine stamped concrete, contact us today.