Decorative Concrete News & Tips Brought To You by Engrave-A-Crete

Chad Higgins and Jose Garcia are fire fighters in Amarillo, Texas when they aren’t engraving concrete. They are graduates of the May 2010 Discovery and Training Seminar.

The photo above is one of their first and favorite projects. The customer wasn’t sure what she wanted, so Chad and Jose designed something for her. They drew a rough sketch out on the sidewalk, but of course that didn’t represent the actual transformation. When the design all came together, the customer was, as Chad said, “Just blown away.”

They promised to keep this design unique and not copy it for other customers. The next wave of ‘other customers’ is coming from the neighborhood around this pretty engraving. The neighbors have seen this project and are asking “What can you do for my concrete?”

Chad says working on this design increased his cutting skills, especially cutting curves. The antiquing effect on the edges was done as a finishing touch-up, and has become one of the aspects of this project that Jose and Chad like best.

The word of mouth work has kept them so busy that they’ve only just ordered their yard signs to advertise their engraving business and have future plans for a website.

They’ll be needing one soon to display their spectacular work.

FIREBRAND Engraved Concrete

Chad Higgins and Jose Garcia

Amarillo, Texas

1-806-670-1421

When electrical equipment that has been working fine suddenly gets  sluggish or stubborn, the first thing you want to check is the motor brushes. Over time, they can start to burn with use, and periodically need to be replaced.

Checking the brushes as part of a regular maintenance plan for your tools can keep you ahead of the issue, plus extending the life of the motor and the entire tool.

Other ways to extend the life of your equipment:

• Oil (8-10 drops of oil on the KaleidoCrete tools just before you quit for the day)
• Blow the dust out of the motors on the Super Compact, Mongoose and Lil Beaver at the end of the day.

Concrete dust isn’t any kinder to the motors of your equipment than it is to your lungs or eyes.

Routine maintenance on your tools will extend their life and is easy to do.

If you have questions about equipment maintenance or anything else about decorative concrete, feel free to call Chris at 1-800-884-2114.or email chris@engraveacrete.com.

Also be sure to check out the maintenance videos we already have posted.

The importance of how thick Inside Epoxy should be applied  in the decorative concrete process came up recently.

The concrete surface texture is a factor that you can’t control, but have to work with.

Is the concrete surface porous or tight? A porous surface will need a thicker application of epoxy since the pores will fill with epoxy first.

While the Inside Epoxy specs give a range of coverage for each kit, the condition of the concrete and the amount of epoxy used will affect that range.

The applied, finished epoxy should be the thickness of a butter knife which normally takes two applications, each of which will need to cure for seven days.

Applying too little epoxy can lead to flaws in the surface; too much epoxy is just expensive.

So, the correct amount of epoxy on a finished floor is the thickness of a butter knife.

Note: It’s probably best not to carry around a butter knife to measure the epoxy thickness of your customers flooring… they’ll look at you funny and may not give you referrals.  Simply use this knowledge as a guide.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s open air patio offers spacious incomparable hospitality and business options .

Allan and Jason Easley of Artistic Concrete Engraving, combined Earnhardt’s original, stylish plans with their well-known adaptability and creativity. The result is this fantastic patio where family, friends and business can come together in spacious yet common-sense comfort. The Earnhardt charisma is clearly active in a setting worthy of one of the most popular figures in American motor sports.

The flowing floor plan is enhanced by the engraved designs and luxurious stain colors applied by Artistic Concrete Engraving. It is easy to see why the Easley’s and the Earnhardt’s enjoy working together.

See more pictures in the gallery at the Artistic Concrete Engraving website:

Artistic Concrete Engraving

82 Fleetwood Dr.

Concord, N.C. 28027

Email: info@easleyconcrete.com

Allen Easley

PH: 704-425-7558

Jason Easley

PH: 704-791-6357

Who wants to do a big decorative concrete engraving job for FREE?

Not you, but because you’ve done a few that weren’t as profitable as you like, maybe you’re working on your bidding skills.

Have you applied the Rule of 24?

It is essential to have a list that covers everything you will need to get a job done.

Warning note: not everything you would need consider when bidding a job will be included in this post.

Check off the tools you need; are they all ready for work? Plan to get any service work done before you go to the job site. Are the template pieces all together.

Do you have all supplies stocked? Running out will cost you time at the job.

Next check off the stain supply. Right colors? Right amount? Sprayers cleaned and working? Is the sealer ready? What about epoxy and the supplies that go with it?

How many hours do you estimate the job will take? How many people? What do you charge for time and materials? Put everything into its proper line on your check list.

You have your checklist all marked. Everything is ready.

NOW, apply the Rule of 24.

Put the bid in a drawer for 24 Hours.

Pull it out again after 24 hours.

Did you forget anything? Did anything unexpected come up? Then figure it into the bid.

If you have no additions or changes, then you can be sure of delivering a sound bid that is fair to your customer and profitable to you.

Apply the Rule of 24 to save yourself time, money and headache.