Decorative Concrete

Concrete – if asked to describe it what words would you use? Gray, drab, cold and hard? Typically you would be right on track – in the typical sense, concrete is not very appealing and it is not very attractive. But what if we were to say decorative concrete – would that change the descriptive words that come to mind?

Decorative concrete is quickly becoming a very popular material to use in restaurants, bars, kitchens and modern homes. But you might be asking yourself, what is all the buzz about decorative concrete?

The Color…

Even if you don’t like the use of decorative concrete in a space, few people can argue with the beautiful colors that it brings out. Decorative concrete can be mixed with colored powder to bring out hues or beautiful orange, gray, blue, pinks, creams, yellows and more. What creates an incredible effect is that these colors are not solid – they have a subtle swirl effect and add a stunning dimension and sense of movement to a space.

The Finish…

Another reason why we believe that people love decorative concrete is because of the polished finished. The polished finished makes the surface look so shiny and beautiful – literally, who could ever resist?

Durability…

We all know how durable concrete is, and while decorative concrete will have some of the same challenges that traditional concrete has – we all know how long it will last. If you have a commercial space and are contemplating what type of material to use, consider decorative concrete in place of wood or carpet. While the initial expense will be more than carpet, it will last much longer and retain it’s beauty as opposed to getting worn out. While we feel that wood can add an element of richness and warmth to a space, we ultimately feel that decorative concrete is better suited for commercial spaces that see a high volume of traffic. Unlike wood, concrete won’t get scuffed or worn out.

The Beauty of Putting Greens

If you were to ask what most people would want to do when they retired, what do you think the common answer would be? Travel? Spend time relaxing? Playing golf? Well, if you guessed “playing golf” then you would be correct – many people when they retire state that they want to spend more time playing golf. And while this is a lovely notion, is it sad to think that one must wait until retirement age to enjoy such pleasant things. At Associated Group Remodeling, for awhile now we have been branching out into a new type of service for our clients – synthetic grass. And in Phoenix, Arizona where the weather is warm most of the year and the water bills are high – synthetic grass is a beautiful thing. But what most people don’t understand is what you can do with synthetic grass – if your mind is going straight to golfing greens then you are right on the money!

How would you like to have a backyard that looks and feels like real grass but that you never have to water? Take it a step further, how would you like to have your own putting green in your backyard to which you can putt and few holes either before or after work each day – is this starting to sound good?

At Associated Group Remodeling, we have experience installing putting greens for both commercial and residential property home owners. We will meet with you and discuss exactly what type of putting green and the type of game you envision having. Once this discussion is completed, we will map out the course and present it to you. Creating a putting green is not as simple as mapping out a section of grass with holes in it. The elevation must be considered, the distance between the holes, the angles and much more.

Residential putting greens not only create an enjoyable hobby, but they also create unique group activities for parties. In addition to the social aspect of installing a putting green, putting greens will make your home or commercial property unique if you are planning on listing it in the near future. While other properties may blend together, a property with it’s own putting green will seem like a luxury and it will add to the overall value.

Residential Assisted Living Projects

At Associated Group Remodeling we are not only known in the Phoenix Arizona area for our work with residential homes, but also our work on larger commercial projects – specifically Residential Assisted Living Facilities. While we enjoy all types of projects, residential Assisted Living Facilities in particular are something that we truly enjoy and feel that we can throw ourselves into.

Part of the reason that we love this type of project so much is because we understand that placing your loved one in a home for assisted living can be difficult on all sides. We know that it is difficult for the family and especially for the individual. Part of the reason why we enjoy working on these types of properties so much is because we feel that through the quality of our work we perhaps help ease this transition and allow both the individual and the family feel more at ease by creating a facility that is safe, functional and aesthetically beautiful.

Another reason that we enjoy working on large commercial projects such as Residential Assisted Living Facilities is because our company is large enough that most of the time, we are able to see the entire project through start to finish. While a large division of our company is dedicated to exterior landscaping and remodeling, we also have a significant portion of our company that is strictly dedicated to interior remodel and design. This makes large commercial projects a delight because we are able to work on all aspects. When working on a Residential Assisted Living Facility project, we try to take into account the type of activities that the community members would like to partake in as well as the infusion of color that they would like to see. Thus we are then able to work with our designers and build miniature golf courses, swimming pools, entertainment decks, ballrooms and beautiful gardens. At the end of the day, our goal is to make a space more beautiful and enjoyable to be in than before we arrived. For us, we find working on Residential Assisted Living Facilities incredibly gratifying and satisfying.

Making Commercial Properties Safe

Beautiful Arizona, while we are known for many things one of the things that we are known for our is our beautiful retirement communities that our area offers. Phoenix is where people come to relax, enjoy the weather and spend their golden years. At Associated Group Remodeling, a large part of our business is further developing the beauty of these facilities. When remodeling retirement facilities, there are many elements that we take into consideration. For us, we truly value safety and then beauty. But we believe just because we want something to be safe, that does not have to alter the aesthetic visual quality of the area. Here are some of the ways that we incorporate safety into the beauty of our retirement facilities:

Well Lit Walkways:

We believe that many accidents can be prevented by having walkways that are clear of debris and that are also well lit. Therefore, we suggest having even footpaths that are lit in order to avoid any falls as a result of debris.

Pavers:

While concrete is very popular because it can be textured and colored, it is also very affordable – but it can also become very slippery when wet. Therefore we recommend pavers. Because of the naturally abrasive surface on pavers they are slip resistant – even when wet. For retirement communities or any commercial property, this is a huge benefit.

Security Cameras:

While we know if a burglar wants to break into a building or structure that a security camera won’t stop them – we do know that it will make them think twice. But perhaps it will keep a majority of the vandals out. Therefore we recommend installing security cameras at all the major entrances on commercial buildings.

While there are many things that we can do to incorporate security and beauty, these are just a few. We believe that true craftsmen do not have to sacrifice beautify for safety and security.

Need to do some remodeling?

It can’t be put off any longer – the time to spruce up your backyard is here! Many times people feel overwhelmed when it comes to redesigning an outdoor space. While this fear is not unfounded, some back yard remodels can go terribly wrong. Here are some tips to help direct you in the right direction and get you started on your own backyard remodel with ease and comfort!

 

Don’t let it break the bank…

Before starting any remodel, it is essential to determine how much money you want to allocate to the project. When you interview potential contractors for your project, it is important to express what your budget is. Experienced contractors will either be able to work within your budget (providing your budget is reasonable) or be able to suggest alterations or modifications that would allow the project to fit your budget. However you approach your remodel, make sure that you have a signed contract and know exactly how much the entire project will cost.

Make a priority list…

For most of us, we all dream of taking our house down to the bare studs and building it back from scratch. Unfortunately for most of us, this is not likely to happen. Therefore, one has to give up the grandiose dreams and make a priority list. Is it more important to have the pool remodeled? Or is the driveway in greater need of repair?

Get Multiple Estimates…

If you read our last blog, you should be well versed in some of the steps that are necessary to take in order to hire a good contractor. If you haven’t read our previous blog, it is worth your time. If you have, a brief recap would be to get between 2-3 estimates from reputable contractors. When reviewing the estimates don’t dismiss the ones that are come in higher. Sometimes contractors can be dishonest and they will put together an initial bid that is much lower than competitors with the intention of having add-on’s later once the project has started.

Stucco and Cultured Stone

Stucco and stone are not exactly conversation starters, but we believe that they are two types of materials that can dramatically change the exterior appearance of a wall, house or commercial property. Stucco and stone can be applied to any structurally sound surface – essentially these materials can in a cost effective manner entirely transform and turn an unattractive surface into something aesthetically pleasing.

Stucco is a type of material that is made from an aggregate, a binder as well as water. When mixed, stucco is wet and applied in that stage, after it has been applied, it hardens to become very durable and tough. Stucco can be applied to wood, cinder block or plaster – essentially it can be used to cover any type of material that is visually unattractive. It can also be applied in a textured manner or it can be applied smooth. Many times people want to give their home or commercial property a face-lift but do not have the budget to completely redo the façade of their building or home. Stucco is a fantastic and affordable way to give an entirely new look to an exterior surface that is outdated. In addition, for home owners that want make their block walls more aesthetically pleasing, stucco is an brilliant way to breathe new life and create an entirely different look for something that is traditionally not attractive.

Cultured stone is another type of material that when used can dramatically change the aesthetic appearance of a structure or surface. Cultured stone is a group of MasterCast Engineered Composites. Essentially, these materials include cultured marble, cultured granite and cultured onyx. Collectively, these materials are produced by way of a manufacturing and casting process which includes a liquid polymer resin and a filler material. Colorants are added to recreate the natural color patterns and veins in natural stone. During the manufacturing process, a gel coat is added to protect the material. This gel coat attributes to the non-porous aspect of cultured stone. Cultured stone has many applications and can transform a bland surface into something more custom. Cultured stone is lightweight and works as a type of veneer that reflects the look of natural stone. It comes in a wide variety of colors and works well when applied to the exterior of a home, pool areas, garden spaces, seating walls, kitchens etc.

If you are looking for a financially economical way to breathe new life into a run down surface, consider the addition of stucco and stone. These two materials can be altered to match any existing structural décor and allow for the dimension of texture.

Changes for 2012?

The New Year brings feelings of anticipation and change. Yes, we said it change. While a lot of people have personal goals for change, individuals often create a list of changes they want made around their house. People want new carpet, new paint, new landscape, a new driveway and a new BBQ. While this kind of list can seem overwhelming, here we are going to give you a few new tips to help you prioritize your list of to-do’s.

Establish a Budget

Like most things, any sort of remodel will require some sort of financial outlay of cash – either big or small. Before you start knocking down walls, determine how much money you would like to spend for the year on home improvements. While you don’t need to have this money sitting in the bank, it is still a good idea to determine a budget so that you don’t overspend.

Prioritize

Outline every project that you want to complete during this next year – then make a new list of which is a higher priority. While you may want new hardwood floors, if your pool is leaking or falling apart – it may be better do that one first.

Hunt for Estimates

Get referrals from your friends for any contractors that they have used in the past. But don’t be afraid to go online and find a couple other contractors. Even if it is a small job, it is a good idea to get a couple bids. This will do a few things: 1.) you will feel more confident in your final choice 2.) you will be able to explore different tastes and style approaches for your job. Don’t automatically rule out one person’s bid because it is higher. Some contractors will create a low bid so that they win the job, but then create a lot of add on’s down the road to make up for it.

Get a Contract

Never do business with a smile and the shake of a hand. Make you that you have hired a contractor who is licensed, bonded and insured. Go over the contract meticulously, if you don’t understand or agree with something, speak up.