The screens are here, the screens are here!

[tanstaafl2]

Film at 11.

Actually more likely digital pics this weekend.  

The motorized screens are in although the wrong brackets were included so the guide wire could not be installed. Hopefully should be done later this week. Got the ceiling fans in a couple of weeks ago so everything is pretty much finished for the moment.

Still would like to do something with the concrete pad. Considered doing that technique where the concrete surface is carved, painted and coated to look like flagstones, tiles, bricks or some other surface.

Anybody have experience with this technique?

Something like this:



Of course I can't do this under the tub now and if the tub were ever removed it would have a blank spot.

[Zep]

I recently had my patio and sidewalk redone.

They tore out the old concrete and put in new "stamped /colored" concrete.

I am thrilled with it.

Everyone thinks it is flagstone or some slate,
but it is just plain old concrete that is stamped
while it's wet and colored.

It is amazing what they can do these days
with concrete.

Here are some pictures of the work I had done, and remember it is all just concrete.

[cappykat]

Zep...that is AWESOME!!  Wow, I love it!  I'm going to be nosy and ask what something like that cost.  Yours is one of the best stamped concrete patio I've seen.

Very nice!

[jsimo7]

That blinking eye is strange!! It is so distracting I almost couldn't read the post.   Wow

[Tatooed_Lady]

I've seen concrete done to look like cobblestone on a road we worked on a couple years back....looks great, and I'm sure it'd hold up WAY better on a patio than a major street surface......

[Zep]

cappykat

I was very pleased.

Glad to hear you like it.

As far as pricing for stamped or patterned concrete
(just like with regular concrete jobs) it all
basically boils down to square footage.

I paid about $4500 for basically my two patios,
a pathway of large stepping stones and the
walkway from my front door out to the street.

When I bought this house 2 years ago the
concrete was cracking, had the old outdated
pebble style, looked horrible.

I needed new concrete anyway, so I paid a
little more to get this look.

They tore out all the old concrete and
basically started from scratch.

Another option that is cheaper is to do
an "over-lay".

A concrete over-lay is when they just come in
and place a thin layer of concrete over the
existing concrete and they can stamp it the
design and color you want.

Over-lays are cheaper because they don't tear
anything out, plus they use alot less material and
labor, but you get almost the same effect.....

However overlays are not as strong and don't
last as long. If an over-lay is not done right it's
easy to tell and it looks cheap.

Here is a link to view some cool pics:

http://www.concretetexturing.com/showrm2.htm

[cappykat]

That sounds like a pretty good price.  I never even thought of doing that.  Absolutely love it!  Landscaping, everything looks great!

[Viper_Dude]

Zep, beautiful patio. I was wondering how many square feet are your two patios? I looked into the stamped concrete (Increte) system, and had the only two contractors, who do Increte, in a 40 mile radius come out and give me quotes. For a 30x14 patio they quoted me $8000 and $9500.

[drewstar]

Zep,

That's really nice looking.    

I apprecaite you sharing the prinicng too. The stamped concrete is somehting I always thought would be a nice feature to my house. (After the pool, After the decks, After the siding, after the bathrooms, After,....yada......let's just say's it on my wish list.  

Did you decide on a tub yet? Are you going with the stone siding?

[tanstaafl2]

I recently had my patio and sidewalk redone.

They tore out the old concrete and put in new "stamped /colored" concrete.

I am thrilled with it.

Everyone thinks it is flagstone or some slate,
but it is just plain old concrete that is stamped
while it's wet and colored.

It is amazing what they can do these days
with concrete.

Here are some pictures of the work I had done, and remember it is all just concrete.

Zep, thanks for sharing your experience. In my case I will need to do the overlay type since my concrete pad is new and I am concerned about it not looking good as you note. Your work looks great and I definitely think this is the way to go. Now just a question of whether I can afford it right now!

[East_TX_Spa]

They did a good job, that really looks sharp!

Terminator

[Zep]

drewstar......

yes they delivered my tub yesterday.....

it was exciting seeing it finally happen.

the site is still kind of a mess but I cant wait
to get it all landscaped and turn it into my little
"paradise in the big city"!

when I joined this message board a couple of
weeks ago I had basically already decided
but was seeking feedback and advice.

i went with the Cal Spa SQ-92.
http://www.calspas.com/hot_tubs/detail~a~183~b~2006.htm

i notice there are not many Cal Spa fans on this
site, but I really like/trust my dealer and hope it
works out for me.

i told my dealer he should join this site and
defend his brand just like everybody else! (lol)

i know it's crazy, but the main selling point to me
was the Cal Stone rock cabinetry......

i will post pics of my new tub soon and see what you think.

by the way thanks to everyone for the their
honest opinion pro/con about Cal Spa and
for the kudos on my concrete patio work.

this site is very informative and helpful
to the novice tub owner like myself.

[drewstar]

I'd love to see the pics!  


For some reason, the way your post format,  I want to read them like a poem.  

Because, your posts
format and appear
to be a poem
And I find myslef
Pausing
Where there shound not be any
Pauses.
It's driving me crazy

[luvin_tubin_sqezin]

I'd love to see the pics!  


For some reason, the way your post format,  I want to read them like a poem.  

Because, your posts
format and appear
to be a poem
And I find myslef
Pausing
Where there shound not be any
Pauses.
It's driving me crazy
 

friggin hilarious.