Get matched with top concrete finishing pros in Kimberly, AL

The trick to getting a smooth finish when pouring concrete is to smooth the surface of the concrete with a magnesium float. This tool helps bring the finer, smoother aggregate to the surface for a cleaner finish. Don’t overdo the floating process, though, or the slab can become weaker and start to scale.

If properly installed and maintained, polished concrete floors can last 50 years or longer. Concrete can be a difficult material to handle, requiring expert knowledge in mixing and application. Make sure you’re working with a licensed masonry contractor and that you’re investing in an annual deep cleaning to maintain its life span.

Unlike staining concrete, painting concrete often results in chips and peeling over time. You can expect numerous touchups over the years if the concrete is in a high-traffic area. Since concrete paints are opaque, you may also find it more difficult to get the exact color results you want. Lastly, painting concrete can make it much more slippery unless you mix in an additive for traction.

Generally speaking, adding concrete landscaping features will cause your property taxes to increase. That’s because projects that involve a permanent concrete foundation require permits and permanently improve the land. Since taxes are based on improvements, your taxes will go up. Here are some projects that will likely have an impact on your taxes:

• Concrete pool decks

• Concrete patios

• Concrete walkways

• Concrete driveways

• Concrete steps

• Concrete foundations

Since most of these will only lead to a partial improvement, you can expect the bump in your taxes to be minimal, but this is still something to consider.