I got an email the other day and thought I would share the answer publicly here on the website.  One of our visitors asked when it was ok to start pouring concrete in the spring time.  Here in Northern Michigan we still have snow on the ground in March and April but some projects can still be started during this time of year.  I offer my concrete and stone masonry services all year round but some projects are more weather dependant than others.

In order to pour a concrete driveway or concrete floor in Central or Northern Michigan we have to make sure we are pouring on unfrozen ground.  This can be achieved through heating already frozen ground and sometimes we can prevent the ground from freezing by using thermal concrete blankets.  I recommend waiting to pour concrete driveways until the frost has left the ground which puts us will into May around Northern Michigan. If you want quote on a pole barn floor visit our page for that.

Starting a foundation in the winter or spring is usually not a big deal as long as the footers are poured the day of or day after the hole is excavated.  This prevents frost from getting into the soil you will be pouring the concrete on.  We usually pour the footer then lay a few courses of block, install the drain tile and tar the wall then backfill up a couple feet to protect the footer from frost during the rest of the basement or crawl space construction.

Another thing to think about when pouring concrete in the spring are the frost laws.  Each year when the frost is coming out of the roads the road commisioner puts weight restrictions on the roads.  This limits the amount of weight that can drive on the roads and this definately affects concrete mixer trucks.  Class A roads are much more accessable in the early spring and the restrictions have much less effect on a project you may be starting if it is on a class A road.

If you have any other question about pouring concrete in the spring time or wonder when it’s ok to start a concrete project in northern Michigan, feel free to ask in the comments.

I recently worked on a project I wanted to share with visitors here on MichiganStoneMason.com which was actually a stamped concrete project.  Also known as decorative concrete, stamped concrete is achieved by applying a heavy rubber like stamp with an imprint molded into the rubber.  It leaves a variety of appearances from a real wood timber look to a random stone pattern like the ones we used in this project.  This was a stamped concrete job in Clare Michgan and was just completed recently.

There are several different ways you can go about getting a stamped concrete project done and costs vary widely depending on the process you choose. I offer a low cost stamping method where we dont dye the actual redi mix concrete that is delivered.  The coloring of concrete comes close to doubling the cost of the material depending on what color you choose, but if your budget doesn’t allow for $14 per square foot concrete, there are several options that still leave a cool looking piece of concrete.

Prices for Stamped Concrete in Michigan

Prices vary mostly by the process you choose.  When you dye the material being delivered the cost goes up dramatically.  The top end process for stamping concrete in Michigan starts with dyed concrete then comes another hardener which adds a second color and more depth to the look.  Then a colored release which is another colored powder.  The concrete is stamped then the excess release agent is cleaned off and a special UV protective sealer is applied.  The colored release tends to gather in the deepest crevases in the pattern and it is sealed in place giving the concrete the most natural appearance with the depth of a real stone job.  The price for decorative stamped concrete in Michigan using this process anywhere between $8.00 and $14.oo per square foot.  Which isn’t bad if you are doing a 10’x10′ patio, but it can really add up on larger areas like driveways and such.  I have stamping methods I’ve used successfully that start at around $4.00 a square foot and go up from there.

Stamped Dog Kennel

Decorative Concrete And Stamped Concrete Uses

It seems most of the decorative concrete projects I’ve done have been patios and sidewalks.  We’ve also done a few driveways and commercial storefront entryways over the years. Over the years I’d say the most popular uses for stamped concrete is for patio’s and outside entertaining areas.  They really change the look and feel of the area and can certainly increase the value and curb appeal of any home.

Stamped Concrete Contractors In Michigan

There are several stamped concrete companies in Michigan that only do decorative type stamped concrete but a lot of contractors in Michgian who do stamped concrete also do other types of concrete work as well.  I’d recommend using a stamped concrete conctractor to do your decorative concrete job and definately would call stamped concrete a do it yourself type project.  If you are already familiar with pouring concrete then you might try stamping your own project, it’s really just a timing thing and making sure you know the process.  There is a good company over in Saginaw Michigan that handles stamped concrete supplies including stamps that you can rent.  Renting some stamps seems like a better idea to me than trying to own each different set and they have just about any type of stamp you could want.  I plan on building a barn this fall and plan to do the stamped hardwood planking look.  I’ve seen it in another barn and it’s a really neat look.