Ashlar Slate Stamped Patio with Fire Pit

Ashlar Slate Stamped Patio with fire pit

Ashlar Slate Stamped Patios are growing in popularity, but it’s not exactly a new idea- these designs date back to the 12th century!

We recently completed this Ashlar Slate project and we can’t wait to hear about how this family utilizes their new outdoor living space! From summer days on the trampoline to nights by the fire, we’re sure they’re going to love their “new” backyard space!

Whether you want this style, one that we’ve done in the past, or come up with your own- we’re here to help. Contact us for more information on our method, service, and pricing options. Find out why we’re the best professional designer concrete company in the area.

Deck Lighting Package, NEW from Blackwater

deck lighting

We have great news!! Blackwater is now offering a deck lighting package.

Show off your new deck or patio with installed outdoor lighting! Whether you’d like to safely illuminate your stairs with step lights or highlight your new retaining wall or deck posts, Blackwater can design an outdoor living space that you’ll never want to leave!

Contact us today for information about this new package and check out these recently installed deck lights for some inspiration!

Ashlar Slate Patio in Leesburg, VA

Typically, an Ashlar Slate design consists of squares and rectangles of varied size. These designs date back to the 12th century and are found in most western architecture, but we love to use it on our favorite material- concrete.

Ashlar Slate Patio in Leesburg, VA

We recently completed this Ashlar Slate patio in Leesburg, VA, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the completed look!

These homeowners completely transformed their patio, beginning with Blackwater custom-stamped concrete and brought the look together with modern furniture and decor.

Increase the value and curb appeal of your residential or commercial property with the beauty of decorative concrete. Contact us today to get started on your next project!

Herringbone Brick Pattern Stamp

Herringbone brick pattern stamp

The Blackwater Concrete crew is hard at work with this new Herringbone Brick Pattern Stamped Concrete commercial project in Loudoun County.

Herringbone refers to a pattern in which there are columns of short parallel lines with all the lines in one column sloping one way and lines in adjacent columns sloping the other way.

The classic Herringbone zigzag pattern creates a formal, energetic look, and because we use stamps in its creation, we aren’t limited to square shapes or “slight curves”.

The Herringbone Brick design will look great across any walkway, patio, courtyard or plaza, so whether you have a commercial or residential project, Blackwater will make sure your neighbors will not be able to tell your stamped concrete from the real thing.

Decorative Commercial Concrete for Alleyways

Decorative Commercial Concrete for Alleyways

Commercial concrete can be broadly defined as concrete used to build or enhance business facilities, such as industrial buildings, warehouses, retail stores and even restaurants. Commercial concrete can be found nearly everywhere in a building, including the walls, floors, exterior walkways and pavements, and even the architectural details.

When compared with residential concrete, commercial concrete usually has greater demands placed on it in terms of structural performance and durability.

Commercial floors also need high-performance finishes or coatings that can withstand heavy foot traffic, abrasion and stains and are easy to maintain. They also must be slip resistant to avoid injuries to staff and customers.

In restaurants, concrete floors must be easy to clean and be able to repel spills and food stains.

To see our other completed commercial/flat work projects, check out our gallery and contact us today for a competitive quote on your next commercial project.

Curved Concrete Patio

Curved Concrete Patio

Patio shapes can be curved, straight or a combination of both. Unlike rooms inside your home, they don’t have to conform to the standard box-like shape. In this recent curved concrete patio project, we chose a curved design, or “free-form patio,” to give it broad, sweeping curves and an organic feel.

Here at Blackwater, we like to capitalize on concrete’s ability to be poured in any shape. Designing a patio can be quite exciting when you realize how much freedom you have, and changing the layout of your concrete adds a tremendous amount of aesthetics.

Whether you want this style, one that we’ve done in the past, or come up with your own- we’re here to help. Contact us for more information on our method, service, and pricing options. Find out why we’re the best professional designer concrete company in the area.

Backyard Stamped Concrete Patio with Border

Backyard Stamped Concrete Patio with Border
Backyard Stamped Concrete Patio with Border

I can’t believe it’s not stone! Here’s Blackwater’s most recent backyard stamped concrete patio with border which has a great subtle tone variation, giving the impression of actual stone.

For contrast, we added a great earth-tone border which frames the concrete, giving it a finished look.

Stamped concrete is a great way to add value that will last due to its durability. Here at Blackwater, we like to capitalize on concrete’s ability to be poured in any shape. Changing the layout of your concrete adds a tremendous amount of aesthetics. If you’re pouring new concrete, consider incorporating curves. Make your walkway slightly curve or go from a square patio to a half-circle or custom shape like this one.

Whether you want this style, one that we’ve done in the past, or come up with your own- we’re here to help. Contact us for more information on our method, service, and pricing options. Find out why we’re the best professional designer concrete company in the area.

Concrete Maintenance and Sealing

It’s early September now – where did the summer go?  It’s been a very busy year here at BlackWater Concrete, and based on our feedback from our customers, it’s been just as busy a year for you as well.  Hopefully, though, it’s not been too busy to  enjoy your stamped concrete spaces! However, in typical fashion, some of us have put off doing our annual concrete maintenance and haven’t preserved those spaces by sealing or re-sealing our concrete. BlackWater recommends at least once-a-year maintenance activity and it’s certainly not too late to start your maintenance for this year.

Here are some basic concrete maintenance steps to complete:

  1. Rinse dirt/debris off stamped concrete surface with a garden hose or pressure washer.
  2. Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap to surface and scrub with a push broom.
  3. Rinse well with a garden hose or pressure washer until there is no sign of soapsuds.
  4. DRY surface completely by using a leaf blower or by waiting 24 hours to air dry. DO NOT APPLY SEALER TO A DAMP/WET SURFACE.
  5. Once the surface is completely dry, apply the sealer as follows:
    • Apply sealer using a 1″ nap roller.
    • Apply sealer in approximately 2′ x 4′ sections. This will ensure full coverage without missed spots.
    • In general, sealer should be applied when air temperature is above 55 F. Best results will be obtained by applying sealer during cooler temperatures — fall and spring — or before 10 am and after 4 pm in summer months when surface temperatures should be under 90 F.
  6. A second coat can be applied after the first coat is tack free (not sticky to your touch).
  7. Your stamped concrete should be resealed every year (more or less depending on other variables such as weather, use/traffic, pets, etc.) to protect your investment. One 5-gallon pail of sealer will cover approximately 1,000 square feet.

Remember, the finish on your concrete is similar to the finish on your internal floors.  It does need maintenance and care to keep it looking fresh and new. BlackWater recommends Con-crete Werks Sealer, a made-in-America product that we trust with any job (Check them out here). You can order the sealer directly from the site, or have us deliver the sealer to you at a nominal charge. If you want your concrete sealed by professionals, BlackWater offers a sealing service – call us at 540-535-7440 for a quote.

In the meantime, enjoy September and your stamped concrete!  We’re looking forward to wonderful remainder of 2015!

Multi-Color Stamped Concrete Patio with Matching Decorative Wall

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Check out Blackwater’s most recent multi-color stamped concrete patio with matching decorative wall which has a great subtle tone variation, giving the impression of actual stone.

In this project, we worked with the client to carefully choose colors that would accentuate the other architectural and natural elements of the home and outdoor area. Generally, subtle earth-tone shades like greys and browns give your home character and value without being over-the-top.

When a decorative wall becomes part of your outdoor patio or landscaping project, Blackwater Designer Concrete can help. We’ll measure, design and build a wall that fits in your project perfectly.

Stamped concrete is a great way to add value that will last due to its durability. Whether you want this style, one that we’ve done in the past, or come up with your own- we’re here to help. Contact us for more information on our method, service, and pricing options. Find out why we’re the best professional designer concrete company in the area.

See a few of our other patio projects in our gallery.

Custom Stamped Patio and Decorative Knee Wall

Stamped Patio and Decorative Knee Wall
Stamped Patio and Decorative Knee Wall

Wow! Check out this custom stamped patio and decorative knee wall!

For this project, we used subtle earth-tone shades to really accentuate our client’s outdoor space and added a classic knee wall with similar color variations to tie the look together.

The knee wall got it’s name because of its height, usually coming up to about the level of one’s knee. When a knee wall becomes part of your outdoor patio or landscaping project, Blackwater Designer Concrete can help. We’ll measure, design and build a knee wall that fits in your project perfectly.

Stamped concrete is a great way to add value that will last due to its durability. Whether you want this style, one that we’ve done in the past, or come up with your own unique design- we’re here to help. Our professional team can design and install a quality hardscape that will provide the custom, high-end appearance you’re looking for. Contact us for more information on our method, service, and pricing options. Find out why we’re the best professional designer concrete company in the area.

See a few of our other patio projects below.