It’s been said that Bill has a “specific set of skills” for not only the building of our fire pits and walls, but the creative concrete coloring on all our projects. His artistic aptitude helps to set BlackWater apart from our competitors. In addition to having worked in the concrete industry for nearly 20 years, Bill is often referred to as the MacGyver in the group; if a problem needs a special or “unique” solution, the team often calls on Bill to develop it. We love having Bill as a part of our BlackWater team as much as he enjoys the team environment and friendships he has with his colleagues.
To describe Bill as an avid hunter is not accurate – he loves hunting and fishing and takes every opportunity possible to get into the woods or on the river (almost as much as Eric)! And if he’s not hunting or fishing, you will find him spending time with family.
Check out this recently completed, beautiful knee wall from Blackwater Concrete! We just love how the natural tones in the wall enhance the beauty of this backyard patio.
This family was excited to have their backyard ready for when the weather warms up! We have no doubt that they will enjoy their outdoor space for years to come!
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.
Looking forward to spending time outside in your decorative outdoor space? Don’t put off your annual concrete maintenance–you can protect your investment by sealing or resealing those spaces!
When decorative concrete is initially installed, the majority of contractors will use a sealant as a final step. Unfortunately, most homeowners do not realize that resealing their decorative concrete is needed on an annual basis.
The protection benefits from concrete sealers are huge! By using a sealer, you can greatly reduce deterioration, extend overall life expectancy, preserve or enhance the beauty of your surfaces, and make surfaces easier to clean and maintain. Here are some basic concrete maintenance steps to complete:
Rinse dirt/debris off stamped concrete surface with a garden hose or pressure washer.
Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap to surface and scrub with a push broom.
Rinse well with a garden hose or pressure washer until there is no sign of soapsuds.
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.
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.
A second coat can be applied after the first coat is tack free (not sticky to your touch).
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.
At Blackwater Concrete, our goal is to provide personalized service and distinctive ideas, giving each client and project the full value of our collective experience and knowledge. That’s why we’ve developed a maintenance guide for you, our clients, so that your concrete will look as good as new years after installation. Download the PDF here!
Many homeowners are using their back yards for more than just barbecues.
These days, home owners want amenities like ponds, custom concrete patios, knee walls, outdoor kitchens, and increasingly, fire pits that crackle and glow.
In fact, fire pits have become so popular that they are now the number one requested design feature, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Furthermore, many home owners have decided against hiring a contractor and attempt to build their own fire pit, which comes with its own set of risks. We call these DIY Fire Pit Dangers.
Here’s what we at Blackwater advise you to consider before designing your own fire pit:
Check what impact (if any) a fire pit may have on your homeowners insurance coverage. In some parts of the country, disclosing your fire pit may be a requirement of your homeowners insurance policy. We always recommend you check with your providers before beginning any project.
Where to put it. When building your own fire pit, you want to make sure it’s proportional to the size of your yard, allows room for seating and circulation, and follows all local laws regarding safety. Many communities require a minimum of a 10-foot distance from your house and neighbors’ yards. Some don’t require a permit if the fire pit fits within set size requirements; others require a site inspection from local fire officials to make sure your proposed location is safe (away from fences, structures, overhanging branches, etc). And, some communities have outright bans on open fires.
What to build it on. It’s best to set a set a portable fire pit atop a natural surface such as concrete, stone, gravel, brick, slate, or a fire-resistant composite. One mistake we see DIYers make is that they put their fire pit on a wood deck, which gets to be dangerous when embers fly. In this image, we created a wood plank design made out with concrete so that the homeowner got the look they wanted without the risk of their whole patio going up in flames.
Make sure that you’re using proper stones and materials. You don’t want to build a fire pit with material that splinters when the fire heats up.
Know how to establish a system for drainage. The last thing you’ll want to be doing is bailing out water from your fire pit. Many designers will build your fire pit with a drain in the center that’s connected to an underground pipe, that way rainwater won’t collect in the pit. This keeps the firepit presentable at all times.
Does this all sound like a lot to be conscious of? That’s where Blackwater’s professional designers and installers come in. With proper fire pit design and construction, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable feature that will last several decades. And, like the walls, can be hand stained to your liking.
Does your concrete need a fresh start? We see it all the time- old, worn concrete floors that homeowners hate to look at. As a homeowner, you have many options when choosing your interior flooring but basically, the options include carpet, hardwood, laminate and concrete.
Staining interior concrete floors has become a popular flooring choice for those looking to achieve a very modern look. To save time and money, we can apply a super-thin concrete overlay over older concrete in a project like this micro topping overlay with water-based stain floor.
Adding color, of course, is often the point of using a micro-topping. With this project, we used different blended tones of brown to add depth to the space.
For more details on the smooth, fresh looks you can achieve with a Blackwater Micro-Topping, contact us today
A lot of work goes into a hand stained concrete finish, and we always like giving our clients everything they hoped for when they decide to go with Blackwater.
Check out this recent job in Ashburn, VA and tell us what you think!
Be creative! Let us know exactly what you have envisioned for your outdoor (or indoor) space and we can show you why we’re the best designer concrete company in the area.
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.
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 ustoday for information about this new package and check out these recently installed deck lights for some inspiration!
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.
We recently completed this Ashlar Slate patio in Leesburg, VA, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the completed look!
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!
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.
Eric received his BS degree in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management from Shepherd University and followed that with a Masters in Architecture from Montana State University. It was the exposure to concrete in grad school and its many and versatile applications that first intrigued Eric to learn more. From stamped concrete, acid staining, polished concrete, to vertical stamping and overlays, Eric was hooked and set out on a quest to educate himself in every facet of concrete available in the marketplace. It wasn’t long until he knew that starting his own decorative concrete business was what he wanted to do and he has never looked back!
Every year since starting the business in 2005, Eric has focused on adding new service offerings and products. The range now includes everything from patios, driveways, and walkways to outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, furniture, and decorative walls. He and his staff of fellow concrete artisans still enjoy all the design and build components of each and every project and Eric still looks forward to the learning experiences that each new project brings. Eric loves the build aspect of each project and is continually seeking new and efficient ways to deliver a quality product.
In his free time, Eric really enjoys fly fishing and has traveled the globe in support of finding the world’s best fishing spots! He is an avid WVU football fan, and father to Harvey, his yellow lab.
Keith Hagerman
Sales
Another valuable member of our Sales Team is Keith Hagerman.
Keith has been in the outdoor/landscape service industry for over 15 years. He worked with former Director of Sales, Chris Graham and assisted in creating a seamless transition. He is very thankful to both Chris and Eric for bringing him on board and has loved it since he began.
Keith enjoys working with clients to help them achieve their unique outdoor living space. He is always excited to watch the process take place from design to completion.
As a John Handley High School graduate, he was very proud to see his eldest son graduate from there as well. In Keith’s spare time he enjoys being outside as much as possible, playing basketball and watching his youngest son play basketball for Millbrook HS as well as his AAU team.
Matt Cvechko
Operations Manager
Matt previously worked in interior concrete floor construction, and has become BlackWater’s interior flooring specialist. He joined BlackWater over six years ago and takes this family business very seriously and while there may be a bit of sibling rivalry with Eric, it is always all in good fun! In addition to the interior work, Matt has responsibility to ensure scheduled jobs get started and completed on time, and the whole of the business is running smoothly each day.
On his days off, Matt enjoys any and all outdoor activities including backpacking and hiking. And during football and basketball season, you can find Matt passionately cheering on the WVU Mountaineers. And, he loves any opportunity to spend time with his black lab, Frank.
Jesus Arroyo
Crew Foreman
Jesus has been working in the concrete construction industry for over 20 years. He started as a laborer and eventually worked his way up through the ranks so he is intimately aware of all the phases of a pour and what it takes to make a project successful. BlackWater has become increasingly known for our high quality of production and Jesus makes that possible. Not only is he the crew foreman, but in general, he is the go-to guy for all construction related questions! He has been with BlackWater for over six years now.
If Jesus is not working (which is rarely ever the case!), he can be found playing soccer and spending time on outings with his family.
Bill Williams
Walls/Fire Pits and Coloring Specialist
It’s been said that Bill has a “specific set of skills” for not only the building of our fire pits and walls, but the creative coloring on all our projects. His artistic aptitude helps to set BlackWater apart from our competitors. In addition to having worked in the concrete industry for nearly 20 years, Bill is often referred to as the MacGyver in the group; if a problem needs a special or “unique” solution, the team often calls on Bill to develop it. He loves working at BlackWater and enjoys the team environment and friendships he has with his colleagues.
To describe Bill as an avid hunter is not accurate – he loves hunting and fishing and takes every opportunity possible to get into the woods or on the river (almost as much as Eric)! And if he’s not hunting or fishing, you will find him spending time with family.
