Services
Foundations - Whitlow Concrete Inc. forms and pours foundations for residential and commercial projects. The foundation of a home or building is essential to the value and safety of the structure. The construction must be done correctly in terms of the type of foundation being formed to avoid problems with settlement and properly prepare the subgrade through final curing stages. Each phase of foundation construction has necessary requirements and components upon which a structure depends.
Most foundations are slab on grade. As the name suggests, a slab is a single layer of concrete, several inches thick. The slab is poured thicker at the edges, to form an integral footing with reinforcing rods strengthening the thickened edge. The slab normally rests on a bed of crushed gravel to improve drainage. A grid of steel rebar in the concrete reduces the chance of cracking.
Whether you need a small pad for a propane tank or a 20,000 square foot commercial building, let Whitlow Concrete assist you with a foundation and other concrete needs.
Patios - Turn your backyard into the entertainment center of your household with friends and family gathering there to enjoy the wonderful Northern California weather. You can also make it a personal retreat where you can find peace after a busy day. Concrete gives you complete creative freedom to bring the style and elements of your indoor rooms to the outdoors.
The concrete patio is gaining in popularity as an essential element in today's backyards despite stiff competition from wood decks. In most areas of the country, poured concrete is the most commonly used outdoor surface material in luxury home construction, coming in ahead of concrete pavers and natural stone. With more decorative options than ever before, concrete patios are attracting homeowners who want an outdoor surface that offers the ultimate in design versatility. Concrete patios also have the edge when it comes to durability and low maintenance.
In addition to serving as a gathering spot for lounging and entertaining, concrete patios allow homeowners to seamlessly blend interior and exterior living spaces. It is the perfect decorative flooring surface for outdoor kitchens and living rooms, coordinating well with cozy seating areas, fireplaces and water features. What's more, this outdoor floor offers unlimited design options. When enhanced by integral colors and stains, concrete patios can be color coordinated to match a home's exterior or landscape. They can also be stamped or engraved in patterns that mimic brick, flagstone, slate and tile. Concrete is easily formed into any shape to accommodate backyard space restrictions.
Upgrading your backyard with a decorative concrete patio is an investment that will provide many years of enjoyment while improving the look of your landscape. If you have an existing concrete patio, we also tell you about ways to give your old patio a decorative makeover by resurfacing, staining or engraving.
Driveways and Steps
There are many design options for a durable, low-maintenance stamped concrete driveway that boosts the curb appeal of your home. It wasn't long ago when deciding on a driveway material was easy ... asphalt or concrete. Today, the "concrete" choice has expanded to include an astounding array of decorative options. Decorative concrete is one of the most reasonable ways to spruce up the entrance to your home.
Although plain gray concrete is still installed most often, more people are catching on to the dazzling effects possible with decorative concrete no matter what the style. The concrete industry has introduced many products and methods that can rejuvenate or resurface existing ordinary gray driveways.
How well your driveway looks and performs long-term is largely related to the quality of workmanship and materials that go into it. Finally, if you're concerned about the environment, concrete is one of the "greenest" materials you can use to build a driveway.
Decorative concrete stairways offer unlimited design possibilities for creating a grand entrance to your domain. Although largely built for utilitarian purposes, concrete steps or terraced stairways are the most prominent feature at the entryway of many homes and businesses. Concrete stairs can be made to be the dramatic focal point of any entrance. Even greater visual impact is possible by combining decorative stairways with stamped or stained concrete walkways and landings that incorporate coordinating colors and patterns. Concrete steps can be poured right along with your walkways or entryway, so they can be colored and textured to match.
Pool Decks
Decorative concrete allows pool decks to complement the exterior of the home, blend into the outdoor environment and copy exotic (and generally expensive) materials such as slate, stone or even wood.
Concrete provides benefits such as an extremely durable surface compared to a wooden deck or even stone. With the new techniques for stamping and applying decorative concrete, any look can be created at a fraction of the cost. Whitlow Concrete will work with you to create a design that you will cherish everyday.
Retaining Walls
Whitlow Concrete can create beautiful poured-in-place retaining walls with an array of colors and finishes. We can build terraced hillsides as well as massive structural containments. Retaining walls can be used to broaden or flatten your property. If it has a slope, a wall will give you more outdoor space for entertaining, playing or other activities.You may also want to incorporate decorative walls into your landscaping design as well as garden privacy walls. Well located seat walls are a simple and inexpensive way to incorporate a focal point that also serves as an entertainment area, as well as showcasing the design of any outdoor garden space. Use these low, unobtrusive walls to surround and highlight a fountain or other water feature, create a raised tree planter or add substantial seating area for entertaining guests.
Masonry - Fireplaces- BBQ
Whitlow Concrete provides design, construction and installation of top end masonry work. Let us discuss the features you want. Here are some of the outdoor masonry items we can construct for you.
Outdoor fireplaces continue to grow in popularity along with the trend of expanding your home into the outdoors. Homeowners are now demanding fireplaces, not just fire pits, in their outdoor living rooms. There is a certain romantic ambiance that surrounds an outdoor fireplace. The glow of the flickering flame invites guests to sit down, relax and enjoy life. Properly designed fire features encourage conversation and sooth the soul.
The popularity of fire pits and the fire effects they produce in the garden is another fast growing trend in outdoor design. The fire pit provides warmth, light, a cooking source and, of course, relaxation. A dancing flame has a mesmerizing affect that encourages you to unwind and settle in. The popularity of fire pits, or conversation pits as they are commonly called, has grown rapidly in recent years. Proper design and construction will ensure a safe and enjoyable feature that will last for decades.
Backyard kitchens with cooking surfaces, sinks, bars and storage areas are all the rage. Concrete countertops are viewed as the number one material that is both highly functional as well as decorative, allowing you to move your cooking and entertaining activities outdoors. Designing with outdoor concrete countertops is also attractive because of their easy maintenance and vast design flexibility.
Of course, Whitlow Concrete can install all kinds of brick and stone on patios and steps as well as vertical services such as decorative walls, columns and facades.