Thursday 7 May 2015

Concrete Pool Deck Maintenance, Repair and Sealing - by the pros at MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC

Who wants to worry about unsealed, chipped, cracked or crumbly concrete interfering with summer fun?! No-one, that's who. Now is the ideal time of year to get your pool deck, patios or driveway pressure washed and maintained. Since we have such hot summers and harsh freeze/thaw conditions in the winter, it is important to properly maintain and waterproof your concrete every year or two.

For this beautiful project below, our customer wanted to us pressure wash and seal their concrete pool deck. 



How often should you seal your concrete pool deck, patio or driveway?
Everyone has something different to say about how often to seal your driveway. Some say every 3-5 years, whereas others say every year. The determining factor here should be what sort of weather or climate zone your concrete is exposed to. Environmental factors, rain, snow, freeze/thaw zones, or high sunshine areas should be taken into consideration. If your driveway is exposed to freeze/thaw zones and lots of sunshine or heat (like the weather here in the Okanagan) your driveway might require re-sealing and maintenance every other year. If you salt your driveway or notice your sealer is deteriorating, you might have to reseal yearly. If you ever notice cracks or chips, you should fix these problems immediately. If damaged concrete is left unrepaired, water can seep into the cracks this will quickly deteriorate the concrete. 

It is recommended you seal your brand new concrete after it is cured (28 days after it's poured). If you don't seal your concrete, water may seep into the surface pores of the concrete, which can eventually lead to surface or structural damage.


How can I tell if my concrete needs resealing?
Water should bead up on the surface of the concrete if your sealer is doing its job. If this is not happening, it's time to reseal your concrete. High traffic areas or highly acidic areas (exposure to salt, chlorine, vehicles) will likely need resealing on a more frequent basis.
Properly maintaining your concrete saves money in the long run. Make sure you have a protective barrier on your concrete to get the maximum longevity of your investment. 

What can I do if my concrete is spalling or has a surface failure?
Spalling and surface failures are most likely caused by 1) Freeze thaw damage & water penetrating the concrete surface and then expanding as it freezes or 2) poor finishing and the use of water on the surface to aid in the finishing process. Excess water and overfinishing create a weak surface that can't handle freeze-thaw expansion and contraction. You should always get a signed contract with a concrete installer with specific warranty language dealing with spalling and cracking. To fix the spalling, you may need to resurface the driveway with an overlay or replace the entire driveway. Sealers are a great way to protect concrete from spalling deterioration. A good-quality sealer designed for use on exterior concrete will help minimize water saturation and protect against salt damage. Even with a good sealer, the concrete itself remains the most important component in avoiding spalling.
  • Spalling details obtained from the Concrete Network. http://www.concretenetwork.com/fix-spalled-concrete/spalled-concrete-new-driveway.html 

Mode Concrete are trusted experts that can help you refinish, repair or install lots of different indoor or outdoor concrete surfaces (we can even help with outdoor kitchens!). We have worked with many residential and commercial clients over the years. We can help talk you through all the options available to you depending on the state of the concrete. We can stain the concrete, disguise cracks and patch any deteriorated areas. There are so many options available, we can walk you through the entire process and give advice on what we recommend. We always stay within the original estimated price and on schedule (weather permitting... we live in the mountains afterall!).

Evo Professional Flattop Grill - available through MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC Canada

Right now is outdoor kitchen season, everyone is scrambling to start fixing up and preparing their backyard or outdoor space for maximum enjoyment this summer. Our most popular outdoor kitchen item is the Evo grill... hands down is the coolest item we sell. We offer a builtin model or a wheeled cart model, both professional quality with lifetime warranties. Please get ahold of us for more details and pricing - MODE CONCRETE in Kelowna BC. We can ship this item directly to you anywhere in Western Canada.

Evo social cooking™ appliances are found in homes of foodie consumers who enjoy healthy cooking with family and friends, and used by more professional chefs entertaining more people than any other cooking appliance to connect dining audiences to a fresh-prepared food experience. Made in America, Evo circular cooktops are recognized for delivering the natural flavors of food, cooking versatility, distinct design, quality construction, and above all else, creating a social space around fresh-prepared food.

The Evo Affinity 30G Cooktop is the perfect solution for outdoor kitchens where the emphasis is on social cooking. Foods can be prepared directly on the cooktop, and either separately or simultaneously, pots and pans may be used as in traditional stove top cooking. The 30G has a 30” (762mm) diameter black oil-seasoned steel (optional ceramic-clad cook surface available) heated underneath by inner and outer gas tube burners. Evo’s technology allows independent heat adjustment across inner and outer cook surface zones for managing a wide range of menu possibilities. Heat is delivered to each burner via separate inner and outer control knobs.

Evo's new Oasis Island Cart is custom designed for the Evo Affinity, both available for order through MODE CONCRETE. This is the perfect solution to create an instant outdoor kitchen and social cooking environment.

Product Features

  • Circular Flattop Grill Designed To Create A Social Cooking Space With Residential Outdoor Kitchens
  • 30” (762mm) circular oil seasoned steel cooking surface.
  • Two temperature zones between inner and outer surface.
  • Variable temperatures 225ºF to 550ºF (121ºC to 228ºC).
  • With LP Propane gas total of 37,638 BTUs.
  • With Natural Gas total of 36,267 BTUs.
  • Knobs separately control inner and outer burners.
  • Electronic push button ignition.
  • Natural Gas or LP Propane gas.
  • Optional ceramic-clad cook surface upgrade.

Built-in Model Designed For Custom Outdoor Kitchens


  • Install to steel, or combustibles with 3/8” min. clearance.
  • Install to end base or right angle counter configurations.
  • Circular cook surface and radius control panel opens design possibilities.
  • Large stainless steel lid for steaming, roasting, baking and protecting cook surface from outdoor debris.

Easy Operation, Easy Maintenance, Easy Cleanup


  • Cooking techniques: sauté, braise, flattop (plancha) grilling, pan fry, roast, poach, steam, toast.
  • Cook surface is extremely durable and easy to clean.
  • Stainless steel burners are protected against spill overs.
  • Stainless steel drip pan surrounds cook surface with forward spillover slots to dual spill collection trays.
  • Spill collection trays are conveniently located in front doors at each outward side of control panel.
  • all above details of this blog were obtained from http://www.evoamerica.com/residential-products/affinity-30g-drop-gas-cooktop
Contact us today for more details or to get a brochure sent you to you. Mode Concrete is located in Kelowna BC Canada. The EVO grills are custom made-to-order items, built in the USA, shipped direct to our customers.