Unique, artistic and nothing but concrete
Sunday, August 27, 2006 10:58 AM PDT
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| Beckey Arnold | Argus observer
Jake Hust, Payette, demonstrates with the tools and a template used to engrave concrete. |
"Concrete is the new artistic medium." --Blane Rebman
Beckey Arnold
Argus Observer
We shovel them in the winter, pull weeds off of them in the summer and sweep them in the spring and fall. Sidewalks, driveways, patios and pool decks, all that gray and plain concrete.
Not anymore. Engraved Expressions will take that plain concrete and turn it into a work of art.
Blake Rebman, Ontario, started Engraved Expressions LLC in December 2005. By March the company was growing and the work was at hand.Jake Hust, Payette, is basically a son-in-law to Rebman and was wanting and willing to come aboard. Rebman's son Brian Rebman, 18, Ontario, just graduated from high school and has jumped on the train with his dad and Hust.
The process of engraving concrete comes from Florida and is very popular in the South. “I researched for five months before starting anything,” Rebman said. Rebman was in construction building houses and was ready for a change. He enjoys working with concrete a lot more, “I don't have to get on a ladder,” Rebman said.
The company specializes in engraving. “We can engrave anything,” Hust said. “If your a fisherman, we can do a fish. Whatever you want.”
No matter how small the picture of what you want is, they can make it happen. The picture is sent to Florida and a specialized template will be made. “Any picture, any size” Rebman said.
So how does it work? There is absolutely no overlays or toppings added to the concrete. When you add overlays it adds height “which can cause additional problems,” Rebman said. “We don't do any wet work,” Hust added.
The process starts with cleaning, it's the first and most important. “If you don't get it cleaned all the way,” Rebman said, “the stain wont stick.”
The color pallet for stain is endless. Colors can be mixed to make the exact shade you want. The stain is acrylic with no hazardous acids.
“We are environmentally friendly,” Hust said.
The stain is also UV stable which helps with fading from the sunlight.
They do not fix cracks in the concrete. “Cracks are there for a reason and it looks better to not fix them,” Rebman said. “We camouflage the crack and work it into the pattern.”
There is a lot of measuring when designing the patterns. Engraved Expressions will come to your home or office, take a photo of the current look of the concrete and show you with proprietary software what it can look like when finished. Estimates are free.
The company services include, water based staining, cleaning, driveways, engraving concrete, patios and walkways, pool decks, resurfacing concrete, finished basements, interior concrete floors, and polishing concrete.
They can polish just the lime layer of the concrete or down to the aggregate and bring the rocks in the concrete to a shine.
They can incorporate engraving in polished floors and stamped concrete. “We can fix a bad stamp job,” Hust said.
Engraved Expressions is licensed in both Oregon and Idaho.
The cost of engraving varies. It starts with staining at $3.50 per square foot and with a tile pattern at $5.50 per square foot.
“Cost wise we are competitive with stamping per square foot,” Hust said. “But with our templates there are no limits.”
The hardest thing most clients have a problem with, is deciding exactly what they want. “What we do is permanent. Once it's there, it's there.” Rebman said.
After the project is finished a sealer coat is put on the concrete. The sealer must be applied every three to five years. “It's very simple,” Rebman said, “it's like painting with a big paint roller.” Engraved Expressions will come back and reseal.
Their favorite job so far was engraving a pool. The owner gave a basic idea and then let them run with it. Pictures are shown above.
Last spring they participated in the Home and Garden Show in Boise. Most spectators did not understand how this process can be done without overlays.
“People didn't believe it.” Rebman said.” “They would say, ‘you can't do that,' and get up for a closer look.”
The only stipulation is that the concrete must be a least 30 days old and completely dry.
Rebman hopes to have another full crew by next year. Some big jobs are in the future for Engraved Expressions and they are ready for anything.
The company is based out of Ontario and work all over the Treasure Valley.
To schedule a free estimate, contact Rebman at (541) 881-6173.
