Pools are great places for friends and family to gather. The fun is endless and the memories can last for a lifetime. The most common decking that you will find around an in ground pool is concrete. While concrete can be colored, stamped, and covered with numerous materials, there is no denying the amazing look of epoxy stone.

There are a few things to keep in mind about concrete. First, concrete is going to crack. There is no way around this. While the cracking can be minimized the subtle movements of the ground will lead to cracks. Second, concrete is going to discolor due to environmental issues. Our epoxy stone decking has the ability to reinvent your pools deck as well as beautify the area like nothing else.

Here is a great example of a pool deck that was in major need of rejuvenation. This deck was cracked in several places and severally discolored. In addition, this deck had what is known as a cantilever edge. This type of edge is unique since the concrete actually rolls over the edge of the pool. In most new installations the concrete is placed next to the pool coping. Cantilever pool decks can be very difficult to work with and requires a specific type of form and experience. 

In the following pictures you will be able to see a step-by-step example of how epoxy stone is installed as well as the many steps required to prepare the concrete for the installation of the epoxy stone.

BEFORE:

Cracks in the concrete can and will transfer into any other products that are placed over the concrete unless the proper precautions are taken. All cracks need to be ground out, coated with epoxy, covered with a fiberglass mat, and then coated once again with epoxy.

Loop locks are used to fasten the pool cover to the pool deck. In order to maintain the proper level of the loop locks we remove the loop locks and replace them at a height of approx. 1/2 inch higher. This allows the loop locks to remain useable. 

FORMING:

In order to add additional strength to the forms, metal ties are placed into the forms and then secured into the concrete.

Next, the edge of the pool deck is formed. These forms have been coated in wax so that they will not stick to the epoxy stone. These forms are secured with tap-con screws.

Once the concrete has been completely formed and prepared for the installation of the epoxy stone, all edges are coated with epoxy. This "double-coating" with epoxy will add strength to the edges and help reduce the likelihood of future breaks.

INSTALLATION:

Epoxy stone is mixed in 150 pound batches. 3 fifty pound bags of rock are mixed together with 1 gallon of epoxy. Our epoxy is a 2-part blend of hardener and resin and is mixed in 1:1 ratio. Stone Bond uses our own unique proprietary blend of epoxy on all of our epoxy flooring installations.

The epoxy stone is capable of being poured at any depth in order to level any unevenness that might exist in the concrete. However the typical depth of the stone is approx. 1/2 inch.

The stone is placed inside the cantilever form and then an edging tool is used to round the edge. 

THE FINISHED PRODUCT:


After the stone has set over night, the final steps in the installation can begin. The forms are removed from all edges. All expansion joints are cut into the stone using a diamond blade concrete saw. These saw cuts will be virtually invisible and they will allow the concrete to move without breaking the stone.

As you can see the pool deck has been completely rejuvenated and transformed. This entire process was completed in 2 days. Epoxy stone can be used in almost any place in or around your home. We regularly install epoxy stone on patios, porches, steps, walkways, carports, driveways, and garages. Our epoxy stone can also be installed in basements or any other area of your home.

If you would like more information about epoxy stone please call our office at 828-256-7915 and set up a time for your no cost estimate. You can also see more pictures of our work in the gallery section of our website.

The garage can be known for many things. However it is pretty rare that a garage would be known for having an amazing floor. Most garages are dirty, smelly, and they often have oil/grease spots all over them. However there are some homeowners that choose to revamp the look of their garage and they typically start with the floor.

There are many different options available for garage flooring but we think we have the best application on the market. Our vinyl chip epoxy floor is cost effective, long lasting, easily cleaned, and comes in a variety of colors. While there are several "epoxy floor kits" available from home improvement stores, none of these kits will compare to ours. 

Our flooring is installed with commercial grade, non-diluted, Stone Bond epoxy. Many of the DIY epoxy floor kits available in local home improvement stores are not commercial grade and their epoxy is water based. This leads to a weaker bond and and a much weaker epoxy. 

Additionally, our chips come in a variety of colors and they are all 100% vinyl. By using vinyl chips, instead of paint chips, we are able to safeguard against color loss and prevent the long term degradation of the chips themselves.  

Here is a quick look at a garage floor we recently completed in the Hickory NC area. If you would like more information regarding our epoxy chip floors or any of our other products, please contact us here or call 828-256-7915.

The garage floor has been power washed and now our team begins scraping the surface to remove any loose material.

Any holes, cracks, or divots in the existing floor are covered and smoothed with epoxy. This ensures the imperfections do not transfer into the new chip floor. 

Stone Bond Epoxy is then rolled onto the garage floor. This is the base coat that will allow the vinyl chips to adhere to the concrete.

Next, vinyl chips are applied using a hopper gun. This ensures the floor is evenly covered with vinyl chips.

The garage floor overhaul is beginning to take shape!

Once the floor is completely covered in chips, we allow the epoxy to dry overnight. 

After the floor has dried, the chips are then scraped and the floor is vacuumed. Scraping will remove any loose chips and it will also keep the floor from having any sharp or obtuse spots. This leads to the final step...

Last, we apply a top coat of Stone Bond epoxy. This top coat will add strength to the floor and it will also add a "wet" sheen.

As you can see, the garage floor is smooth and 100% overhauled. You can have a floor just like this one in your garage. Call us today to schedule your free estimate!

What is epoxy? This is one of the most frequently asked questions that we receive at Stone Bond. There are many lengthy and scientific answers to this question but the simple answer is that epoxy is a type of plastic. Stone Bond epoxy is a two-part epoxy that we make from our own proprietary blend. Each kit that we offer, whether in 1-gallon form or in 10-gallon form, comes with equal parts of hardener and resin.

So how does the epoxy work? The liquid hardener and liquid resin do not form epoxy until they are actually blended together. Once equal amounts are combined together, a chemical reaction starts. Because of this chemical reaction, epoxy does not technically dry. Instead of drying the epoxy actually cures. Once the hardener and resin are combined, the mixture will begin to heat. This heating is what allows the epoxy to cure and ultimately become hard.

Because of the chemical reaction that begins when the epoxy resin and the epoxy hardener are combined, there is no way to stop the curing process. Epoxy is also a somewhat finicky material in that it responds differently in hot and cold temperatures. When the winter chill comes, epoxy will become very thick, almost like molasses. However in the heat of summer epoxy can become as thin as water. Because of this, the temperature will dramatically effect the time it takes for epoxy to cure.

For example, if the outside temperature is around 80 degrees, epoxy has a pot life of around 15 minutes. However if the temperature is around 40 degrees, the same epoxy will have a pot life of approximately 25 minutes. This is what makes our 2 part epoxy better. You can mix as little or as much as you desire, depending on the situation.

Stone Bond epoxy is unique from most other epoxies in that it is clear and it mixes with equal parts of each ingredient. Clear epoxy is great for a variety of projects because it does not discolor your base or the materials that you are working with. Being able to mix your epoxy in equal parts is a double bonus because it allows you to mix small quantities and store any un-mixed epoxy until it is needed at a later time.

We have proudly produced our own epoxy since 1993. The same epoxy that we offer to the public is the very same epoxy that we use on a daily basis. Our epoxy can be used in a variety of ways and over the next few weeks we will be showcasing some of the projects that you can tackle on your own. To give you an idea about some of the ways that Stone Bond epoxy can be used here is a quick list:

Epoxy Ideas

* Resurfacing existing epoxy stone decking

* Epoxy Countertops

* Surfacing a tabletop

* Decoupage doors

* Transforming garage floors

These are just a few of the many ways that you can use epoxy. Stay tuned to the Stone Bond epoxy blog to get inspiration for your next DIY project and don’t forget to purchase your epoxy here.