Welcome to Outdoor Living, Dallas

We like concrete because it makes a permanent impression on a landscape.  Not only is it a composite material that hardens over time into a strong, durable structure that can be used for building foundations, walls, pavements, bridges, and many other structures, but you can dye it, stain it, and reinforce it to suit many purposes. Our concrete projects cover various circle and straight driveways, garage floors, patios, decks, walkways, and borders with capabilities to build containers and fountains as well.

1. Durability: Concrete is strong and long-lasting, and can withstand exposure to harsh weather conditions and other environmental factors. 2. Versatility: Concrete can be used for a wide range of construction applications, from foundations and walls to bridges and roads. 3. Affordability: Compared to other building materials, concrete is relatively inexpensive and cost-effective. 4. Fire resistance: Concrete is a non-combustible material and does not burn, making it an ideal choice for building in areas prone to fires. 5. Sustainability: Concrete can be produced locally, reducing the need for transportation and minimizing the carbon footprint of construction projects.

We focus on best practices when placing concrete.  For flatwork, first, excavating 3"-6" below the grade of your soil is required to complete a full install of a driveway or patio.  Next, compacting the soil underneath the area you want to pour before adding 2" of compacted base rock will prevent erosion from water and sinking over time.  After that, adding fiber mesh to a batch of concrete before pouring will help the concrete hold together better once cured.  Then, pouring 4" of concrete over the area will provide a 3,000psi surface for parking cars. Finally, cutting control joints every 8 feet and allowing 5 days for the new concrete to cure before vehicle traffic is allowed to use the surface will limit the number of cracks in your new pavement.

Concrete is a strong and durable material, but it is going to crack no matter what. When it does, the rebar is going to keep those cracks to a minimum. If there are empty spaces below the concrete, between the concrete and the base, that creates a weak point and is a likely place a crack will form. It is important to note that not all cracks in concrete are problematic, and some are simply cosmetic.

Concrete can be gray in color, but it does not have to be. While the traditional color of concrete is gray, it can be tinted or dyed to a wide range of colors using pigments or stains. The color of concrete can be altered during the mixing process, or a stain can be applied after the concrete has cured. This allows designers and builders to create concrete surfaces that match the surrounding environment or to create decorative features that add visual interest to a building or structure.