Category: Designs In Concrete

Hiring a Concrete Contractor in the Quad Cities: 10 Questions to Ask

Choosing the right concrete contractor in the Quad Cities can make or break your project—whether it’s a new driveway, a stamped concrete patio, or a sidewalk replacement. With freeze–thaw cycles, de-icing salts, and Midwest weather swings, local installation know-how matters. Use these smart questions to separate pros from pretenders and protect your investment.

1) How many projects like mine have you completed locally?

Experience with Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline, and surrounding neighborhoods signals familiarity with soils, drainage, and curing in our climate. Ask for recent, local references and before–after photos.

2) Are you licensed and fully insured?

Verify liability and workers’ comp. This protects you if there’s an on-site mishap and shows they operate professionally.

3) What exactly is included in the estimate?

Request an itemized bid covering excavation, base depth and compaction, reinforcement (rebar or wire mesh), mix design (PSI, air entrainment), control joints, curing method, sealing, cleanup, and hauling. Vague quotes often skip critical steps.

4) What mix design and reinforcement do you recommend?

For driveways, look for 4,000+ PSI with air entrainment and proper reinforcement. For patios and decorative work, ask about fiber-reinforced options and joint layout to reduce cracking.

5) How do you handle weather delays and curing?

Quality contractors have contingency plans: hot-weather placement, cold-weather blankets, wind control, and proper curing (membrane curing compound or wet cure). Cutting corners here leads to scaling or premature cracking.

6) What is your base prep process?

A durable slab starts with the base. Expect compacted granular base at appropriate depth, corrected drainage, and edge support. If they gloss over base prep, keep shopping.

7) Who will be on-site and who supervises?

Know if the estimator is also your foreman, how many crew members are expected, and who makes real-time decisions about joints, finishes, and slope.

8) What finish options and samples can I review?

From broom finish (driveways/walks) to stamped concrete and decorative overlays, ask to see sample boards, flake charts, color hardeners, and release colors. Clarify sealing sheen and slip resistance.

9) What warranty do you provide?

Get it in writing. A solid contractor backs workmanship and materials and explains what’s covered (e.g., spalling, delamination) and what’s excluded (e.g., structural movement from poor soils beyond scope).

10) What’s the project timeline—from mobilization to sealant?

Ask for a realistic schedule, including joint cutting window, cure time before vehicle traffic, and sealing date. Over-promising is a red flag.

Quick Red Flags

• Cash-only or pressure to “decide today.”
• No local references or photos.
• Skips base compaction or joint planning.
• Won’t specify mix design or reinforcement.

Ready to Build It Right?

For more than 40 years, Kelly Designs in Concrete has installed durable, great-looking driveways, patios, sidewalks, and decorative concrete across the Quad Cities. We provide clear, itemized estimates, sturdy base prep, properly designed mixes, and warranties you can count on.

Request your free estimate and get a no-nonsense plan for your project.

Kelly Designs in Concrete
5122 West Kimberly Rd, Davenport, IA 52806
(563) 388-9529

From Drab to Fab: Why One-Day Garage Floor Coatings Are the Upgrade Your Home Didn’t Know It Needed

Let’s be honest—your garage floor probably isn’t winning any beauty contests. It’s stained, cracked, maybe even peeling from a long-forgotten DIY epoxy kit. But what if you could completely transform it in just one day?

That’s where One-Day Garage Floor Coatings from Kelly Designs in Concrete come in. We’re talking fast, professional installation and a showroom-quality finish that turns your garage from a gritty afterthought into a space you’re actually proud of.

Why Do Garage Floors Even Matter?

For many homeowners, the garage is the most used entry point into the home. It’s where you park, store, work, and sometimes even entertain. Yet it’s often neglected when it comes to upgrades. A cracked or stained slab not only looks bad—it can lower the perceived value of your home.

Here’s why homeowners across the Quad Cities are making the switch:

• Durability: Our coatings resist hot tire pickup, chemicals, and abrasions.
• Visual appeal: Say goodbye to dull gray. Choose from multiple flake colors and finishes.
• Fast turnaround: Installed and ready to walk on in less than 24 hours.
• Low maintenance: No more scrubbing oil stains or dealing with peeling paint.

The One-Day Coating Process: What to Expect

At Kelly Designs in Concrete, we’ve fine-tuned our process to deliver top-tier results without the wait. Here’s how it works:

1. Preparation: We start by grinding the existing concrete surface using industrial-grade equipment. This ensures maximum adhesion and removes any old coatings, stains, or surface imperfections.
2. Crack & pit repair: Any minor cracks or surface damage are repaired to create a smooth, even foundation.
3. Basecoat application: A durable polyurea basecoat is applied—stronger and more flexible than epoxy.
4. Broadcasting color flakes: Decorative chips are hand-broadcast for texture, color, and slip resistance.
5. Topcoat sealing: A clear polyaspartic topcoat is applied, locking everything in and protecting your new floor for years.

The best part? You’ll be walking on your new floor the next day, and driving on it within 48 hours.

How Our Floor Coatings Compare to DIY Epoxy Kits

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: those $100 epoxy kits at big box stores. They might look like a bargain, but the reality is they don’t last.

Here’s why our professional-grade coatings are worth every penny:

Real Results: From Gritty to Gorgeous

We’ve helped hundreds of Davenport-area homeowners upgrade their garages—some even say it’s their favorite room in the house now. Whether you want a rugged look for a workshop or a sleek, clean space for your vehicles, we’ve got coating colors and textures to fit your style.

One recent client put it best: “It feels like I just added a new room to the house.”

FAQs About One-Day Garage Floor Coatings

Q: Can I coat my garage floor in winter?
A: Absolutely. Our polyurea and polyaspartic systems cure even in cold weather—unlike epoxy.

Q: Is this safe for kids and pets?
A: Yes. Our coatings are non-toxic once cured and include optional slip-resistant textures.

Q: Will the coating yellow or fade over time?
A: No. Our UV-stable topcoat ensures color stays vibrant—even in sunlight.

Get a Free Estimate Today

If your garage floor is dragging down the rest of your home, it’s time to change that. With Kelly Designs in Concrete’s One-Day Garage Floor Coatings, you’ll get beauty, performance, and peace of mind—without the wait.

Click here to schedule your free estimate today »

Let’s turn that dusty garage into something truly worth pulling into.

Introduction

Did you know that the majestic Pantheon in Rome, with its iconic dome, has stood for nearly 2,000 years thanks to an ancient form of concrete? This remarkable material has shaped civilizations, from grand architectural wonders to everyday home features. Concrete’s journey through history reveals not just engineering prowess but also evolving creativity in design. In this post, we’ll trace its origins from ancient Rome to today’s innovative applications, showing how it continues to inspire durable, stylish solutions for modern homes. At Kelly Designs in Concrete, we draw on this rich legacy to craft custom concrete elements that blend timeless strength with contemporary aesthetics.

Ancient Beginnings: Concrete in Rome

The story of concrete begins in ancient Rome around 150-200 BC, where engineers revolutionized building materials. Unlike the brittle mixtures used by earlier civilizations like the Egyptians or Greeks—who experimented with lime-based mortars—the Romans developed a superior version called opus caementicium. This concrete was made by mixing pozzolana (volcanic ash from the region around Mount Vesuvius), lime, water, and aggregates like sand or rubble.

What made Roman concrete so enduring? Recent studies, including a 2023 MIT analysis, reveal that lime clasts in the mix allowed for self-healing: when cracks formed, water reacted with the lime to create crystals that filled the gaps, strengthening the structure over time. This innovation enabled feats like the Pantheon’s unreinforced concrete dome—the largest of its kind even today—and the Colosseum, which withstood earthquakes and invasions. Aqueducts, harbors, and baths across the empire showcased concrete’s versatility, often poured into wooden forms or used underwater, thanks to its hydraulic properties.

Fun fact: Roman scholar Vitruvius documented these techniques in his treatise De Architectura, providing a blueprint that influenced builders for centuries.

The Middle Ages to Industrial Revolution

After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, concrete technology largely faded in Europe during the Middle Ages. The knowledge of pozzolana-based mixes was lost, and builders reverted to stone, brick, or simpler mortars. However, some regions, like the Byzantine Empire, continued limited use in fortifications.

The revival began in the 18th century with experiments in hydraulic cements. In 1824, English bricklayer Joseph Aspdin patented Portland cement, named for its resemblance to Portland stone—a blend of limestone and clay heated to high temperatures. This invention marked the birth of modern concrete, as it could set underwater and harden quickly.

By the mid-19th century, reinforced concrete emerged when French gardener Joseph Monier embedded steel rods in concrete pots to prevent cracking. This tensile strength opened doors to larger structures, like bridges and factories, fueling the Industrial Revolution’s infrastructure boom.

Concrete in the 20th Century: A Design Revolution

The 20th century transformed concrete from a utilitarian material into an architectural icon. Reinforced and prestressed concrete enabled skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building, and massive dams like Hoover Dam.

Architects like Le Corbusier embraced concrete’s moldability in the modernist movement, pioneering brutalism—a style featuring raw, exposed concrete forms in buildings like the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille. Mid-century trends saw concrete in public works, highways, and even homes, symbolizing progress and durability.

Innovations included lightweight aggregates and admixtures for better workability, allowing intricate designs in stadiums and museums.

Modern Concrete: Innovation and Aesthetics

Today, concrete is more versatile and sustainable than ever. Advances like high-performance concrete (HPC) and ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) offer superior strength with thinner profiles, ideal for eco-friendly builds. Researchers continue to draw from Roman secrets; for instance, incorporating self-healing agents or recycled materials reduces carbon footprints.

In home design, concrete shines in polished floors and stamped patios that mimic stone or wood. At Kelly Designs in Concrete, we specialize in these modern techniques, creating custom features like exposed aggregate driveways or minimalist wall finishes that enhance curb appeal and longevity. With low-VOC sealers and permeable options for better drainage, our projects align with today’s green building standards.

As of 2025, ongoing research into carbon-capturing concrete promises even more sustainable futures, echoing the Romans’ ingenuity.

Conclusion

From Roman aqueducts to sleek modern kitchens, concrete’s history is a testament to human innovation and resilience. This enduring material has evolved to meet the demands of each era, offering unmatched durability and design flexibility. If you’re inspired to incorporate concrete’s timeless beauty into your home—whether through a one-day garage floor or an outdoor oasis—reach out to Kelly Designs in Concrete. Contact us today to start your project. Let’s build something that stands the test of time!

5 Signs Your Garage Floor Is Begging for a Makeover

You know what’s worse than an ugly garage floor? Living with it like it’s normal. If your floor looks like it’s been through a demolition derby or a barbecue explosion, your garage isn’t just tired — it’s screaming for a makeover.

We get it. Life happens. Oil leaks. Salt stains. You drop a wrench, then two, then a toolbox, and suddenly your concrete is one giant bruise.

Here are five telltale signs your garage floor is waving the white flag — and how Designs in Concrete can rescue it with a one-day transformation.

1. Cracks Wider Than Your Patience

Hairline cracks? Fine. That’s concrete being concrete. But when your floor looks like it’s trying to map out a new river system, it’s time to intervene.

• Big cracks mean shifting, settling, or moisture trouble underneath.
• Left untreated, they only widen, deepen, and create trip hazards.
• They also give road salt and moisture a free pass to do more damage.

A new polyaspartic coating won’t just hide the cracks — we fix the surface and protect it from future abuse.

2. Stains That Refuse to Die

You’ve power-washed it. You’ve scrubbed it with everything short of holy water. Still, the oil stains stay — black, blotchy, and loud.

If your floor looks like a Jackson Pollock painting in all the wrong ways, it’s time for a fresh start.

👉 Our garage floor coatings lock out chemicals, oils, and solvents. Future spills wipe right up. No more embarrassing garage door reveals.

3. Dust. Dust Everywhere.

That fine white powder coating everything? It’s not dirt. It’s your concrete disintegrating. That’s called concrete dusting, and it’s a sign the surface is breaking down.

Not only is it annoying — coating your tools, shelves, and lungs — but it also means your slab is slowly giving up.

💪 A sealed, coated garage floor locks in the base and prevents dusting for good.

4. It’s Slippery, Uneven, or Both

Tripping on high spots? Skating across slick patches in winter? Yeah… that’s not ideal.

Your garage should be:

• Safe to walk on in wet shoes
• Level enough to roll tool carts and snowblowers without tipping
• A surface that works with you, not against you

We add slip-resistant texture to every coating. It’s durable, cleanable, and gives your garage the grip it needs.

5. It Looks Like It Gave Up in 1996

You’re updating your home. Replacing fixtures. Painting rooms. But the garage? It still looks like the set of a low-budget action movie.

Why stop at the door?

A new garage floor:

• Boosts resale value
• Feels clean, modern, and sharp
• Turns your garage into usable square footage

Heck, even your car will appreciate it.

Time to Give It the Upgrade It Deserves

At Designs in Concrete, we specialize in one-day garage floor coatings using premium polyaspartic systems that last. No flaking. No fading. Just high-performance beauty that stands up to everything you throw at it (literally).

🚗 Learn more about our garage floor coatings here
📅 Schedule your free estimate today

Why Summer is Prime Time for Driveway Replacement in Davenport

Here’s a fact: Concrete doesn’t like drama. And Midwest spring and fall? Full of drama. Rain one day, frost the next, followed by a tornado watch and a heat index of 94° — all before lunch.

That’s why summer in Davenport — with its warmer, more predictable weather — is the perfect time to rip out that old, cracked-up driveway and start fresh.

1. Concrete Cures Best When the Weather Behaves

Concrete is like a diva on stage: it needs the conditions just right to perform.

• Too cold? It won’t cure properly.
• Too wet? You’re left with soft spots and uneven finish.
• Too hot? Rapid evaporation can cause cracking if not handled properly.

But summer? Summer hits that sweet spot — temps in the 70s and 80s, long daylight hours, and fewer surprise snowflakes. That means your concrete cures stronger, faster, and more evenly. It’s not just convenient — it’s science.

2. Scheduling Is Easier (For You and Us)

Let’s be real — everyone and their cousin wants work done in the fall… right before the first frost. By summer, we’ve shaken off spring delays, crews are in rhythm, and lead times are better.

More importantly:

• You’re not rushing the decision.
• You get more one-on-one time with us.
• Your job isn’t playing calendar hopscotch because of rain or cold snaps.

And yes, we’re busy in summer too — but it’s a smarter kind of busy. Our process is dialed in. We’re in the groove. You benefit.

3. You Get to Use It This Year

Replace your driveway in July? You’re enjoying it all summer and fall. It’s cured, sealed, and solid by the time leaves start falling and the trick-or-treaters show up.

Wait until October? You’ll be tiptoeing over caution tape, praying it sets before frost. And snowplow season? Yeah, not a great debut for brand-new concrete.

Do it in summer and you get:

• Full use of your new driveway this season
• Time to decorate it (plants, lighting, etc.)
• A boost to curb appeal before the holidays

4. Heat Helps — But Only If You Know What You’re Doing

Yes, concrete cures faster in summer. But too fast? That’s where amateurs trip up.

We use:

• Retarders in the mix when needed
• Proper finishing timing (don’t seal the surface too early)
• Shading and misting techniques for larger pours
• High-performance sealers for summer protection

In other words, summer works in our favor — but only because we know how to handle the heat.

5. The Midwest Freeze-Thaw Cycle is Brutal

If your driveway is already cracking, pitting, or sinking… the next Iowa winter isn’t going to “help it out.” It’s going to finish the job.

Water gets in. Water freezes. Water expands. Concrete breaks. It’s the circle of driveway death.

By replacing in summer, you’re reinforcing your home against:

• Frost heave
• Salt corrosion
• Surface scaling
• Drainage issues that ice up and become lawsuits waiting to happen

6. Your Home Looks Done

A driveway is more than a slab of rock. It frames your house. It tells people if you care about details. It’s literally the first thing people step on when they come over.

A new driveway in summer says:

• “We take care of our property.”
• “We’re not letting another winter trash this place.”
• “Yeah, go ahead and walk up — it’s solid.”

Bonus: If you’re thinking of selling in the next year or two, this upgrade speaks volumes in real estate listings.

So… Why Designs in Concrete?

Because we’ve done this for over 40 years in Davenport and the surrounding areas. Family-owned. Local crew. No cookie-cutter approach. No subcontractor roulette.

We:

• Remove the old stuff properly
• Prep the sub-base the right way
• Pour it clean, straight, and professionally finished
• Seal it so it lasts

We’re the ones you call when you’re tired of patching. When you want a driveway built to last. When it’s gotta look right.

👉 Explore our driveway replacement process
👉 Request an estimate now

From Concept to Concrete: How We Turn Your Vision Into a Pour

Let’s be honest: Most people don’t spend their weekend dreaming about concrete. That’s our thing. But when your cracked, spalling driveway starts looking like a scene from a post-apocalyptic Netflix show, you’ll want a crew that actually lives and breathes this stuff.

At Designs in Concrete, we’ve been shaping driveways, sidewalks, and stamped patios across the Quad Cities for over 40 years. And while the finished product might look like magic — it’s not. It’s a process. A damn good one, backed by decades of experience, planning, and sore backs.

Step 1: The Conversation Before the Concrete

Every great project starts with a good old-fashioned conversation. No pushy sales pitch. No clipboard guy upselling you colored flakes like he’s slinging spices at a flea market.

We talk about:

• What’s not working with your current driveway or patio
• What you’re hoping to gain — better curb appeal? Less water pooling? Fewer tripping hazards for grandma?
• Design preferences: basic broom finish or the Cadillac of stamped textures?

And of course, we’ll measure the site, check drainage, and evaluate things like sub-base condition. Because pouring concrete on bad prep is like painting over rust. Looks good for a week.

Step 2: The Estimate That Doesn’t Change Every Ten Minutes

You’ll get a clear, detailed estimate. We’re not in the business of hidden costs or “oops-we-forgot-about-that” charges. What we quote is what you pay. Period.

We’ll also walk you through the timeline, what to expect during the project, and even give you tips for care after installation. Spoiler alert: power washing like a lunatic isn’t one of them.

Step 3: Prepping the Battleground

You haven’t lived until you’ve watched a well-tuned crew demo a busted-up driveway. It’s oddly satisfying — like ASMR for construction fans.

We bring in the big toys — skid steers, saws, dump trailers — and remove every inch of failing concrete. We don’t skimp on this step. Proper removal ensures the new slab has a fresh, stable foundation.

Then comes grading, forming, and base prep. Think of this as the bed your concrete will lie on. Uneven? Weak? Not compacted properly? It’ll crack faster than a fortune cookie in July.

We install:

• A crushed rock sub-base
• Rebar or fiber mesh (depending on application)
• Vapor barriers if needed

Basically, we build a foundation that’ll outlive most suburban lawn ornaments.

Step 4: The Pour Day

This is when the neighbors slow-walk past your house like it’s an HGTV filming set.

The concrete arrives. Our crew — coordinated like a pit crew at Indy — gets to work leveling, screeding, floating, and finishing. Depending on the project, we’ll use:

• Broom finishes for that clean, practical look
• Stamped patterns if you want something a bit more “ooh-la-la”
• Exposed aggregate for that raw, natural stone texture that ages beautifully

You’ll smell the earthy tang of freshly poured concrete. Feel the vibrations from screed boards and trowels. And hear the rhythmic scritch-scritch of finishing tools in action.

We also monitor weather like hawks. Too hot? Too cold? Too windy? That affects the cure, and we’re not interested in rushing perfection.

Step 5: You Admire. We Clean Up. Everyone Wins.

You get a pristine, durable surface that boosts your curb appeal and makes your neighbor’s wavy, patchy driveway look… well, sad.

We pack up, clean every inch of the jobsite, and leave things better than we found them. No cigarette butts, no rogue forms in the grass, no mystery piles of dirt behind the shed.

Frequently Asked (and Sometimes Snarky) Questions

Q: How long until I can drive on it?
A: Typically 7 days. Don’t test it early unless you want tire marks that whisper, “impatient.”

Q: Is stamped concrete slippery?
A: It can be, but we add a traction additive to the sealer if needed. It’ll grip like your favorite work boots.

Q: Will it crack?
A: Concrete cracks. Anyone who says otherwise is lying or selling snake oil. But we control where it cracks using expansion joints, proper base prep, and mix design. You get performance, not promises.

Your Vision, Our Craftsmanship

What we do isn’t cookie-cutter. It’s crafted — built for your space, your needs, and your life. Whether you’re upgrading a driveway, adding a stamped patio, or fixing a sidewalk that’s become a neighborhood hazard… we bring the same obsession with quality every time.

If you’re ready to turn a cracked mess into a driveway you’re proud to park on, let’s talk. We make the process simple — and a little fun, too.

👉 Learn more about our driveway replacement services
👉 Request your estimate today