Merry Christmas!

Today is December 23, 2009, just two days away from celebrating our Lord's birth. I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. Remember this time as a time to thank the good Lord for sending his son to earth to be born, live and die a horrible death for all of us and for our sins. He loves YOU that much! Amazing.

This is the time of year that we show our appreciate to those we love and care for often with gifts. Not only to show our appreciation to those who work for us, but also to support the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and local businesses in the Urbana/Champaign County area, we are giving our employees Chamber checks. There is a long list of businesses who honor those checks from restaurants, groceries, gift shops, hardwares and much more! They make great gifts, and are available at the Chamber office. By shopping in your local community instead of out of town or on the Internet, you are making sure your tax dollars are staying in your community for local emergency and government services and entities. Keep this in mind as you look for those last minute gifts. A few years ago I shopped almost entirely on the Internet. This year I shopped almost entirely in my local community. Shop local! The businesses appreciate it.

Thank you for spending time to read my blog post(s) and for being a part of Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC in one way or another. May you stay safe & healthy and may God bless you and your family this Christmas season and upcoming year. Merry Christmas!

Excellence award - excellent week

What a great week we've had here in Champaign County. So much so, I just had to share it. As you may be aware, we are working on developing a BNI (Business Networking International http://www.bni.com/ ) chapter in Champaign County. Monday I had lunch with an up & coming young man in the community, Adam Erwin, with Ohio National Financial Services, one of the top rated insurance companies in the country. It was great to get to know him and what he has to offer. He is very eager to meet with people, learn all he can about his industry and to grow his business. Tuesday morning was our weekly BNI meeting at Verde's at 7:30 am. We have a great bunch of positive people who are eager to get to know each other and pass referrals to each other. We still need a variety of businesses to join our group - if you know of a business that is also positive and wants to grow, have them contact me or join our group on Tuesday morning. Visitors are very welcome.

I also had lunch this week with a BNI member from the Logan County chapter of which I was a part of for the last two years. Susan Lahman is a representative for Premier Jewelry. I very much enjoyed talking to her about jewelry, our families and antiques. We ate at the Cream & Sugar in West Liberty, a favorite spot for me, and Susan grew up in West Liberty, so she enjoyed coming back into town.

On the fax this week was a signed proposal for another barn floor - over 3500 square feet of concrete. Nice to put another job onto the job board before the cold weather sets in. Thank you to EVCO Structures out of Mechanicsburg for the work. We enjoy working with you.

This morning my day started at the Coffee Depot for the Champaign County Chamber's First Friday coffee hour. The place was packed with local businesses eager to be a positive part of the county and to share in the events & activities. A new restaurant has opened in Urbana, Nonesuch Fare, on the west end of town in the old Michael's Pizza building, and a new store will be opening soon downtown selling organic and health items. Congratulations to both businesses. It is very fun and exciting for me to meet new people and to re-connect with ones I have already met.

While at the Depot I was handed an Award of Commendation from C&N Industrial Contractors, Inc. They received an award from Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. for work done on the Springfield Museum of Art, and we were one of their subcontractors. Congratulations on this fine work and for allowing Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC, to be a part of it.

Tonight is our Sunday school class's Christmas party. I am looking forward to spending time with friends and eating good food as well. Tomorrow is the Cancer Society's Candlelight Tour of Homes in Champaign County. I can't wait to see the historic homes decorated for Christmas.

I hope you had a great week as well. May you have a good weekend, and I will talk to you again soon!

Pole barn floors, stenciled porch, & more

Hi! I thought I should at least jump on here and let you know we still exist! I wanted to post every week, but I had a little gap there, didn't I? Sorry!

Well, we have been busy. We have placed concrete for a decorative porch in Urbana, OH. I need to stop in and get pictures now that it is completely done. Jeff put the bottom row of siding back on the house last Friday. It is beautiful. We used a ...well, I'll wait and tell you more about it when I get the pictures up. The guys are pouring a barn floor today - I think total the floor used about 44 cy of concrete. We also have repaired a barn silo foundation outside of Urbana, replaced a garage floor in Quincy, and repaired and filled in a trench in a manufacturing facility in Sidney.

We are still bidding concrete jobs as well. A few bids that have recently gone out include another skate park, a set of barn floors for a beef operation, a decorative sidewalk, and a couple of driveway replacements.

Although we are not as busy as we have been in past years, we are still working strong with what we have, and we will be here for your business in the future. We appreciate each customer because without you, we wouldn't have a business. Let me know if we can be of service to you.

A note from a customer

This is a note I received from a customer when she mailed in her final payment. She said, "You are very fortunate to have capable workers to work with your projects. They know the concrete business and did a good job with my patio. I know I will enjoy it and it will be safe for me. I bought a patio set and hope I have time to sit out there." Signed Dorothy

Dorothy had recently fallen on her previous patio of uneven flagstone pavers and had to have stitches in her head. We are very happy that the customer was not only pleased with her new patio, but that it also created a safer environment for her. And we thank our employees for the good work that they did. Kudos to all.

Champaign County

This morning my day started at the Verde in Urbana, OH, for the First Friday Coffee Break (1st Friday of each month) sponsored by the Champaign Co. Chamber of Commerce. There were 36 attendees, an outstanding number of people for their first event of this type. Tina Knotts, Director of the Chamber, updated everyone on events going on around the county in the month of September - over 10 different events or activities just in one month! If you are looking for something to do, Champaign County is definitely the place to be. Just to touch on a couple of events, Sept 12-13 is the MERFI Fly-in at Grimes Airport in Urbana. Experimental aircraft is the highlight of this event. The following weekend, Sept 19-20 is a big weekend with the Barn Quilt tour (almost 60 quilts throughout the county) and the Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival at Freshwater Farms just north of Urbana. For more information on what to do in Champaign County, visit www.champaignohio.com. I have a few tickets to the Barn Quilt Tour if you are interested in them. Let me know!

After Tina told us about area events, each person in the room was given a chance to introduce themselves and share the business they represented. It was great to meet other people who want to see Champaign County thrive. It was a very positive meeting and encouraged me about the area businesses and what they have to offer. I am looking forward to getting more involved in the county in the near future.

I also spent some time talking with Mike Morris, Economic Development Director for the County, about social media. Great to get to know him a little, and looking forward to a great twitter and facebook relationship. It is amazing how much you get to know someone or learn about their businesses through social media. It is a great tool. I love it!! It makes meeting face to face even easier when you know a little about them, plus you have an immediate mutual interest to kick start the conversation - social media.

A few places to find Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC concrete work, check out the concrete around The Depot Coffee shop on East Main St, the Skate Park at Melvin Miller Park and the concrete in and around the new facility at Cedar Bog, just to name a few! Many of our jobs are in people's front or back yards, so I probably shouldn't give you those addresses. Not sure they would appreciate it. :-)

Well, I really need to get the bills paid before the long weekend. Have a safe and blessed Labor Day weekend. If you see me at the West Liberty festival, stop me and tell me what you think of my blog. I'd love to hear from you!!

Don't sweat the small stuff

Reduce the Stress in Your Life
I am borrowing this blog entry idea from our friends at L.L Geans Construction Co. in Mishawaka, IN. Thank you for your great newsletters. We enjoy looking at your projects and reading about your company.

"Sadly, many of us constantly postpone our happiness - indefinitely. It's not that we consciously set out to do so, but we keep convincing ourselves, "Someday I'll be happy." It will happen when the bills are paid, when we finish school, get our first job, after we get married, have a child, when the child is older... We'll be happy when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we retire. And on and on and on!

"Meanwhile, life moves on. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. Life will always be filled with challenges. Admit it and decide to be happy anyway."

Mine is the "when I retire" one. My husband's is "when we get this next job done." There is always another job that falls into the same "when we get this next job done." I won't say we are always complaining, because we don't. At least we are truly trying to make an effort to be happy. Are you? I know it is difficult, especially if you work with or live with a constant whiner. But our attitude is just that, ours. And we can make it what we want it to be. Let's make an effort to wake up each day and say, "Today, I am going to be happy!
God bless.

8 Tips for a Durable Concrete Driveway

Now is a great time of year to upgrade your home with a concrete driveway. Think back to last winter...did you have ice between the stones on your gravel driveway that just wouldn't melt? Did your snow blower or shovel keep getting stuck on the heaving cracks of your asphalt or old concrete? Forward to spring...are you, like me, tired of raking gravel out of your yard from the snow removal from your gravel driveway? (Yes, we do concrete work and I still have a gravel driveway...such is life on a farm and I am okay with that!) You don't want to go through that again, do you?

But before you sign the contract or otherwise commit to a contractor to place the concrete, make sure you are going to get a quality and long lasting job. Here are some things to look for before you sign the dotted line:

1) Base - a compacted base is a must for a quality end product. We recommend a 4" gravel base compacted uniformly and evenly so the slab won't settle and won't vary in thickness.

2) The concrete should be 4000-4500 psi (determines the compressive strength, or also the amount of cement in the mix) and is air entrained. The slump should be a maximum of 4-5 inches for a non-reinforced slab. (This is a test that basically determines how wet or runny the concrete is.) The slump should be consistent with each pour that is placed throughout the project.

3) Reinforcement - You may have the option of fiber, wiremesh or rebar reinforcement. Fiber is usually used in concrete to reduce plastic shrinkage cracks or dry shrinkage cracks, the cracks that may occur during the initial curing process. The intent of wire or rebar is to hold the concrete together should cracking occur to reduce the heaving or shifting of concrete. Don't let any contractor tell you that their concrete won't crack. A contractor can do all they can to control the cracks, but they do occur beyond anyone's control. For more information on cracking, visit this website: http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/concrete_cracks/

4) Water should not be added to the concrete after it is placed to make the concrete more workable. Throwing water on top reduce the water to cement ratio on the top layer of concrete making it weaker. Beware of the contractor who does this! Some water or an admixture may be added before discharging from the concrete truck, but not after discharge begins. Admixtures can be added to the concrete while in the drum to make the concrete more workable.

5) A new slab should be allowed two months of curing time of temperatures above 40 degrees F. In our location, we do not recommend placing a driveway after October 1st.

6) Joints - Control or contraction joints on a 4" thick slab should be placed approximately every 10 feet and at a depth of at least 1/4" into the thickness. The joint gives potential cracking a place to "run" instead of randomly zigzagging across your driveway. If you find a crack in a control joint, that means it worked!

7) Curing - This is one of the most important steps in concrete construction. There are a variety of ways to cure concrete, but the most widely used method is a liquid membrane which is sprayed or rolled on the surface of the slab immediately after finishing.

8) In most cases you should be able to walk on your driveway the day after it is placed, but don't drive your vehicle on it for 7-10 days after placement. It actually won't reach its 4500 psi compression strength for up to 28 days in normal temperatures. Consult with your contractor on when he/she says it is okay to drive on your new driveway.

If you have questions, please leave me a comment and I will be glad to help guide you in your search for a durable driveway.

I pray that God blesses you in all you do, and that you have a wonderful weekend.

Satisfied customer in St. Paris, OH

Just got a call from another very happy customer. We placed a 20' apron, sidewalk and step for him at his new home. (We had also placed his basement and garage floors a couple of years ago.) He said the guys did things he didn't expect them to do. They pushed gravel up to the apron so he didn't have to, and they did some repair on the yard where the concrete truck did some damage. He said the lines were cut straight in the concrete. Initial concerns he had were taken care of immediately, and the end result was exactly what he wanted. He said he was very pleased and would definitely send customers our way.

You always take a chance in calling customers after the work is completed for fear of hearing a bad report. However, I am finding that it is a great way to get a pat on the back! Yes, you might hear about a flaw or two, but how else are you going to find out about ways to improve your business from the customer's perspective? More often I am hearing about how great our employees are doing, not only with the overall work being done, but also about the way they interact with the customer. Kudos to the Yoder Concrete Construction crews!

We took a short trip to North and South Carolina last week for a nephew's wedding and a couple of days on Lake Hartwell. It was a beautiful trip, and the weather was very mild for this time of year. I loved driving through the mountains. I think I could retire there. Very nice.

Have a beautiful and blessed week.

Decorative sidewalk - another happy customer!

(Before photo)

When I first met with Pat and her husband at their home in Springfield,OH, their main problem was the three little steps to get into their front door. Everyone was always tripping, or falling off the edge when opening the door. The brick looked nice enough, but what was the contractor thinking placing the sidewalk at that awkward height? Not low enough for a comfortable concrete step, but too high to step directly into the house. Our solution? Slope the new sidewalk gradually so the end result would be to step directly into the house with a standard 7" step and widen it gradually so as to not step off the edge.

Pat also had a very valid concern about having a contractor at her home. She wanted to make sure there wasn't any damage to their new front door or the windows on the lower lever. She was assured that Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC, shows as much care for their customers as they would for their own homes. The crew placed plastic up to protect the house from any possible flying debris and from concrete splatters.

The customer chose a subtle light gray color hardener and a stone gray release agent for the concrete to compliment the siding. With the new red door as their focal point, they didn't want the walk to compete. And with a keystone stencil to add a little pattern, the results were outstanding. Their new sidewalk welcomes visitors to their home with a new ease of entry into the house.

Pat's comments were, "We are so happy with our sidewalk...Your crew did a great job and were pleasant to have working here."

Thank you to a great and happy customer in Springfield, OH. Enjoy your new concrete sidewalk from Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC. Have a safe July 4th weekend!

Are all concrete contractors the same?

The answer is no. Placing concrete is a craft and not all contractors skills are the same, and not all companies provide the same service to your overall project.

I have a brochure from the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) entitled "A Guide to Selecting a Concrete Contractor." The ASCC states that part of your selection process in finding a concrete contractor for your project is, of course, cost evaluation. "You should be charged a fair price for the labor and materials for your project. Prior to looking at cost, however, you'll want to pre-qualify potential contractors. Accurate estimating, site preparation, an appropriate layout for your area -- how your project will be handled -- all should be taken into careful consideration. In the same way, you should evaluate the companies you are considering by examining their levels of experience, craftsmanship and reliability.

Good contractors use high quality materials and pay a higher wage for experienced craftsmen. The quality of the labor and materials is key to the finished product and your level of satisfaction."

The selection of a contractor should be determined by 1) the pre-planning that goes into the job, 2) the experience and level of craftsmanship demonstrated, 3) reliability and track record, and 4) a fair price. This brochure allows you to compare up to four contractors in these areas with a checklist of 15 different criteria. If you think this brochure would be helpful to you in selecting your concrete contractor, give me a call at 937-362-3210. I will be glad to get you one, and would also be glad to provide you with an estimate and explain how Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC could become your contractor of choice.

Urbana Skate Park Grand Opening

Were you in Urbana, OH, last Sunday afternoon for the Grand Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting for the new skate park? I captured a glimpse of it for you just in case you couldn't make it (see below.) I overheard someone say there were over 100 skateboarders there ready to try out the new facility. Watch through the end of the video to see some of the skaters. You can also catch more in another video on our YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/yoderconcretetv. If you want to fine tune your boarding skills at the park, you can find it on the north end of town at the Melvin Miller Park near the city pool. Let me know when you are going to be there and maybe I can catch you on the flip (video, that is.) You might find yourself on our blog or on our YouTube channel! How cool is that! Or if you see yourself on the videos already posted, send me a comment below. I'd love to know that I caught you on tape and you saw it.

Well, another great project completed by Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC. A few of our upcoming projects include two stenciled sidewalks-one in brick and one in a keystone pattern, a commercial driveway and a stamped patio. Visit here weekly for updates on what Yoder Concrete has going on. We give free estimates, so let me know if you or someone you know needs some concrete work. We can still fit you in to our schedule this summer.

Lightning Strike - dead computer

Ugh. A thunderstorm is fun to watch from a distance, but it is not fun when the lightning decides to strike on your property. The storm that went through early yesterday morning caused a lot of damage at the Yoder's. Luckily the laptop that I am using now was spared. But my main computer, printer and our internet modem are dead, along with various other items. It was so strong it knocked the cover completely off the adapter for a phone plugged into the wall. Now we get to go through the process of working with an insurance adjuster plus the various entities for repair or replacement. God never gives us more than we can handle, right? We are hoping the data from the computer can be retrieved, but time will tell. It has taught me I should back up my computer more often. If only Carbonite had worked the last two weeks like it was supposed to?? We will see.

Today we are placing concrete in a pole barn and for the exterior apron and porch. A brick stencil was placed around the apron. I have been filming all day and will put together various videos, probably in phases to keep them from getting too long. The barn is at my parents house, so it has been fun to be involved from start to finish. Most times I pop in at a jobsite and back out again, and over the ten years I have seen most phases from beginning to end, but rarely all at one job. Yes, I even got involved by placing some of the color for the stencil and running an edger along the apron and porch. My main job was keeping the crew supplied with water and cookies and making lunch. And I washed a tool or two with my four year old.

Have you seen our YouTube Channel yet? It is work in progress. I am looking for some creative ideas for a name for the channel and our blog that link them together. Any ideas?? Our business focuses on quality, honesty and integrity. If you want a job right, call us. If you want the cheapest and fasted job, we probably aren't your contractor. Spark any ideas? Place your ideas in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you.
Have a blessed weekend!

Urbana Skate Park update

Okay, I started this blog last week after a visit to the skate park. But due to Internet connection problems, I got off track and just now got back on here. And in the meantime, we now have a YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/YoderConcreteTV. How exciting is that! I only have two videos posted (again because of my connection problems.) But more will follow soon! And somehow I will figure out how to link my Youtube channel and blog to do this once. I am learning as I go as I am sure many of us are. Any advice? Comment below - I would love to hear from you.

Here is what I had to say last week with a little modification to send you to the video via YouTube...

What a beautiful day to be working outdoors! And I started my day at the Urbana Skate Park project to video the latest work instead of in the office as often happens. And I actually caught the guys "placing" concrete, as my dear twitter friend corrected me. I had a helper with me, and we thought we wouldn't get there in time to see the concrete mixer, but we were in luck. We saw one truck wash out and leave just before the last finish load arrived. Click below to see the video of their pour - make sure you watch to the end to see our little concrete finisher in training!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v01zAq1XpAU&feature=channel_page

Interview with Jeff Yoder on the skate park

I am having too much fun with my Flip Video! This time I tried to mix it up a little with an interview with Jeff Yoder about the skate park. I also got some video of a couple of our guys working. We joked about having proof now that they really do work! That video will be saved for a later post...

Usually on Wednesday mornings I play the part of vice president at the Logan County Business Networking International (BNI) meeting. However, yesterday there was a scheduling conflict so I had to make a quick decision to attend the Champaign County Safety Council instead. I hated to miss BNI, but I am glad I went to Safety Council - we received two awards! Very exciting. We had no lost time accidents last year - great job to all of our employees for keeping each other safe!

Tonight I am attending the second class in a three part series on Social Media Networking. The workshop is being held at Ohio Hi-Point in Bellefontaine, OH and being given by Shane Haggerty. The first class was very helpful and great fun. I look forward to learning more about reaching our customers via the internet. If you have any suggestions on what I should post or questions about concrete, comment or email me and let me know! I might use them on future posts.

Thank you to Chris who emailed us a tip on making the skate park better for the skateboarders.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! Be safe and be blessed.

Concrete volcano at the skate park

Good Monday morning! It was chilly this morning, but the sun is shining and will be a great day to do concrete work!

I got pictures of the volcano in progress from last week. A slight scare as we thought the camera was missing, but it was in the truck right where it was supposed to be. Much better than buried under a pile of dirt as was suspected.

I went to the Coffee Depot Friday night after the Relay for Life opening ceremonies. There were a lot of kids there; it is a nice hangout. I saw a few skate boarders there just waiting for this skate park to open! It sure will be nice for them to have a place to go instead of trying their tricks in the middle of a busy parking lot. I went again on Sunday afternoon to teach our four year old how to roller blade. It was slow moving on wheels, but a fun time, nonetheless. Our sixteen year old did circles around us on his blades! They got fruit smoothies and I got a frozen vanilla latte, and we enjoyed the sunshine and the afternoon.

Skate Park Model photo

Skate Park Model Photo - TGIF! It looks like it is going to be a great day.

Here is a still photo of the skate park model for you to see at your leisure. Even though I have to admit the video is pretty great, it makes it difficult to really look at the overall model. So here it is.


Last night Jeff and I went to the Urbana Country Club for his graduation from the Leadership program. He has been attending class one day each month for nine months to learn more about Champaign County, what it has to offer, and how to be a better leader within the county. We were served a very nice meal of salad, chicken cordon blue, asparagus and potatoes and a yummy dessert-an ice cream ball with pecans and hot fudge. Then we were entertained by Mrs. Dawn Allen, a principal at Graham Elementary, who spoke about how she is using her teaching skills to inspire and lead other teachers to make the learning experience fun and eye opening for the kids. She was a great speaker - I wish she would have talked more. I am sure she was a great teacher for the kids and I know she is becoming a great leader for the school district. I know we sure appreciate what she does for the band program.

Speaking of the band, this evening is the Relay for Life walk at the Champaign County fairgrounds. The Graham Dancin' Band from Falcon land will be performing around 5:15. Come out and support the cancer walk and watch the Dancin' band in action! If you see me, make sure you say hi and let me know you saw our blog. I will be wearing my Yoder Concrete Construction t-shirt. Also visit the skate park progress at Melvin Miller park while you are in town, but remember to stay OFF the concrete as it is still curing. And stop at Lost Nation Boardsports downtown. They have the real model to view. I think they are open until 8pm. Have a great weekend!

Ok, I know it isn't Friday, which is when I usually post an update, but I got these pictures from Kevin from Lost Nation Boardsports and had to share them with you. Plus, between you and me, I am taking a class at Ohio Hi-Point to learn more about social media, and our homework is to work on a blog. I thought this little video might get me extra credit! Just don't tell Mr. Haggerty that my sixteen year old son helped with it (just a little. ) No, I don't typically listen to The Offspring, but I have heard it enough to know it would make great background music for the skate park.

I finally got to see what a Euro gap is. Some of these I could have figured out - pyramid, stairs, ledge... not too difficult to label. There is a volcano, too - you can see it in the first picture of the whole model. And they actually poured the real concrete volcano this week. Jeff took some pictures, so as soon as I get them, I will post them for you to see. Let me know what you think of this project. Tell your friends about it. Plan on visiting this summer to try it out. But stay off of it until we say it is okay. The concrete isn't cured hard yet, so we don't want to mess up the edges or it just won't be the same for everyone to enjoy.

Have a safe week! God bless.

This week's update on the skate park

Welcome back to the Urbana Skate Park progress update. We got a lot done this week compared to last week. You can really see it coming together. There are stairs, rails and a Eurogap - whatever that is - I am not knowledgable in these things! I'll have to come out when it is done and have a skate boarder tell me what the elements are and show me how they are used. I think I'll leave my skate board at home, though!

The spring rains are welcome for the farmers, but they are getting us behind schedule. We can use some help if you know of someone who has experience placing concrete and would like to be a part of creating this exciting and challenging project. They need to have a positive attitude and be proud of a job well done. Have them call the office for an application at 1-866-466-8614.

Now hiring!

We are looking for two concrete workers to help us get the skate park in Urbana done by the June deadline! Do you know anyone? We want 1-4 years experience in concrete work, good attitude and good work ethic. Call me for an application! 866-466-8614

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/skate-park-rolls-toward-june-opening-88566.html

Re-sealing your concrete

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day...Unfortunately I don't have an update on the skate park in Urbana. It has rained all week, and I never got out there. I am not sure they even poured much, although they might have gotten a pour in today. Hopefully I can get an updated video on here next week.

Today I want to talk about resealing your concrete. If you have decorative concrete and have had it for a few years, it would definitely improve the look of your concrete if you reseal it. It is an easy do-it-yourself project if you have the right equipment and use the right sealer. Here are the steps:

• Powerwash the concrete with 3500 psi or more to ensure all dirt and debris are removed.
• All the concrete to thoroughly dry
• Re-seal the concrete with a quality sealer using a sprayer or paint roller. We recommend using Super Diamond Clear by Euclid. You can typically find this product at your local concrete ready mix plant. You will not find it at your average hardware/lumber company. This sealer is not cheap, but it will also not yellow like some off the shelf brands.
• Tip - two thin coats of sealer are much better than one thick coat! Don't put it on too thick.
• We recommend you seal your driveway every couple of years to protect it from the road salts in the winter. Sidewalks, patios, and porches can be done every 2-4 years depending on their exposure to the elements.

For colored concrete, you will be amazed at the improvement once you reseal it. It may appear that the color is fading, but in most cases, that is not what has happened. Once the sealer is applied, the color will pop right back to where it had been when it was new.

I hope this gives you an easy project to spruce up your concrete for spring and summer. If you have any questions, or if you would prefer to get an estimate for us to come out and reseal it for you, give me a call or shoot me an email. I would also love to hear from you if this worked and improved your decorative concrete. Let me know how it turned out!

Update on Urbana Skate Park

Hi again. What a gorgeous day. I have the windows open, my papers are blowing off my desk and it is very stuffy in here, but I just cannot turn the air conditioner on yet! I have to enjoy the warm spring air and the smell of freshly cut grass.

I visited the Urbana Skate Park on Tuesday to shoot some video to share. The Yoder Concrete Construction crew was at lunch, so there aren't any workers to see yet. I'll get them in it next week! It is really proceeding quite well. I will try to get out there each week so you can see the progress. Be sure to share this with your young skate boarding friends. It is very exciting that Urbana is doing something like this for their youth. Kudos to Andrea Tullis and the Urbana Youth Sports organization and everyone else involved in raising and donating materials and funds for this project.

The project is located east of the city pool in the Melvin Miller Park.

Have a great weekend, and don't get sun burned!

Middleburg Restroom Project

It's Friday, the sun is shining and the high is forecasted in the 70's. Tomorrow is looking just as good. Can we ask for more?! Beautiful.

Do you know where Middleburg, OH is?? It is a small community between Bellefontaine and Marysville in Logan County. And thanks to Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC, and their subcontractors, they have a beautiful new restroom facility at their park. Well, almost. It is in the final stages of completion, just in time for spring and summer activities. This was Yoder Concrete Construction's first project as a general contractor, and it has been a great experience. The Logan County Commissioners and the Zanes Township Trustees have been wonderful to work with. I love the colors they chose for the interior and exterior of the building. Check out our video of the project in the final stages of completion. Thank you to the commissioners, trustees, and architect, Mike Bow, for all of your help and for hiring us to build this facility for you. Thank you also to everyone who has had a part in this building complete. We look forward to working with you again.

Have a great weekend!

Urbana Skate Park

Do you know any young (or young at heart) skate boarders? Pass on to them that a new, 15,500 square foot, above ground skate park is being built right in Urbana at Melvin Miller Park! Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC, along with the help of volunteers, is building this great improvement to the community. You can see a model of the finished product at Lost Nation Board Sports, located on north Main St. in Urbana. Thanks to Beasley Architecture for designing the park, and to Andrea Tullis, Urbana Youth Sports and all of the donors for making this project a reality. If you would like to make a donation, visit urbanayouthsports.com.

Watch for updates in the next few weeks on this exciting project!

Need a concrete contractor?

Hi. Are you looking for a concrete contractor? Call me for an estimate! We specialize in concrete flatwork, such as driveways, barn and garage floors, basement floors, patios, etc. We focus our business to commercial, residential and agricultural customers. Visit our website for more information on our business. We would love to be your contractor.

Stop back by my blog for more information later on what to look for in a contractor. Don't just pick the lowest price - you will often times get what you pay for! We have ACI (American Concrete Institute) certified concrete technicians and finishers on our crews. They have been trained and have the experience to place the concrete correctly. You don't want to tear out your concrete three years after placement. Get the experts the first time! Call Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC! 866-466-8614

We serve the Champaign and Logan Counties and surrounding counties in Ohio.