Not Just Gray Concrete Anymore

Koi fish pond & fountain

Not your typical concrete: I was privileged to join a group of ladies to Hocking Hills, OH last weekend for a Weekend Retweat. No, I didn't stutter...we "tweet" about our retreat through various social media outlets.  Our stay was at The Glass House, one of the 4 Seasons Hideways in the beautiful Hocking Hills. This house was built in 2010 and was a 2010 award winner for Best of the Best Green Home Design by the Builders Industry Association. It is beautiful and energy efficient, but of course what caught my eye was their use of concrete countertops throughout the house. In the photo above, you'll see concrete seating around a Koi fish pond and fountain right in the middle of the house. This same concrete countertop was used throughout the house in the kitchen, bathrooms and in the laundry room.  I loved the polished finish that exposed the aggregate in the concrete. The concrete vessel sinks were great to see as well. 

While we were there, we visited many of God's wonders including Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave. Due to all of the rain we have had this spring, the falls were amazing. I heard people exclaim that they had never seen so much water coming over the falls! Again, the use of concrete caught my eye (I am trained well!) I was expecting dirt or mulch trails at a state park, but at Old Man's Cave, the trails were very well made with both natural and man made elements that gave the look and feel of having been there for years. Beware of those who are not in shape because if you want to see Old Man's Cave, you will need to traverse many steps. But it is well worth the effort! 


Ash Cave is ADA accessible with their concrete walkways back to the cave and waterfall. When making the walkways, they used colored concrete to match the natural dirt color of the area, and they did not use typical straight forms to form up the sides of the sidewalk. The result was a more natural flow blending in to the beauty of the area. 

I would encourage anyone looking for a getaway to go to Hocking Hills in southern Ohio.  You can have the ultra modern conveniences offered by 4 Seasons Hideaways, stay in one of the many cabins, or camp at a local campground. You can walk through the parks or zip line from above with Hocking Hills Canopy Tours.  I can't wait to take my family back to Hocking Hills.

Contractor Alert: First impressions count

Want a professional image for your business? What you say and do can make a huge difference in how potential customers perceive you.

I had lunch with a business colleague last week, and she shared about an experience she had with her neighbor's concrete contractor. She was in her house with her young children minding her own business. The neighbor was having some concrete work done in his backyard (not by Yoder Concrete Construction, by the way,) and the workers were loud with very colorful language in this quiet residential neighborhood. There was only so much this lady could take. She went out and confronted the person in charge asking them to watch their language because there were young children within earshot, and it was not appreciated.

If that wasn't bad enough, not long after, she heard water running from her outside spigot.  She went out, and sure enough, this contractor had hooked up his hose to her house, without permission, because they needed to wash their tools. For some reason, they were unable to reach the customer's water source. She was livid, but being a business owner herself and wanting to maintain relationships, she allowed them to use her water. However, she suggested they ask in advance next time.

Needless to say, she said she would never hire this contractor regardless of their quality or price because of the way they handled themselves on this one project. You could be the best contractor on the planet, but your image may tell consumers something different. There is a simple lesson to be learned here: think about what you say and who might overhear it, and ask permission before trespassing on someone else's property. Be professional at all times. You just never know who is watching. It could be your next customer (or not.)

Business Spotlight: Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC

Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC was the business spotlight of this month's Safety Council in Urbana, Ohio. Below is the presentation given to the local businesses in attendance. We are "Your Quality Concrete Contractor" and here is why:

Business Spotlight: Yoder Concrete Construction, LLC

View more presentations from yoderconcrete.

Ask the Concrete Expert - Control joints

Why do concrete contractors put saw cuts or tool joints in the concrete? These are called control or contraction joints.  All concrete has the potential to crack but these joints between sections of concrete are strategically placed to "control" the cracking, thus the name of control joints.  The joints can either be cut with a concrete saw soon after the concrete has been placed, or they can be tooled into the concrete with a special concrete tool called a groover. Joints can also occur when placement has stopped for the day and continues the next day, typically found in larger projects.

Are these joints required? No. But there is a good chance your concrete will crack due to earth movement, temperature variation, concrete curing, etc. Wouldn't you rather have a straight line than a random, squiggly crack?

So if you see this term on your proposal for concrete work, you know that the contractor is taking the correct measures to control the cracking. Our tag line at Yoder Concrete Construction used to be "WE CONTROL OUR CRACKS." While very catchy and appropriate for our industry in more than one way, we decided upon something a little more professional. We now use "YOUR QUALITY CONCRETE CONTRACTOR."  But we do still control our cracks. =)

If you have any questions for the concrete experts, let me know. I'd love to hear from you.
Have a blessed day!