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"Vertical stamped overlays are a part of the industry that is overlooked," Howard says. "It's an untapped resource that hasn't had its full exposure yet." As a decorative concrete contractor, it's easy to add vertical overlays to jobs you are already quoting, she adds.

At a Glance
Company:Decorative Designs
Ocala, Fla.
www.decorativedesignsocala.com
Decorative services offered: Concrete overlays, faux finishes and custom painting. Key products and equipment:
Architectural Enhancements water-based and mineral-based stains; Architectural Enhancements Tru-finish and Mediterrainian-finish; Clear coat polymer; trowels; plastic grapes and leaves; chip and artist brushes; Architectural Enhancements water-based sealer; Architectural Enhancements Vertex.

A concrete fireplace to warm up to

Cast-in-place and precast concrete fireplace surrounds are becoming popular with home¬owners, but another option - one which Unique Decorative Concrete, Ionia, Mich., recently completed - is creating a concrete fireplace surround using a vertical stamped overlay.

Unique Decorative Concrete built a 101⁄2-foot-long hearth, an 8-foot-tall fireplace surround and a 10-inch-wide mantel around a ventless gas fireplace. The project took president Jeff Szalony approximately one week to complete.