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To get the job done right, the best solution was to start almost from scratch.

"We scarified the entire surface to fresh concrete," he says.

Then, they applied the base coat and color. Next, they used the same stencil pattern as the original work and tried to match the colors as closely as possible, so the repaired projects would be consistent with the others in the neighborhood. Finally, they applied two coats of 30 percent clear acrylic sealant.

"That's a big part of making sure the job gets done right," Bencker says. "A lot of people will use a cheap sealer - either a 15 percent or water-based."

Professional quality

Taking shortcuts in materials or application methods is all too common in the industry, Bencker says.

One of the biggest problems is that there are no codes for decorative concrete in North Carolina, he says.

"Usually the problems come from cutting corners," he says. "People are rushing to complete jobs to try to make their money.