About & Contact

About Concrete Buddy

Welcome to Concrete Buddy, the blog dedicated to everything concrete — from practical tips and techniques to tool recommendations and "how-to" advice. This is the place where I share real-world, hands-on insights from years in the concrete trade.

Concrete Buddy is also the name of my main app, the Concrete Buddy Calculator & Estimator, designed to make measuring, estimating, and planning your concrete projects faster and simpler. While the app has a dedicated landing page, this blog expands on that with tips, tutorials, and other concrete-related content.

The focus here isn’t on complex mix designs — instead, you’ll find practical techniques, tool tips, and guidance that you can use on your next pour or project. Over time, I’ll also post about other apps I’m developing, making this the hub for both concrete knowledge and the tools I create to make your life easier.

Whether you’re a DIYer, a professional contractor, or just someone interested in concrete projects, the goal is simple: give you actionable advice that actually works in the field.

Contact

Have a question, suggestion, or idea for the blog or my apps? I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at: brooks.dev85@gmail.com

Please include a clear subject line (for example: "Blog tip idea" or "Concrete Buddy question") so I can respond as quickly as possible.

Popular posts from this blog

Best Hand Tools for Concrete Finishers (2025) — How Pros Make & Modify Their Own

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Concrete finishing is an art that separates the amateurs from the true craftsmen. Every professional finisher knows the difference between a smooth, glass-tight slab and a wavy, uneven mess often comes down to one thing — the tools in your hands . From the legendary Marshalltown finishing trowels and hand mags to Kraft Tool edgers , jointers , and floats , the right setup determines how efficient, clean, and consistent your finish turns out. But here’s the thing — not every job can be done with store-bought tools. Over time, most seasoned finishers end up modifying or creating their own custom hand tools to handle tough situations — like beating down a high spot near a drain, pulling a perfect fan texture on a drying slab, or saving your knees on a long hot pour. In this post, we’ll cover the must-have professional hand tools for 2025 , and then show you how pros make three of their own custom tools that outperform anything you can buy off the shelf. Want to make your concrete p...
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Rebar vs. Wire Mesh vs. Fibre Mesh: Which Concrete Reinforcement Is Right for Your Project?

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Ever hear a contractor tell a homeowner, ‘Skip the steel — fibre mesh is all you need’? Usually it’s the fast-job pitch: save a few hours, skip lifting rebar, and move on to the next pour. But here’s the reality for anyone who actually finishes slabs for a living — fibre helps with shrinkage cracks, sure, but it will never replace steel when a slab actually needs to carry weight. If you want a floor that holds up, you need to know what each reinforcement really does, and when cutting corners will come back to bite you. Let’s clear up what each type of reinforcement actually does , what it can’t do, and when you should use one over the other. The Concrete Buddy app ties right into this — it doesn’t just calculate concrete volume; it also figures the cost of rebar, wire mesh, and fibre mesh so you can quote a job accurately. Rebar – Built for Strength, Not Crack Control Rebar is structural . It’s meant to handle tensile and bending stress , not just hold cracks tight. You’l...
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Stamped Concrete Calculator & Guide: Patterns, Costs, and Pro Tips for DIYers

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Stamped concrete adds a beautiful, professional look to patios, driveways, and walkways. Whether you're a DIY concrete enthusiast or a pro contractor, proper planning is essential to avoid overbuying materials or making costly mistakes. With the Concrete Buddy app , you can calculate all materials, costs, and even add labour costs in minutes. Popular stamped concrete patterns include Ashlar Slate , Random Stone , and Roman Slate . Choosing the right pattern can dramatically improve the look of your patio or driveway. With the Concrete Buddy app , you can plan your project, calculate concrete volumes, and even estimate costs for stamping, color, release agents, and sealer. Download the Concrete Buddy App Now This short video demonstrates how the Concrete Buddy app calculates all costs for a stamped concrete pad, including the concrete, stamp release, sealer, and color. For accurate results, users should enter their local material prices in the app...
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