Poolside waterfalls are becoming very popular and Overlay Solutions, LLC is creating many custom built styles. Jody Smith Owner/ Artisan of Overlay Solutions based out of Summerville, SC is very excited about the custom additions that he is adding to his poolside enhancements. Smith will be adding real rock constructed waterfalls as well as his hand carved concrete creations. The hand carved features are created using techniques that Smith has been trained in, by some of the top concrete artisans in the world.
“I will be adding lighting, misting effects, remote controlled features, speakers, fire pits, and fire effects to the very intricate details of our poolside creations here at Overlay Solutions, LLC. I have a series of features that will consist of real stone along with simulated concrete boulders and stone effects. The features will be one of a kind and truly unique focal points for the poolside retreat.”
Smith is also in the design phase for a poolside cooler the will keep all your refreshments cool but unnoticed. He plans to complete this design project before spring of 2010 with a mind blowing design. Overlay Solutions, LLC services the entire lowcountry such as Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Daniel Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, James Island, Goose Creek and West of the Ashley. Smith has had the pleasure of working on elite projects from the Edmondston-Alston House located on the Charleston battery in historic downtown Charleston, SC to the beautiful blue ridge mountains of Hendersonville, NC. Our company is based on solid integrity and intricate details that most contractor type installers can't produce using basic installation practices or mix designs.
Why did I start Overlay Solutions?
“I remember the summers as a child at Disney World in Orlando Florida I was amazed at all the huge stones all around the amusement park. I would wonder, how they could get all those stones up there so high? How did they stack the boulders so perfect inside the rides? How did they get the huge stones through the ride entrances? How do they make such beautiful floors & benches? I would then just say to my self Oh well it’s Disney and if anyone could find a way to do it Walt Disney could. Until one day I discovered that so much of what truly amazed me more then the rides themselves was man made replications. I was not disappointed but inspired that someone could achieve such realism that year after year I would ask, how did they do that? Now I know and I plan to create the same illusions that had me so amazed as a child and still to this day. My goals are to build Overlay Solutions with solid integrity and vast desire for this craft of illusion and replication to turn my client’s visions & dreams into reality.
Walt Disney once said,“If you can dream it you can do it.”
That pretty much sums up Jody Smith’s philosophy at Overlay Solutions. Inspired by the creations at Disney World as a child, Smith uses concrete to craft beautiful overlays transforming almost any surface from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether it is turning a mundane countertop into a stunning new old world stone looking kitchen centerpiece or a dull patio into a gorgeous gathering place, Smith can envision the finished product while designing it. Using his sixteen years of previous landscaping experience, Smith incorporates his ideas into the surrounding environment to create seamless designs. He will also take on an exclusive Landscape Design Installation project if needed to serve his clients evey need.
Depending upon the application and type of aggregate used, Smith applies a variety of designs and carvings to the product based on the clients’ desires. His finished product goes beyond conventional concrete stamping methods, and its beauty lies within the intricate details ingrained in each project. Smith also uses a variety of colorization techniques including flakes of bronze or copper that can give clients more of a classic look. Smith views himself as an artist whose canvas is concrete, and sees his projects as works of art. Smith enjoys taking a much more personal approach by helping his clients create their own visions with him. “I want my clients to have exactly what they are seeking in any of the many services that Overlay Solutions has to offer. Overlay Solutions provides quality work with concrete results and takes great pride that our only limitation is your imagination. http://www.overlaysolutions.com/
Concrete Artisan Jody Smith of Overlay Solutions, LLCis carving a concrete tiki at one of his clients request. The tiki will be placed along with others around an island style pool paradise. Some simulated boulders and a tiki bar are also being created by Overlay Solutions, LLC. Smith says that the project is a first for him but found it fun to create the tiki. Smith used a photo that the client gave him and he carved in all the intricate details of the photo. Smith was also able to create the aged look of the tiki by using different coloration techniques. The concrete mix used is a light weight vertical mix that Smith creates in house.
This is Smith's long term vision for his company by giving the little extras to his clients by thinking outside the box. Trying new methods to enhance the clients request and taking decorative concrete ideas to the next level. Smith has a lot of new ideas and decorative concrete concepts in the works and plans to continue creating decorative concrete art all over the Charleston, Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms, and surrounding areas.
"I want to give my clients one of a kind creations that no one else has. I do this by listening to their wants and needs instead of looking at the project on a production time scale. I do feel that every project needs to be completed in a timely manor without sacrificing quality. I enjoy my job and like the creative side that I take by adding the extra details when it's possible without adding cost to client. If I see something that would take the project to another level I just do it. I do this knowing that word of mouth can carry a company to great heights. This I learned being in the Landscape design industry for 16 plus years. If you want to make a name for yourself you have to earn it and that doesn't happen cutting corners." - Jody Smith
In the past when someone mentioned concrete, people rarely got excited. Concrete was usually seen as dull in appearance, somewhat expensive, and an unwise choice for a paving material given the harsh abuse of mother nature. When it came to flatwork around the home, home-owners usually ended up settling for asphalt driveways and hoped they could afford traditional masonry for their sidewalks, patio or pool deck.
Thanks to new advances, concrete is quickly redefining it’s role in the residential marketplace. Today, concrete can be made more durable with overlays applied in a wide variety of finishes and colors offering the homeowner endless design possibilities. With new tools and practices it can even acquire the look and feel of brick, slate, tile, or cobblestone for a fraction of the cost of the real material. Builders and homeowners alike are now realizing that concrete overlays can add tremendous value, flexibility, and curb appeal to their projects while allowing them to stay within budget.
“A homeowner can now have that brick or stone looking driveway and still have enough money left over to enjoy it.” says Jody Smith, Concrete Artisan & Owner of Overlay Solutions, LLC a company that specializes in decorative concrete installations in the Charleston / Summerville SC area. This material is being looked at in so many new ways. Not only are we getting more calls from general contractors, but now we’re getting just as many calls from homeowners, architects and designers asking us to consult on new design possibilities.
It’s an exciting time to be in this business. ”Builders and developers of large commercial projects have long taken advantage of the beauty and flexibility of decorative concrete. To these budget-conscious professionals, it is seen as a perfect alternative to traditional masonry due to the savings in material costs, installation time, and overall maintenance. “Anyone who has been to Disney World, Six Flags Amusement Parks, or Las Vegas has probably walked all over those old cobblestone streets, slate and brick sidewalks for hours on end, never realizing it was actually concrete, that is the true beauty of this industry" says Jody Smith. Unfortunately, people in our area have been slow to pick up on these advances. They’ve been hesitant to use concrete creatively given the abuse it can receive during a harsh winter. Smith says this is unjustified. “Decorative concrete can be stronger and more chemical resistant than ordinary concrete with a higher cement content, advanced reinforcement materials, surface hardeners and protective sealers.
Using these materials and proven cold weather placement techniques, there is no reason why a professionally installed concrete job here should not last as long as it would in any other climate.” In the past, decorative concrete was usually limited to a mason scoring a flagstone-like design, or embedding sticks, leaves and even coffee cans into the surface to achieve a desired effect. Today, the leading edge of concrete is a process called thin stamped overlays or decorative overlays. This involves stamping or impressing three-dimensional pattern tools into a polymer cement material with molds made from actual brick or stonework. When the stamping is complete, the product is then stained and sealed, highlighting the colors and providing greater stain and weather resistance.
The result is a surface that combines the beauty of masonry with the durability of concrete. There are over 40 different colors to choose from, ranging from natural earth tones to bright pastels. Pattern choices include slate, brick, granite, cobblestone, tile, flagstone, and more. Although thin stamped overlays are a little more expensive than ordinary concrete work, a savings of more than 50% over masonry costs are common. Thin stamped overlays can also be placed in a fraction of the time and there are no individual units that will shift or allow grass to grow in the joints. Feel free to call Overlay Solutions, LLC at (843) 871-7747 for more information or visit their website http://www.overlaysolutions.com/
