Walttools

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Walttools "Welcome to Walttools - your top destination for all things Decorative Concrete Supplies!
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We offer a wide range of high-quality concrete stamps, mixes, rollers, epoxy, colors, tools, training and more to help you bring your concrete projects to life. Walttools is the best choice for Decorative Concrete Supplies including concrete stamps, rollers, stains, sealers, tools and a full line of specialized decorative mixes including the higly sought after Tru Pac line of ad mixes.

10/15/2026

Precast Faster!

Getting concrete to set faster is the only way to make precast pieces faster...
We used Tru Pac C in our mix on this piece and were able to stamp only 50 minutes after pouring. That's not even mentioning all of the extra benefits we're getting like improved strength and rheology (better texture from the liner).

10/12/2026

Pouring with basic mix is not always the best option...

Here we're working on a pre-cast landscaping step block. But the same principal applies to anything you're pouring with a basic bag mix, you're not going to get the best finish. Sometimes that doesn't matter so you can just rock with it.

If you need a better/ more refined finish, Tru Pac C is an easy way to get that. You're getting a ton of benefits by having it in your mix (improved rheology for casting with liners, increased strength, and better finish from better workability). You can see how the mix doesn't look like damp gravel when we're pouring and finishing. It resembles a higher quality bag mix, but it's only the cost of the basic, cheap mix plus a $10 bag of Tru Pac C (that's a LOT less than a specialty bag of casting mix).

10/07/2026

Don't rush...

Measure twice, cut once. And cut it right! Don't get lazy.

We know how big of a deal it is to be cutting up step liners. So every cut you make has to be done right.

Also, when you're precasting pieces like we're doing here, don't pick an uncommon size. Use standard sizing like 3 or 4' width. The same goes for any step, not just precast. Most likely, you're going to be able to use them again on another set of stairs, or at least for most of the steps (each project has its quirks you have to work around for certain details).

Another note on a setup like this: make sure the factory edge goes into the back of the step. That way as the texture ends, it has a nice return rather than an abrupt stop.

If you want to see more about making this precast step, the complete video is on our youtube channel: walttoolsofficial.

10/03/2026

Want to make precast concrete pieces? Start with the mix.

Getting the right mix ratio with Tru Pac C can make all the difference. Here’s a quick look at the ratio we use to get a flowable mix with excellent performance.

Full video on making pre-cast concrete landscaping steps coming out monday October 4.

Videos on making pre-cast flagstone stepping stones will also be released soon.

09/30/2026

$416 in material completely changed this 2,400 sq. ft. patio.

We used Roll Eze, a restorative coating, to completely change this old patio. Also, we totally made the three separate sections look like they were poured together. If you want to see the whole process on how to restore a patio, the full video is on our youtube channel: walttoolsofficial.

For this project, we used just 3.5 buckets.

At $119 per bucket, that comes out to $416.50 in Roll Eze, or roughly 17¢ per sq. ft.

The key is applying it nice and thin. You’re not trying to build up a new slab, you’re putting down a thin, durable coating that gives you a fresh look.

That’s what makes restoration so interesting. You can get a huge visual transformation without the material cost of starting over.

Would you restore a patio like this, or would you tear it out and replace it?

09/24/2026

Spraying? Roll-Eze? Yes

09/17/2026

1/2" of squeeze? No problem.

We purposely left this stamped concrete joint rough to show how quickly grout tools can clean up squeeze and reshape the joint.

On a real job that squeeze usually isn’t intentional. I don’t care how good you think you and your crew are. When the concrete is setting up fast, all it takes is a few seconds of lost focus to leave a gap between the stamps.

That’s why learning the little fixes matters just as much as learning the perfect technique.

The best decorative contractors aren’t the ones who never make mistakes. They’re the ones who recognize them and KNOW how to fix them. Don't leave sloppy work behind.

09/14/2026

2,440 sq ft. Two days. Completely different patio.

We wanted to restore the color, clean up the overall appearance, and completely change the feel of the space while preserving what was already there. That means the original stamped concrete texture stayed intact. Even the old handprints left in the concrete are still there.

Same patio. Same texture. Totally different look.

A lot of existing concrete doesn’t need to be torn out and replaced. With the right restoration process, faded or outdated stamped concrete can become a major part of an exterior renovation again.

And this entire 2,440 sq ft patio restoration was completed in just two days.

If you’re a concrete contractor, remodeler, landscaper, or anyone doing exterior home improvement, restoration work is one of those services worth paying attention to.

There is a LOT of old concrete out there.

09/12/2026

Being able to change the color of existing concrete is a pretty powerful service to have in your back pocket.

Roll Eze comes in three base colors, and from there you can use integral color to create a huge range of finished looks. That base color matters, because it changes how the integral color comes through.

The biggest thing: keep your mix ratios CONSISTENT.

For a 30 lb bucket of Roll Eze, use roughly 1.75–2 gallons of water and keep that ratio the same from batch to batch. The proper consistency very similar to a paint. It should be thin and easy to roll, it's not like an overlay.

And this is where restoration gets interesting for contractors.

For around $0.20 per square foot in material, you can offer a customer a completely different concrete color instead of just pressure washing the same faded surface they already have.

That’s a pretty inexpensive upgrade to add to a restoration job, and a service worth having in your offerings.

09/10/2026

One of the easiest ways to add more character to stamped concrete is with an antiquing wash. As you saw, you can actually just use a watering can to pour it on. It truly is a foolproof, no skill required, coloring technique.

Tru Tique lets you introduce extra color variation into the stamped pattern, helping bring out the texture, grout lines, and natural highs and lows in the surface.

It’s incredibly simple to apply and can completely change the look in just a few minutes.

This particular project was part of a larger Roll Eze restoration where the base color had already been changed. Tru Tique was the finishing step used to enhance the stamped pattern and build in that antique effect.

Whether you’re restoring color in concrete, coloring stamped concrete, or just trying to make a new surface look more natural, we recommend applying an antique effect.

Address

1246 Leah Road
Morris, IL
60450

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm

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