Americans will spend nearly $233 billion on home remodeling this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) 2007 industry forecast. That represents a 1.9 percent increase from the record $228 billion spent in 2006, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

If you are part of these statistics and are or will be involved in the renovation increase, you probably have started to come across the use of concrete for many uses around your home, landscape or business.

This isn't just dull, boring, grey concrete, but decorative artistic concrete; artistically applied and crafted in many shapes patterns, colors, and finishes.

Decorative concrete is used worldwide in an array of projects including: concrete floors (both inside and out), concrete patios, driveways, and walkways, concrete counter tops, concrete wall finishes, fireplace and pool surrounds, landscapes and borders, garage floors, concrete furniture and the list goes on.

Twice as much concrete is used in construction around the world than the total of all other building materials, including wood, steel, plastic and aluminum, according to the Cement Association of Canada, and the Decorative concrete market is the fastest growing segment of the concrete industry.

Whether the idea is to revive an existing room, bath, kitchen or outdoor area, or to start fresh with a newly poured concrete slab, technology in the world of concrete offers up many exciting design options.

Informative articles, inspiring images and thousands of ideas are all available at Concrete Ideas.

Ideas such as stamped or patterned concrete, concrete countertops for kitchen and bath, decorative wall finishes, garage floor finishes, chemical acid stain, (often referred to as acid etched concrete), engraved concrete, painted concrete fireplace surrounds, furniture and more.

A free resource available on the site is the "find a contractor section", which immediately links you with concrete contractors in your local area.

Mark Donaldson, Executive Director of ConcreteIdeas.com says, " All of the premium installers who are featured on the site offer a range of decorative concrete services. Most of them specialize in a variety of decorative concrete systems and have design ideas that can greatly assist with the renovation process."

If you are looking for products, tools and training, there is also a new and growing section on the site where you can "find local decorative concrete suppliers" offering a variety of tools, materials, training, and information all focused on the decorative concrete market.

The concrete Contractors and Suppliers listed on the site each have a detailed feature profile with images, services and their specialties, making it easy for you to shop around read about each company, and find the service that suits your specific needs.

Whether you are an Architect, Designer, Builder, and/ or Homeowner, you will find inspiration, innovative new finishes, and creative new design trends that use concrete as a medium.

The site helps to educate the user and make decorative concrete an easy-to-choose option for any renovation project.

News Photo Courtesy of Absolute Concrete Works llc. (Seattle, WA)