For Ira and Meg Sweet, Vermont is their home, and life here is hands on and grounded. The couple lives in Pownal, where they’re raising their two young children, ages 6 and 3, alongside Scarlett, their German Shepherd. The kids spend most of their time outside: racing on dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and BMX bikes.

After graduating high school, Ira began what he assumed would be a temporary summer job in concrete.

 

He started working for Steve Tatro, owner of Tatro’s Concrete Impressions, where, side-by-side with Steve for 15 years, he learned an immeasurable amount about decorative concrete. What began as a summer job became a true vocation and a career built on pride in doing things the right way.

When Steve moved on from concrete work, Ira took over ownership in 2022. It was a natural next step. Everyone employed by Steve at the time chose to stay on with Ira, and the team has grown since. Ira believes valuing and investing in his team is one of the best ways to ensure excellent service and consistently high-quality work for clients. 

Concrete Impressions is, at its heart, a decorative concrete company, but it’s about more than beautiful finishes. The team specializes in high-end work that is both durable and design-forward, transforming concrete into a feature that elevates the feel of a space, performs in Vermont conditions, and adds lasting value to the home.  

Concrete Impressions offers a wide range of decorative concrete services, so clients can work with one team for everything from outdoor living features to interior finishes. Besides stamped and decorative flatwork, the company provides custom concrete countertops, vertical coatings, precast steps and fire pits, as well as polished concrete floors and durable floor coatings. 

What truly sets the business apart are Ira’s standards from start to finish: clear communication, preparation, process, and accountability. His advice to homeowners? “Call us first. We’ll do your project right the first time, from site prep to the finishing touches, and we will always stand behind our work. Each year, we receive several calls to projects that are not ours but that need remediation. The best way to avoid expensive fixes later is to start with proper planning and proper prep. A beautiful finish only lasts if the foundation, drainage, and base are done correctly.”

Ira’s work and family life are built around the same values of reliability, hard work, and doing things the right way. Concrete Impressions isn’t a “rush it and move on” kind of company: communication and details matter; the finished product should be something a homeowner is proud of for years. For Ira and Meg, a practical, resilient, and hands-on Vermont lifestyle is reflected in how they operate the business every day.

 424 Park St., Bennington, VT 05201

 802.442.3914