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Description: Travertine Texture
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 | Travertine texture, made in precast concrete or GFRC product, resembles travertine or cut and polished limestone. |
| Lightweight thin wall GFRC or full weight precast, with smooth regular polished surface with small irregular fissures. |
| Made from sand or aggregates, fiberglass reinforcement, cement, and integrated pigment. |
| Hand laid into molds. |
(click to enlarge) | Old world texture, precast concrete or GFRC product, resembles aged stone with flashes of color and deep fissures. |
| Lightweight thin wall GFRC or full weight precast, with bright multicolored hand made highlights. |
| Made from sand or special aggregates, fiberglass reinforcement, cement, and integrated pigment. |
| Hand laid into molds. |
(click to enlarge) | Sanded texture, precast concrete or GFRC product, resembles sandstone, regular smooth sandy surface. |
| Lightweight thin wall GFRC or full weight precast, with sandstone look and feel. |
| Made from sand and aggregates, fiberglass reinforcement, cement, and integrated pigment. |
| Hand laid or sprayed into molds.. |
(click to enlarge) | Smooth texture, precast concrete or GFRC product, smooth plaster like finish, with a regular surface. |
| Lightweight thin wall or full weight. |
| Made from sand and aggregates, fiberglass reinforcement, cement, and integrated pigment. |
| Hand laid or sprayed into molds.. |
(click to enlarge) | GFRC product, resembles aged stone at approximately 25% of the weight. |
| Lightweight thin wall with many different textures available (see above). |
| Made from sand or aggregates, fiberglass reinforcement, cement, and integrated pigment. |
| Hand laid or machine sprayed into molds..
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(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge) | Precast concrete can be made to resemble many natural products. |
| Precast concrete is "full weight" concrete with many different textures available (see above). |
| Made from sand or aggregates, cement, and integrated pigment. |
| Wet poured or hand laid into molds. |
(click to enlarge) | Cast stone resembles expensive cut limestone at 25% of the cost. |
| Cast stone is usually "full weight" concrete, with sharp edges and rich texture, more uniform in color and texture than other cast products. |
| Can also be made in lightweight GFRC. |
| Made from limestone sand, white cement and integrated pigment. |
| Dry packed into molds under extreme pressure. |
| More expensive than our other products.
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| GRG can be made to resemble many natural products. |
| Recommended for indoor use only (unless modified). |
| Made from gypsum, sand or aggregates, polymers, and integrated pigment. |
| Wet poured, sprayed or hand applied into molds. |
We simulate aged stone by hand laying a mix of special aggregates and cement
into molds with special "techniques", making the product look time worn or
aged, resembling the old stone moldings seen at many historical sites or
buildings. The GFRC product is thinwall about 3/4" thick and is extremely strong
and about 25% the weight of solid stone.
Precast concrete can also be sprayed into molds, resulting in a smooth
unblemished surface.
We also simulate limestone or sandstone by pouring a mix of wet concrete into
molds and when cured are then sand washed,
to remove the fine cured cement particles at the surface of the product, and
hopefully expose the aggregates to give the product the highly desired limestone
"look".
Precast concrete can also be sprayed into molds, resulting in a smooth
unblemished surface.
Cast stone, used by man since the Egyptian pyramids were constructed, is hand
packed into molds under tremendous pressure, just as in nature when limestone is
made from the extreme pressure on sand, lime and slurry over thousands of years.
This technique of compacting sand, crushed limestone and colored pigment with a
small amount of water ensures a product which closely resembles limestone.
Uniform in color and texture because very little water is used in it's
production, cast stone is used where limestone or sandstone is desired but is
cost prohibitive. The surface of cast stone shows the aggregate naturally at its
surface, simulating limestone or sandstone.
Cost's more than our other products because of the Materials used and the
special molds needed in it's manufacture.
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Copyright © 2002 Ventura Cast Stone.
PO Box 552, Somis, CA 93066 (805) 386-8185 Fax: (805)
386-3002
Cast stone
We at
Ventura cast stone are pleased to introduce this lightweight GFRC cast stone or lightweight precast concrete if you will, into our line of precast concrete and cast stone. Because lightweight cast stone is made from fiberglass
strand mixed with real limestone which gives it that stone look, it is suitable for fireplace mantle treatments.
Lightweight precast concrete
Lightweight precast concrete is usually called GFRC or glass fiber reinforced concrete, and is manufactured by Ventura cast stone and
installed in the Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Precast concrete usually weights 100 lbs per cubic foot. Gfrc usually weights 10 lbs per lin foot. Precast concrete is a lower end product
and does not simulate limestone as does cast stone. Precast concrete resembles finished concrete and the surface looks like your garage floor. Cast stone resembles limestone or sandstone. Lightweight
GFRC precast concrete is not a new
product but has been used for years, but not in architectural uses.
The "Dry Cast" method is a two part process, a face material to give you the similar finish to natural stone. Mechanically compacted to the rear of this is the backing mix to give the units strength in the terms of handling ability
Dry cast units are immediately demoulded after casting and are hand finished to a very high standard.
Wet Cast as the name suggests produces structural products like heads and sills but is also used for slabs, beams and other similar products, that are for high exposure or structural situations where greater loads are required on the finished unit. The Wet Cast also has the added advantage of specialist finishes with the use of special sand aggregates, a massive spectrum of colors can be achieved.
Cast Stone is known by a variety of other names including art stone, reconstructed stone, reconstituted stone, artificial stone and manufactured stone. This defines cast stone as any material manufactured with aggregate and cementicious binder and intended to resemble in appearance, and be used in a similar way to, natural stone. Cast stone is either homogenous through out or consists of a facing material and backing concrete.
| Semidry mixes |
| Precast concrete or sometimes referred to as 'wet' cast. |
The majority of cast stone manufactures use the semi-dry method of production. And is the more commonly widely used method of manufacture. Early consultation with us is advisable to ascertain the correct method of production for your project.
Sizes: Components produced using the semidry method are limited in size with face dimensions of Ashlar units normally no greater than 1200x600mm. This is mainly because of the fact a semi dry mix is used, which require rapid and rigorous compaction with hand held pneumatic tampers. The semidry method of production is best suited to traditionally sized ashlars quoins, sills, copings, door and window surrounds, etc.
Structural requirements: Components requiring reinforcement which is more complex than a few straight bars or a layer of fabric reinforcement, must be produced using the wet cast method of production. This is because it is difficult to achieve thorough compaction of semidry mixes around congested reinforcement.
Appearance: Cast stone can replicate a variety of stone colors and finishes. The semidry method of production is used to simulate limestones and sandstones. Where a component has a particularly intricate pattern or profile including slender projections, precast concrete may have to be used in preference to the 'semidry' method. Good color matching between components can be achieved by both methods, although textural differences become apparent at close range.
Economics: Rapid production rates with frequent reuse of moulds are possible with cast stone produced using semidry mixes. Where as with the Wet Cast process a higher number of concrete molds is required to achieve the same casting program, but careful thought a planning stages of the contract can minimize the number of concrete molds. In Fact an additional 2-3 weeks extra lead-time for standard or semi standard products can sometimes be all that is needed to achieve the same casting program.
The production of cast stone using semidry mixes differs from that of wet method in several ways.
Semi Dry ~ De-molding takes place immediately after compaction. This allows a rapid casting cycle with e.g. up to 100 or more basic components (sills, copings, etc.) a day from a single mould.
Wet Cast ~ Where as to manufacture the equivalent in wet cast it would not only take longer but you would require 1 mould per cast per day i.e. to produce 100 units a day you would need 100 moulds.
Semi Dry ~Compaction is carried out by pneumatic tampers rather than by vibration.
Wet Cast ~ Compaction is carried out by vibration.
Semi Dry ~ *Separate facing and backing mixes are often used for components like ashlars, sills, heads and jambs, where the backing mix is concealed from view. Separate facing and backing mixes are used primarily to economize on the facing mix. BS1 217 requires a separate facing mix to be not less than 20 mm thick at any point, with semidry cement sand facing mixes and concrete backing mixes each mix is placed and compacted in immediate succession to ensure that they are effectively monolithic.
Wet Cast ~ Wet Cast units are manufactured from a through colored homogenous mix.
Semi Dry ~ Water repellent admixtures are invariably used in facing mixes to reduce permeability. Giving a water absorption of Grade B. All constituents are accurately weigh batched with the moisture content monitored regularly. Mix batches are necessarily small to prevent any premature drying of the mix. Thorough mixing and compaction are critical to ensure that the cast stone achieves the required density (typically between 1850-2100kg/m2), compressive strength and permeability.
Wet Cast ~ superplasticisers and accelerators are used to ensure good flow of the mix during vibration and compaction to achieve a smooth, compact and blow hole free finish (where ever possible finish smooth after dressing) also to give good early strength. Typical cube tests at 7-10 Days are that of the equivalent of that of a semi dry unit at 28 Days
Standard - Cast stone items that are manufactured in accordance with our Technical specification sheets. These items could be stock items or units, which are ready to cast at the first available production slot, with no moulds to produce. Products like standard head, sills or pier caps and copings. The cost of establishing the moulds is not same, thus for small production runs costs can be kept to the minimum. Also not forgetting lead times can be much shorter by not having to detail, obtain approval and then construct moulds.
Semi Standard - Cast stone items, which are similar to details within our Technical specification sheets. But say vary in length or require slight mould adaptation or modification.
Purpose Made - Cast Stone items which are manufactured in accordance with the contract documents. These units are made from new purpose made concrete molds. These would probably be specialized units, which are not contained in our brochure. We have our own in house design department, who will assist you in the process of your design advising you in Careful thought must be given in the planning process for purpose made products. Please consider the following.
| Design and detailing of in house production drawings- Some times
it is of necessity to produce working drawings of Architects details
to enable production of moulds.
This process can some times take any thing from 2 10 days, dependant on how long it takes to get details approved.
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| Approval of production drawings.
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| Production of Patterns- Sometimes it is necessary to produce units
from G.R.P. or Rubber moulds.
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| This may involve the pattern being produced and before moulds are
manufactured, approval of the pattern may be sort from the Architect
or Client.
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| Approval of production patterns
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| Manufacture of concrete molds
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| Production of Units
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| Curing of units
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| Packaging and Transportation to Site
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Remember adequate time must be allowed for production of concrete molds.
Natural stone colors are achieved either by reliance on the color of crushed rock and sands and aggregates or by the addition of pigments. White cement gray cement and a combination are often used. The use of pigments can give the cast stone greater scope in the selection of suitably graded aggregates, which permit good compaction and achieve a strong, dense mix. Iron oxides based pigments are normally used in small quantities (e.g. 0.2%-1% yellow iron oxide by weight of cement for yellow sandstone's and up to 5% red iron oxide for red sandstone). High proportions of pigment powder (above say 6 - 8% by weight of cement) are used sometimes to achieve unusual colors like blues and browns but generally these should be avoided.
A variety of traditional ashlar finishes can be replicated with cast stone, including plain, boasted, tooled, rockfaced, vermiculated. The other ashlar finishes are normally produced from latex:sand or concrete mold liners.
| Semi Dry ~ Plain finishes normally produced using sealed plywood mould liners or, where the shape, detail or longevity for mould dictates, fiberglass is used. |
| Wet Cast ~ unlike the semidry method, the wet cast mix produces a surface laitance which has to be removed after demoulding to reveal the color and texture of the fines layer. The laitance is removed by either acid etching or retarding the surface within the mould prior to curing and washing off after demolding to achieve a smaller large expose of aggregate. |
Here is where specialist aggregates can be used to achieve some wonderful and varied finishes and colors.
Dependant on the situation all cast stone both Wet and Dry Cast can be used. But there are limitations in the Dry Cast process as opposed to Wet Cast: -
| Semi Dry ~ Components requiring reinforcement which is more
complex than a few straight bars or a layer of fabric reinforcement
are not possible. This is because it is difficult to achieve thorough
compaction of semidry mixes using a pneumatic tamper in and around the
congested reinforcement. Therefore Wet Cast is the option. |
| Wet Cast ~ unlike the semidry method, the Wet Cast mix is poured into the mould as thick liquid mix and compaction is achieved by vibration. So even the more complex arrangement of bars can be compacted sufficiently. The added advantage being the need to put any secondary support like pressed or fabricated steel lintel saving costs. Also we can manufacture structural beams for larger vehicle entranceways for example. |
Cast Stone
Precast concrete
Precast concrete is
usually used in lower end track homes where budget is a concern, cast
stone is usually used in higher end homes where budget is not a major
concern. The difference between
cast stone and precast concrete is easily seen, and even the novice can
appreciate the high quality limestone like finish on a cast stone product.
Fireplace mantels or as some call them fireplace mantles look beautiful
when constructed from cast stone. Cast stone fireplace mantels are used in
any situation. The fireplace mantels are both strong and fireproof.
Fireplace mantels are
a thing of beauty when made from cast stone or precast concrete. Fireplace
mantels are also made from wood. Fireplace mantels or fireplace chimneys
are the main feature in any room and a fireplace mantel made from cast
stone or precast concrete is a sight to behold.
Cast stone by
Ventura Cast Stone installed in California city's such as
Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Ventura or Santa Barbara has to be
mechanically fastened to the wood frame of a building usually with
stainless steel or galvanized attachments, this because of earthquake
codes. There are many historical buildings in California with cast
stone as part of their facade. Cast stone in
Los Angeles, Beverly hills, Bel Air, Ventura and Santa Barbara was at it's
most popular in the 1900's. In Santa Barbara, cast stone was used
extensively in the downtown district and also in a primitive form at the
Santa Barbara mission in the form of adobe, a mixture of mud and straw or horsehair
mixed with water and hand shaped into molds. Cast stone in the City
of Ventura was used mainly on churches in the downtown area. Cast
stone in Los Angeles was used in many important buildings including the
famous Los Angeles City hall. In Santa Barbara cast stone and Santa
Barbara stone were used in conjunction in many historical buildings.
Santa Barbara stone also called Santa Barbara sandstone, is found mainly
in Santa Barbara county, is removed from the ground in loose form, the
Santa Barbara stone is then cut and shaped by a stonemason into useable
blocks. Cast stone in Beverly Hills was used in the Beverly Hills
City hall and is now used on many residential buildings.
We also supply and install granite and CDI precast caststone and concrete design product, CDI columns,
Sierra stone caststone columns and balustrade, California precast
products, CDI precast, CDI precast granite moldings and stairs. We also supply and install CDI precast
granite concrete
window and door trim, CDI GFRC columns, Sierra stone products, concrete design, full weight
precast
and granite or limestone products, California precast columns, CDI precast pool coping, CDI precast
or limestone moldings
and CDI fireplace mantles.
We also install the products exclusively
manufactured by other company's including,
Sierra concrete design, Sierra stone and Dura art stone, Stone legends,
Moonlight molds, Fineline precast, Concrete design inc. Studio cast
design, Concrete design inc, CDI, Architectural products, Haddonstone.
These products include: cast stone, limestone, precast concrete, precast, cast, stone, limestone, sandstone, los angeles, ventura, santa barbara, los angeles precast, los angeles columns, los angeles cast stone, santa barbara precast, santa barbara cast stone, santa barbara stone, santa barbara columns, ventura cast stone, ventura precast, ventura columns, ventura stone. These products include: cast stone, limestone, precast concrete, precast, cast, stone, limestone, sandstone, los angeles, ventura, santa barbara, los angeles precast, los angeles columns, los angeles cast stone, santa barbara precast, santa barbara cast stone, santa barbara stone, santa barbara columns, ventura cast stone, ventura precast, ventura columns, ventura stone, concrete molds.
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vi About Ventura
Cast Stone Cast stone
Ventura Cast Stone product, is a truly superior alternative to natural cut building stone. Combined with its ability to simulate or reproduce an almost limitless variety of natural stones, Cast Stone offers many advantages over cut stone. Cast Stone can be integrally reinforced with steel and precisely colored through aggregates or mineral oxides. Mix designs have tested engineering values which result in a predictable durable life. Cast stone is a highly refined architectural precast concrete stone manufactured to simulate natural cut stone. It is a masonry product that provides architectural trim and ornamentation. Used for centuries in Europe and in the United States in the 1900s, cast stone has gained widespread acceptance in the architectural community as a suitable replacement for many masonry materials and for all types of natural cut building stones. Continental Cast Stone manufactures cast stone using the VDT (vibrant dry tamp) method. A zero slump mix is compacted into a rigid mold, resulting in a finish that is virtually indistinguishable from quarried limestone. The primary advantage of this method is that it virtually guarantees the absence of air voids (also known as "bug holes") on the surface. Cast stone made by the company meets the requirements of ASTM C-1364, the Standard Specification for Architectural Cast Stone.
Strength and weathering qualities are consistently better than natural stone because the manufacturing process is controlled. Properties such as these cannot be assured in a quarried building stone. Repetitive treatment, either as trim or ornament, can be achieved quite economically in Cast Stone. The ability of Cast Stone to replicate deteriorating natural stone on existing buildings makes it an ideal material for the remodeling or restoration of old structures.
Cast Stone is a highly refined architectural building stone, usually made up of white cement and a combination of various sizes aggregates of white marble, quartz, or other durable white stone. The aggregates are numerous and are meticulously graded by sieve analysis to produce a material that is dense and lack voids. The cast material is impervious to moisture, and will test in compression to 6,000 psi and not over 5% water absorption. The surface skin of the cement on cast stone is removed to expose the white stone (or other) aggregates, which reflect and sparkle over the matrix. Since cast stone is a type of architectural precast stone, the question is often asked: "What is the difference between cast stone and architectural precast concrete?" The short answer is that cast stone is used in place of natural stone. As a type of building stone, cast stone is specified under the masonry division 04720. It is usually set by a masonry contractor using standard building stone anchors. Perhaps most important, and unless otherwise specified, cast stone looks like natural stone, dimensional, cut building stone. Upon close examination, the finish of cast stone looks like limestone. To distinguish its appearance from the "pebbly with voids" appearance normally associated with concrete. This dense finish is more resistant to weather and dirt, and the fine aggregates retain the granular texture through decades of exposure to the elements. The character of Cast Stone, made as described above, is similar in color, texture, and appearance to a good grade of natural cut limestone, but is stronger, since strength can be controlled through the manufacturing process and is more impervious to water, weather, and dirt. By controlling the proportion of white and /or gray cement, manufactured or natural sands, carefully selected crushed stone or well-graded natural gravel, and mineral coloring pigments, cast stone can be made to simulate perfectly many other natural cut building stones, such as brownstone, sandstone, bluestone, granite, slate, keystone, travertine, and others.
Ventura Cast Stone product, is a truly superior alternative to natural cut building stone. Combined with its ability to simulate or reproduce an almost limitless variety of natural stones, Cast Stone offers many advantages over cut stone. Cast Stone can be integrally reinforced with steel and precisely colored through aggregates or mineral oxides. Mix designs have tested engineering values which result in a predictable durable life. Cast stone is a highly refined architectural precast concrete stone manufactured to simulate natural cut stone. It is a masonry product that provides architectural trim and ornamentation. Used for centuries in Europe and in the United States in the 1900s, cast stone has gained widespread acceptance in the architectural community as a suitable replacement for many masonry materials and for all types of natural cut building stones. Continental Cast Stone manufactures cast stone using the VDT (vibrant dry tamp) method. A zero slump mix is compacted into a rigid mold, resulting in a finish that is virtually indistinguishable from quarried limestone. The primary advantage of this method is that it virtually guarantees the absence of air voids (also known as "bug holes") on the surface. Cast stone made by the company meets the requirements of ASTM C-1364, the Standard Specification for Architectural Cast Stone.
Strength and weathering qualities are consistently better than natural stone because the manufacturing process is controlled. Properties such as these cannot be assured in a quarried building stone. Repetitive treatment, either as trim or ornament, can be achieved quite economically in Cast Stone. The ability of Cast Stone to replicate deteriorating natural stone on existing buildings makes it an ideal material for the remodeling or restoration of old structures.
Cast Stone is a highly refined architectural building stone, usually made up of white cement and a combination of various sizes aggregates of white marble, quartz, or other durable white stone. The aggregates are numerous and are meticulously graded by sieve analysis to produce a material that is dense and lack voids. The cast material is impervious to moisture, and will test in compression to 6,000 psi and not over 5% water absorption. The surface skin of the cement on cast stone is removed to expose the white stone (or other) aggregates, which reflect and sparkle over the matrix. Since cast stone is a type of architectural precast stone, the question is often asked: "What is the difference between cast stone and architectural precast concrete?" The short answer is that cast stone is used in place of natural stone. As a type of building stone, cast stone is specified under the masonry division 04720. It is usually set by a masonry contractor using standard building stone anchors. Perhaps most important, and unless otherwise specified, cast stone looks like natural stone, dimensional, cut building stone. Upon close examination, the finish of cast stone looks like limestone. To distinguish its appearance from the "pebbly with voids" appearance normally associated with concrete. This dense finish is more resistant to weather and dirt, and the fine aggregates retain the granular texture through decades of exposure to the elements. The character of Cast Stone, made as described above, is similar in color, texture, and appearance to a good grade of natural cut limestone, but is stronger, since strength can be controlled through the manufacturing process and is more impervious to water, weather, and dirt. By controlling the proportion of white and /or gray cement, manufactured or natural sands, carefully selected crushed stone or well-graded natural gravel, and mineral coloring pigments, cast stone can be made to simulate perfectly many other natural cut building stones, such as brownstone, sandstone, bluestone, granite, slate, keystone, travertine, and others.
Precast concrete
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| Type and color of cement |
| Type and dosage of pigment |
| Type and dosage of admixtures |
| Type, gradation, color, and cleanliness of fine and coarse aggregates |
| Consistent proportions, especially maintaining a uniform water-cement ratio |
For every architectural project, once a mix design has been developed, sample panels should be built at the job site. These mockups serve as references for color and overall surface appearance.
White High-Performance Concrete (White HPC)
High-performance white
concrete (such as high-strength or very low permeability concrete)
adds high-tech appeal by incorporating materials like calcined clay
(such as metakaolin), slag, or white silica fume into white cement
concrete. Applications for HPC may include high-rise buildings,
bridges, and parking structures.
Supplementary cementing materials may slightly alter the color of hardened concrete. Color effects are related to the color and amount of the material used in concrete. Many supplementary cementing materials resemble the color of Portland cement and therefore have little effect on color of the hardened concrete. Some silica fumes may give concrete a slightly bluish or dark gray tint and tan fly ash may impart a tan color to concrete when used in large quantities. Ground slag and metakaolin can make concrete whiter. Ground slag can initially impart a bluish or greenish undertone.
Natural and synthetic materials are used to color concrete for aesthetic
and safety reasons. Red concrete is often used around buried
electrical or gas lines as a warning to anyone near these facilities.
Yellow concrete safety curbs are used in paving applications. Generally,
the amount of pigments used in concrete should not exceed 10% by mass of
the cement. Pigments used in amounts less than 6% generally do not affect
concrete properties.
Unmodified carbon black substantially reduces air content. Most carbon
black for coloring concrete contains an admixture to offset the effect on
air. Before a coloring admixture is used at a project, it should be tested
for color fastness in sunlight and autoclaving, chemical stability in
cementing materials and effects on concrete properties. Calcium chloride
should not be used with pigments to avoid color distortions. Pigments
should conform to ASTM C 979.
As anyone in the construction business surely knows, cement has not yet stopped evolving. The science of cement manufacture and production is continuing to make great strides, enabling new and imaginative processes to be invented.
Decorative concrete is on the forefront of this growth. With such techniques as dry pack cast stone, homeowners and designers can create an unlimited array of outdoor and textured surfaces and flooring options. These all enable the designers to escape the one flaw seen with concrete: as a finish material, its starkness can be downright plain. For instance, the durability of concrete makes it perfect for a driveway, patio, sidewalk or floor, so a means to "dress up" or disguise concrete without sacrificing any of the versatility is the goal of many of these manufacturers.
Integral color
One of the first ways to transform concrete is through integral coloring. This is where pigment, usually iron oxides, is added directly to the mixer. The mix is then poured normally, producing a colored slab of concrete that will not fade because the color is literally a part of the mix. These colors can range from subtle pinks and browns to deep blues and greens.
This is usually done by adding a precisely measured bag of pigment to the concrete, taking into consideration the amount of cement, total yardage of the truck and individual properties of the chosen pigment. The drawback of this dry add-mix is apparent when trying to attain the same color for different amounts of cement. Because the pigment attaches to the cement, the same pigment added to a five-sack mix will be much darker than that of an eight-sack mix.
"By using four distinct liquid pigments, added together in the correct ratio (similar to a four-color printing process), a huge variety of color is available," then we measure and test the resulting pigment for accuracy.
Integral color has many uses for the concrete industry. Concrete roof tiles, garden accessories and pre-fab concrete pipe are all starting to use integral coloring.
Other methods of coloring concrete are more appropriate for different applications. For instance, many companies make both dry and liquid color hardeners that can be scattered or sprayed on top of newly poured concrete, and once worked into the surface, strengthen the concrete while allowing the use of any color.
Acid staining
One of the most popular methods for decorating concrete today is with the use of acid staining. Many residential and commercial customers are using this method for obtaining a durable, beautiful and relatively inexpensive way to decorate their floors.
While this concept is not new (Frank Lloyd Wright used some acid stains), innovative ideas are expanding the range of the acid stained look. Multiple stains may be used to enhance the depth of the color, grout lines may be cut into the concrete to resemble tile, or highly detailed murals or rosettes may be stained for any surface outside or inside the home.
Coupled with staining and stamping, a number of options are available for designing decorative concrete. Indeed, all of the processes described here can be mixed and experimented with, limiting designers to only what they can imagine. There are a few places for the curious designer to experiment with these options.
Master Builders (www.masterbuilders.com) may be widely known for manufacturing concrete materials, but they have recently helped produce an interactive online test grounds (www.concretelifestyles.com). The site allows the user to swap patterns and colors to see different styles.
The most impressive thing in outdoor and indoor concrete today may be what has yet to be constructed.
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