Artistic concrete as a material for creating sculptures and art objects

Many people imagine concrete as a gray, shapeless mass. This opinion has existed for decades, dating back to Soviet times. However, a lot has changed in the construction industry in recent years. In this regard, even such familiar technologies and building materials can be looked at from a completely different angle. This also affected concrete. Now decorative concrete completely changes the attitude towards itself. But first, let’s look at what it is and what requirements apply to decorative concrete.

What is art concrete

Architectural or art concrete is understood as a modern material for decorative design and pouring work, which is made on the basis of cement and gypsum powder. The composition includes various additives and additives that improve the technical, operational and aesthetic parameters of art concrete. Using a plastic mixture, you can even create various decorations and imitate natural stone coating. Other names for art concrete are arch concrete, artistic concrete, sculptural concrete.

Round dish trays

Do you like to place food directly on serving boards? Replace tired oak ones with concrete ones. In case you are too lazy to translate the instructions, let's say the main thing right away: if you really want to use this tray for food, coat it with non-toxic varnish.

Materials and tools:

concrete mixture, curtain rings, round wooden board, tape.

Complexity:

1

The difference between art concrete and conventional material

Architectural concrete began to be sold on the market as a building material in the 60s of the last century. Its important difference from the standard solution is that it is used not only in gray, but also in colored form, and in the widest range of colors.

Other distinctive characteristics of art concrete are:

• fine-grained texture of the mixture, thanks to which the finished coating is sanded to perfect evenness and smoothness;
• low absorbency, which makes it possible to use outdoors and maintain integrity even under the influence of precipitation;

• no cracking due to regular temperature changes;
• extensive application possibilities and high aesthetics;
• the ability to add unusual ingredients to the composition (for example, shells).

Door stopper

A cool project on the website of the Amsterdam company Insidehomepage - a door stopper. The solution is obvious: from heavy material you need to make something that should be massive. There is no description of the project on the website, but there are enough photographs to get an idea of ​​the process.

Materials and tools:

concrete mixture, thin leather belt, metal tube, glass pot, lace, scissors, oil, hammer, hacksaw, felt.

Complexity:

4

Types of art concrete

Art concrete can be roughly grouped by purpose:

1. For finishing work inside and outside buildings (decorative plaster or white decorative art concrete). It has a pleasant, soft structure, allowing you to create both smooth coatings and textured imitations, panels, slabs.
2. For casting large-scale works and interior applications (white lightweight art concrete). Durable, aesthetic, ideal for the production of designer objects and sculptures.

There is another classification of types of art concrete depending on its purpose:

1. Geometric. It is used for the construction of monolithic structures by pouring mortar into the formwork. It is closest in composition and method of use to standard concrete.
2. Decorative. With its help, finished surfaces and buildings are decorated. Well suited for exterior and interior finishing work.
3. Sculptural. Suitable for casting artistic and architectural forms, decorations. Also used for sculpting and molding small products.

Forming methods

Formation has its own characteristics and nuances. The following methods are used here:

• Throttling. The mixture is compacted by hand using iron reinforcement.
• Vibropressing. Vibrating tables are used here, the use of which makes it possible to achieve maximum strength.
• Pressing. In this case, molding is performed under high pressure, helping to create strong, thin-walled structures.

The strength and purpose of the material depends on the chosen molding method.

Characteristics and composition of the material

Any art concrete has high strength. On average, it is 39 MPa 3 days after setting and 59 MPa after 28 days. The whiteness of the finished composition varies between 68-85%, the minimum frost resistance is 100 cycles of freezing and thawing. Art concrete sets quickly and gains strength after 15 hours.

The basic composition of the material is not fundamentally different from classical solutions. Art concrete includes a binder component - Portland cement of white, light gray color M400 or M500 strictly without foreign inclusions and lumps. M600 and M700 cements are used much less frequently for the production of mixtures. The composition also includes quartz sand, which can be partially (up to 5-10%) replaced with granite, marble chips or glass powder.

In addition, art concrete may include other ingredients:

• fine-grained crushed stone, pebbles, shells of a certain shade (to add decorativeness);
• plasticizers, curing regulators, additives to enhance frost resistance, water repellents;
• fiberglass or other reinforcing fibers.

Pigments can be added to the mixture so that it immediately acquires the desired color. Also, purified water in a certain amount is used to prepare the material. In addition to the main binder (cement), art concrete may also include other components with similar properties:

1. Acrylic (acrylic resin). The finished material dries quickly, has high elasticity, is easier to tint, and is suitable for rooms with unstable humidity and temperature. The service life of art concrete increases to 10-15 years.
2. Minerals - clay, lime, gypsum. They make the composition more decorative, increase abrasion resistance, and provide fire safety.
3. Silicates. Provide the highest resistance to damage and chemicals, and repel water. They are used if art concrete is intended for outdoor use.
4. Silicone. Gives plasticity, strength, resistance to moisture and ultraviolet radiation.

Garden paths know-how!

Decorative printed concrete is an excellent tool for creating garden paths and can replace conventional paving slabs. Unlike its analogues, decorative concrete is much cheaper, so you should take this method of treating garden paths seriously. It should be noted that such concrete has the ability to withstand temperature changes from -50°C to +50°C. At the same time, during the freezing process, it does not slip under the wheels and feet. Moreover, it does not fade when exposed to ultraviolet rays. On average, it can survive about three hundred cycles of thawing and, accordingly, freezing. So, let's look at how to make garden paths from decorative printed concrete step by step.

Concrete stamp

First of all, you need to assemble all the following tools and only then get started:

• roller,
• flutz (flat brush),
• protective impregnation,
• hard brush,
• texture matrix,
• disconnector,
• color fixer,
• roller,
• concrete mix,
• corner iron,
• aluminum smoother,
• vibrating screed,
• crushed stone,
• polyethylene film,
• reinforcing fiber.

Preparation

The first step is to make sure the quality of the cement. If the cement is of poor quality, it can cause cracks to appear on the surface of the path. The grade of concrete must be at least 300. Additives in the form of a plasticizer must be present. The installation process must be carried out at a temperature not lower than +5°C. If all these parameters are met, then you can start working.

The first step is marking. To do this, you can use wooden pegs and rope. If this is not possible, then you can simply draw a mark on the surface of the earth with the sharp end of a stick.

Work with soil

Preparation for the garden path

If the path is intended for walking, then it is enough to remove 150 mm of soil. If you plan to drive a car, then you need to remove 200 mm of soil. Next, the formwork is placed along the entire length of the path. A 100-150 mm layer of crushed stone and sand is evenly poured onto the bottom, which must be compacted well. Then a polyethylene film is laid. An overlap of 100 mm must be made at the joints. At the very end, reinforcement is performed using a metal mesh or reinforcing fabric.

Concrete works

As mentioned above, pouring concrete must be carried out at a certain temperature and always in dry weather. In the process of making concrete, it is possible and even necessary to use reinforcing polypropylene fiber. It will prevent cracks from appearing on the surface of the track.

Preparation of concrete mixture: To do this, you must use the following components: 1 part PC grade 400, 3 parts crushed granite stone preferably with a fraction of 5/20, 3 parts sand, without fail plasticizer C-3-0.5% (aqueous solution), and also polypropylene fiber 0.6 kg per 1m3.

Pouring concrete

When the concrete mixture is ready, it must be poured evenly into the formwork. It is compacted using a vibrating screed. Next, you need to roll the roller over the surface of the concrete. This will allow the large filler to settle down and the small filler to rise to the top. Using an aluminum trowel, the concrete surface is thoroughly smoothed. At the very end, you need to go around the entire perimeter of the formwork with a corner trowel.

Applying a decorative layer

At this stage of work, a colored fixative is applied. There should be no excess concrete on the surface. Using the manual scattering method, a fixative is applied to the surface, which is then smoothed with an aluminum trowel. This process dissipates 70% of the fixative. Only after smoothing the surface with an angle trowel is the remaining 30% of the fixer applied, which is smoothed with a steel trowel.

Drawing

This is done using texture matrices. This process should be carried out as soon as possible, before the concrete sets. The texture matrix is ​​laid along the entire length of the platform along the entire formwork. To ensure that all lines are accurate and do not break at the joints, each matrix should be pressed well by pressing hands, feet or a tamper

But it’s important not to overdo it here. The pressure should be applied evenly over the entire area

Printed concrete

Washing and applying a protective layer

After two days, it is necessary to remove the remains of the disconnector from the surface. To do this, you can use a long-bristled brush. Afterwards, the entire area should be thoroughly rinsed using a stiff brush. When the concrete surface has dried, a layer of protective acrylic impregnation is applied. This can be done using a roller.

So, we looked at the sequence of work on how to make decorative printed concrete as a sidewalk path.

Application of art concrete

The material is well suited for interior decoration and cladding of exterior objects. It can be applied to walls and various structures or poured into formwork, matrices, obtaining figures of any type.

Interior

Artistic concrete allows you to create a seamless coating for walls, partitions, columns, ceilings and various architectural elements. Provided that moisture-resistant additives are added or an additional protective coating is applied, it can be used even in the bathroom and other wet areas. Using art concrete, they make cladding with a travertine effect and fill molds for stucco molding, furniture, arches, niches, etc.

Interesting solutions for using the material are:

• panels with three-dimensional decor;
• columns, cornices;
• decorative grilles;
• imitation stone;
• decorations for stairs, etc.

Facade

With the help of beautiful and unusual bas-reliefs made of art concrete, you can provide building facades with an original appearance. Also, the outer walls are covered with concrete to imitate a stone coating. Columns and arches, as well as various figures for decorating buildings, are cast from this material.

Local area

To decorate the territory of your site, you can make yourself or order any figures and sculptures from a specialized workshop. Most often, the following art concrete products are used in home areas:

• flower beds, flowerpots for flowers, shrubs;
• fountains, decorative bridges over mini-reservoirs;
• figurines of animals, fairy-tale characters;
• lamps and fixtures;
• tiles, borders, fences and posts;
• tables, benches, sofas and other outdoor furniture;
• decorative geometric shapes.

Process Basics

You can create the texture of a concrete surface that will imitate stone, brick or other material using the following techniques: stencil mixture, stamped mortar and sprayed mixture.

Stamped concrete

Now let’s look at the technological processes of each of the listed methods for manufacturing decorative concrete:

Spraying method.

It is used in cases where there is a need to imitate stone, brick or other images on the wall. During the application process, a special acid dye is used, which is laid on the surface in several layers. This leads to a reaction of the solution with dyes, which results in the desired color. The color shade can be complemented by a variety of effects. The dye is applied to the surface using several methods, in particular, the spraying method. To create a beautiful texture or apply a particular image, you can use stencils when spraying.

Stencil method.

This method is called “stencil mixture”. It is applied to the surface using a pre-prepared stencil made of paper or other material.

Stamping method.

This method is unique of its kind. Stamped solution, as it is also called, is applied to a wet surface, consisting of a colored fixative, a protective mixture and hydrophobic additives. All this is necessary to ensure that the stamp used does not stick to the concrete. Before stamping concrete, you need to make sure that the surface is perfectly smooth. The template or matrix must remain on the concrete until it dries completely. After removing the stamp, the surface must be thoroughly impregnated with a special impregnation, which acts as additional protection. But before applying it, the surface must be thoroughly washed to remove all kinds of substances that were used during the work process.

So, now we invite you to consider the process of making garden paths from decorative printed concrete.

Pros and cons of art concrete

The material has many positive characteristics. Its advantages include the following:

• strength, good load tolerance;
• abrasion resistance, suitable for pouring floors;
• resistance to temperature changes, water, chemicals;
• long service life;
• environmental friendliness, breathability and fire safety;

• versatility, ability to be used for interior and exterior decoration, pouring, sculpting;
• high decorativeness, use of different shades, textures, suitability for many interior styles;
• rapid hardening, early start of operation;
• easy to care for, no damage from washing with SMS;
• UV tolerance;
• leveling differences and defects in foundations;
• additional noise and heat insulation of premises;
• affordability.

The disadvantages include the presence of chemical components in some types of art concrete, due to which its environmental friendliness is reduced. When planning complex finishing, there is a risk of not being able to complete the job if you do not have sufficient experience. In some cases, you will have to abandon decorating walls with art concrete, because it creates quite a large additional load.

Art concrete application technology

Before starting work, a ready-made or self-made building mixture is diluted, the necessary pigments and decorative elements are added to it. Then they begin to apply plaster or pour art concrete into the mold.

Surface preparation

The base must be fairly level, dry, and free of dirt. All poorly adhering elements, old paintwork, and falling off plaster must be removed from it. Chips, holes, and cracks are repaired with regular cement mixture. Grease stains are wiped off with a degreaser. The surface is sanded with fine-grain sandpaper, dust is removed with a vacuum cleaner, and then primed with 2 layers.

Procedure for working with art concrete

The first layer of material is applied to the base and leveled with a spatula or trowel. After it dries, a second layer is performed, on which the selected pattern is formed with light movements of any convenient tool. As it partially dries, the edges of the design are smoothed out a little with a trowel.

If necessary, add individual strokes to imitate voids and cavities, cracks in concrete. The coating must dry for at least 15-24 hours at a temperature of about +22 degrees and humidity up to 65-70%. If the art concrete has not been tinted in advance, painting is done by spraying, stamping or painting over stencils.

Shaping products

Art concrete can be poured into any shape. To ensure that there are no voids inside, the material is compacted. Further work with the product is carried out only after it has thoroughly dried (usually after 2 days). To make the surface of the object smooth, it is ground, polished, and uneven surfaces are removed by sandblasting. In addition, the product is molded using the following methods:

• embossing with a relief roller or stamp (panels, bas-reliefs);
• vibration pressing (paving slabs);
• simple pressing (stucco molding, decorative elements).

Examples of colors and textures

When choosing a specific shade for art concrete, you need to be guided by the interior style and design concept. Below are popular colors for different style trends:

• Provence - pink, beige, milky, blue;
• eco - olive, green, brown;
• minimalism - gray, black, white;
• classic - gray, brown, white;
• high-tech - black, white, metallic;
• futurism - light green, red, fuchsia;
• country - sand, brown, yellow.

Ordering from “Philosophy of Stone” is reliable

“Philosophy of Stone” is the author’s designer finishing of architectural surfaces at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable time. You have good reasons to cooperate with us:

• turnkey work from the stages of measuring and delivery of material to delivery of the finished designer finishing;
• working with proven manufacturers of quality materials;
• more than 500 satisfied clients in Russia, the CIS and Europe;
• working with objects of any complexity;
• 9 years on the market.

Our other services

• Paving stone renovation

You will need to repair facades or paths made of printed concrete no earlier than after 20 years. And when this time passes, just call us again: after the update, everything will shine like new and will last for at least another 20 years.

• Finishing fences
• Cladding of columns
• Cladding retaining walls
• Production of an individual logo, pattern or coat of arms

We can also imprint your logo on the concrete. You can choose a print design from those already available in the catalog or order a unique one that only you will have. This could be your family coat of arms, your initials, or any symbols. Such an image will remain for centuries.

If you have any questions or would like to order printed concrete, please contact us by phone or leave a request in the form at the top of this page.

Decorative plaster for concrete - do it yourself

You can create art concrete for various works with your own hands. To do this, you need to take 1 part white Portland cement, 3 parts fine quartz sand and about 2 parts water. To obtain the desired shade, 2-5% of dry pigment is introduced. Plasticizers and modifiers are also added (usually at home this is PVA, which is poured in when diluting the solution).

The dry ingredients are sifted through a fine-mesh sieve, then combined and mixed until smooth. Make a depression in the center of the mass, add water and stir until a homogeneous solution is obtained.

How to make dyes with your own hands

This video explains this issue in detail:

Or you can use the following recipe:

You can prepare the pigment for colored concrete yourself. For this you will need: lime, water, soap, lime dye and calcium chloride.

Preparation of pigment:

• Slaked lime is diluted in 5 liters of water, and the mixture is set aside.
• Dilute lime dye with water to obtain a liter of mixture. Calcium chloride is added to the coloring mixture.
• Grind the soap and dilute it with warm water.
• The coloring composition is diluted with soapy water, and the mixture is filtered until smooth.
• The concrete surface is degreased with a solvent and a coloring composition is applied.

You need to work in personal protective equipment - gloves and safety glasses are required. By mixing different pigments you can achieve the desired shade of colored concrete. In this case, all the basic rules apply: yellow and blue give green, for a darker tone add black paint, for a lighter tone add white.

Popular manufacturers

In construction stores you can most often find the following brands of material:

1. "Arbet". Art concrete of high quality at a competitive price, produced in Russia.
2. "Dekostroy". The company creates architectural concrete for landscape design.
3. San Marco. Materials under the Concret Art brand allow you to create coatings with the effect of aging, cellular concrete and patination.
4. "Decorazza." Italian manufacturer of art concrete. Offers material with already added pigments in 15 color variations.
5. Introduces “Art Concrete” decorative plaster on the market based on acrylic copolymers and stone chips.
6. "Asti." The Russian company produces decorative materials with fine and coarse fillers and with mica additives.

Architectural concrete is an incredibly interesting and multifaceted material that can be used independently in the interior and exterior of a home. It gives you a chance to completely transform your home and area without spending extra money.

The cost of laying the coating

Name\Area	Up to 50 m2	Up to 100 m2	Up to 200 m2	Up to 1000 m2	From 1000 m2
Approximate cost of work, rub.	990	950	790	700	600
Approximate cost of materials, rub.	2 100	1 900	1 790	1 700	1 600
Total cost in rubles.	3 000	2 850	2 580	2 400	2 200

At the same time, the cost of a concrete pad does not depend on the selected texture. The price of work and materials is indicated approximately; for a detailed calculation, please contact us at one of the above contacts.

The cost of work includes:

• acceptance of concrete;
• reinforcement (reinforced mesh);
• laying concrete;
• stamping (all consumables: hardener, separator and sealer);
• cutting seams.