Decorative concrete - Wikipedia. Stamped Concrete in various patterns, highlighted with acid stain)Decorative concrete is the use of concrete as not simply a utilitarian medium for construction but as an aesthetic enhancement to a structure, while still serving its function as an integral part of the building itself such as floors, walls, driveways and patios. The transformation of concrete into decorative concrete is achieved through the use of a variety of materials that may be applied during the pouring process or after the concrete is cured, these materials and/or systems include but are not limited to stamped concrete, acid staining, decorative overlays, polished concrete, concrete countertops, vertical overlays and more. Stamped Concrete. This limitless array of possibilities combined with great durability and lower cost than natural products makes Stamped Concrete an easy choice for new construction and renovation projects. The installation consists of pressing molds into the concrete while the concrete is still in its plastic state. Color is achieved by using Dry Shakes or Color Hardeners, Powder or Liquid Releases, Integral Colors or Acid Stains. All these products may be combined to create even more intricate designs. Stamped Concrete may be used on driveways, patios, commercial roads and parking lots and even interior floors. Stamped concrete is a desirable finish to concrete areas, however with time and wear the color dyes fade and the surface looks patchy and unpresentable. There are many re- coloring options which can completely restore and rejuvenate the color and presentation of faded stamped concrete. Concrete dyes. When alcohol- based dyes are exposed to sunlight, the color either lightens or fades out completely. Therefore, alcohol- based dyes were more prevalent in interior applications where direct sunlight or other forms of ultraviolet (UV) lighting was not present. Manufacturers later began dissolving the same printing inks in different carriers, such as acetone, lacquer thinner and other solvents, hoping to achieve increased penetration levels. In addition, UV inhibiting agents were added to new dyes to help with the UV instability issues. However, slight fading (5- 8% per year) still occurs when the dye is exposed to direct sunlight. Colored concrete can be obtained from many ready mix concrete companies and many have color charts available. Acid Staining. A mixture of water, mineral salts and a slight amount of muriatic acid is applied to the concrete surface. This chemical reaction with the existing minerals (primarily lime) in the concrete over a period of one to four hours creates new earth tone colors on the concrete surface. The concrete surface is later scrubbed to remove excess stain and neutralized by a basic solution of ammonia and water or baking soda (less likely to cause whiting later) to help raise the ph level back to normal level. Find great deals on eBay for concrete stamp tools concrete stamps. Shop with confidence. Bon, trusted since 1958 for quality tools for masonry, drywall, concrete, decorative concrete, flooring, hardscape, asphalt, stucco, general construction and more. For more than 25 years, MATCRETE has been a leading manufacturer in the decorative concrete industry as innovators of original designs and unique products for. Due to inconsistencies in the surface level of concrete floor, acid staining creates a variegated or mottled appearance that is unique to each slab. The color penetration ranges from 1/1. Older exterior concrete surfaces may not color as well as interior surfaces because the environment has leached or percolated out the mineral content. As well, any exposed aggregate (rocks) in worn concrete will not accept staining. Chemicals commonly used in acid staining include Hydrochloric acid, Iron chloride and Sodium bicarbonate. Water Based Staining. The main difference is that acid stains react to the concrete and change the physical make up of the concrete material, whereas water based stains are more of a . We offer the highest quality concrete tools and supplies such as concrete Stamps, sealers, stains, counter top mixes, vertical mixes, overlay and Microtopping. Shop from the world’s largest selection and best deals for Concrete Stamps, Forms and Mats. Shop with confidence on eBay! There are many variations of water based stains that have come into the decorative concrete industry that perform in a number of different ways. Some are polymer based, acrylic and epoxy. Overlaying. The result was a thin cementitious topping material that would adhere to concrete surfaces and provide a newly resurfaced coating to restore the worn surface. Concrete overlays lacked the long- term performance . BUY Concrete Tools Masonry Hand Tools at low Discount Prices. Concrete Contractor Supplies, Tools, Sales, Rentals-Metropolitan Concrete Products, LLC Sterling Heights, MI. Concrete stamp mats have come a long way from the cookie cutter designs of the 1960s. Today, one company alone, Matcrete Inc., sells roughly 200 stamp. All your decorative concrete tool needs under one roof including: stamping tools, stencils, diamond pads, mixing blades and more. Concrete Stamps Get advice on choosing the right type of concrete stamps or concrete texturing tools for the job and what characteristics to look for when comparing. Acrylic resins provided good UV resistance, but lacked long term water resistance and adhesion characteristics needed to provide a long term and permanent solution. Polymer cement overlays. The purpose of adding a polymer resin to the cement and aggregate is to greatly increase the performance characteristics and versatility of conventional cements, mortars and concrete materials. Unlike conventional cement and concrete mixes, polymer cement overlays can be applied thinly or thickly without fear of delamination or typical product failure. In addition, polymer cement overlays are much more resistant to damage from salt, petrochemicals, UV, harsh weather conditions and traffic wearing. Originally intended for use as a thin surface restoration material for concrete substrates, polymer cement overlays were introduced into the architectural concrete and commercial flooring industries in the early 8. Subsequently, its use in these industries has become standard. Polymer cement overlays are regarded as economical in providing long term, durable renovation without the need for costly and continuous repairs associated with deteriorating concrete surfaces. Polymer cement overlays are used for interior and exterior applications ranging from: Skim coat/broom finish concrete resurfacing . For use on commercial or resident pool deck, this frequently takes the form of . Often, the texture is knocked down with a trowel to slightly modify the appearance and feel of the finished application. Stamped overlays. These rubber imprinting tools are manufactured from molds created from authentic stone or wood. Release agents are used to help release the stamps from the concrete without sticking. Release agents come in either a liquid or powder form and are available in a wide range of colors. Epoxy coating. Some epoxies are also colored. Polishing. Diamond pads come in many grit or mesh sizes. Common sizes start with 6 grit and can go up to 8. The work is accomplished in multiple stages by passing over the concrete with successive grit diamond pads until it has a hard- glassy finish. Both acid stains and concrete dyes can be used during the polishing process. Engraving. Geometric patterns, straight or curved lines and custom designs can be cut directly into the surface of the concrete creating the look of tile, flagstone, cobblestone and many other common surface patterns. This is usually achieved using tools like an angle grinder fitted with diamond blades, but is more effectively accomplished using specialty tools designed specifically for cutting designs into the concrete. Form liner. These projects can be seen around the United States and the world, usually on sound/retaining walls, building exteriors, and bridges. Generally, this process starts with the sculptor, who creates the design to be used in the concrete using clay, polyurethane or wax. When the original art is complete, a cast is made using synthetic liquid rubber, and from this cast, form liners are produced in the reverse image of the original. The form liner then acts as a mold for the concrete to be formed against. Once the concrete is set, the form liner is stripped from the hardened concrete surface. Vertical Stamping Tools; Vertical Stamping Tools.The concrete is permanently textured with the pattern of the form liner.
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