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I need information on how can I finish concrete sidewalks ( or walkways, or slabs for pedestrian traffic ). I’vee seen some samples of this kind of work in shopping malls, and I like to learn how to make it.
Does any body can tell me how?
Maybe some one of you guys can tell me where to study it.
Thank you all form Baja Mexico
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Replies
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Greetings Jaime
The topic refers to casting in place of pre-mixed concrete with a dye additive. This part is simple and with the use of a small mixer and various dry dye powders you can get all kinds of interesting paterns, first by mixing thoroughly for a consistent solid colour and later by hand mixing to create blends or streakings.
Textures can be done with a variety of rubber mats that are textured on the one side and are layed over the fresh concrete and pounded down to give a flag stone effect.
I'm not sure where in you area courses would be available to learn this technique but there are several books on the subject that you may be able to find in your local library.
Good luck in your quest, the technique is fun and very satisfying.
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Hi Gabe:
Thanks for your answer, I've seen the finish product and it looks with a really nice uneven coloring, I previously done the mixing as you suggest, but I can't figure a way to make it look like old "al fresco" .
It looks distressed, and I believe in order to seal it they use some kind of wax. ¿ Do you know something about this?
Thans again
Jaime
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Jaime I've never seen the use of wax, however, I have seen sealers and hardeners used of course.
I'll talk to one of my subs on Monday and post the results to you on Monday nite.
Here in Canada, our thoughts are buried under 2 feet of snow and it will be a while before we can do any sidewalks.
Til tomorrow...
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Gabe: I was in Quebec in the winter of 93 and I didn't see any sidewalks either (maybe because it was my honey moon), Thanks for your help, and if you can suggest a book or something, I'll greatly apreciate.
Thanks again.
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A brand name is "Bowmanite". They use either hardener/colarant powder shaked-on or a topping slab of colored concrete an inch or so thick. A solid colored slab is also possible. Special stamping is done to give the look of rock, brick or pavers. The recesses can be grouted (with a contrasting color) for smoother finish, at additional cost.
There is a company now (Quickcrete?) that makes small (approx 2'x2')plastic stamps for imitation brick or random stone walkways etc. They also have colored reddy-mix concrete for use with them.
When I was a kid, we went to a church that had a red colored wax put on the slab at no charge by the contractor. To dress it up. Unfortunatly, it was tracked by foot traffic onto the concrete walkways outside. Eventually the interior was covered with carpet as part of the original long-term plan and the problem went away.
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Evening Jaime--I've used colorant in full truckloads to get a consistent color through the slab but not on projects that require more than a truck-it always came out a shade or two off. At a mall I was working at they poured standard grey concrete, hand broadcast the color onto the surface, and then steel troweled to a smooth finish. As for where to study this, how about your backyard and play with colors and various finishing tools till you get the affect you want? I would visit a site and watch the process and ask questions--after their done. They could tell you also about stamping or embossing too.
*Hi Gary: Thanks for the tips, the slabs I've seen are smooth, not stamped, I saw them in a shopping mall in San Diego Ca., the first time I saw them, they were a day or two old, (cement color, like the one you obtain once you pour concrete), and a couple of days after they were painted.They aren't even colored, they look like the color was "washed", ¿ any ideas ?Do you where can I find this Bowmanite.Thanks.
*Joseph: I'll try your suggestion, butI'm looking not for a even colorant but for a way to make the slabs the same shade but with different hues, and I think they were painted not pour.Any Ideas?Jaime
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Jamie what you're tring to get is the shake finishes that are added to the top of the slab as it cures and before stamping. Adding two or more colors stamping and then waiting to powerwash off to expost the weathered look with the mixed colors. If you have never done this before you need to go to the back yard and try till you get it right. This is harder then wash-out exposed finishes and concrete is not forgiving. Best of luck
PS if I can never figure out how to post pictures I'll show you how the finish product looks
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Bill: thanks for your answer, I'm kind of lost, I'm looking for a finish that is done once the slab is pour ( within a week of puring). I saw it in a souther california shopping mall (fashion valley).
I saw the gray slab one day and a couple of days after I saw it painted!
I have no idea what kind of products they used because the look is not even, it looks like the efect you get from stamping (weathered, maybe distressed) but it is in a flat surface(the slab)and it looks great.
Any ideas?
Jaime
*I think you may have seen stained concrete at the mall. The stains provide the sort of antique finish you have described. Check out the Decorative Concrete Forum at Decorative-Concrete.com. You can post questions on their forum. They also have a listing of contractors, and there may be someone in your area.
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Check the yellow pages under Concrete or Concrete Contractors. It may be listed as under concrete stamping, stamped concrete, custom stamp or concrete coloring.
I didn't see "Bowmanite" listed in my phone book. Maybe it is no longer a popular name, or the franchise is not still around.
Mineral stains, such as rust color, might be what you saw.
I had an old college instructor (Materials of Construction) that talked about a colored concrete job he did on his walkway. A picture of a deer with the building number. Colors look real good when wet, but when the concrete is dry, they are too light and appear "washed out" and barely visible. So we were told.
Some of the old sidewalks in this area were colored a reddish or terra cotta color, but the color is barely discernable now.
My porch and walkway was painted a sort of terra cotta at one time. Got a standard color that was closest from a paint store. Desert Rose or something like that. Looks like PINK to me. Too late now. Am waiting for most of it to wear off...
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I've been experimenting with colored concrete for over ten years and the look you're talking about can be acheived by dusting the concrete with pigment prior to steel troweling. You get a variegated and somewhat faded finish that has a rustic charm. I've done slabs that are scored in 12-16" squares and then pigmneted with contrasting colors. I use commonly available powdered pigments that I experiment with for dersired color. This sounds like the look you're after.
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I need information on how can I finish concrete sidewalks ( or walkways, or slabs for pedestrian traffic ). I'vee seen some samples of this kind of work in shopping malls, and I like to learn how to make it.
Does any body can tell me how?
Maybe some one of you guys can tell me where to study it.
Thank you all form Baja Mexico