Architectural concrete production technology. How are architectural concrete products made? Purchased solution or self-mixing

Concrete is the most functional and common construction material, used in almost all areas of human activity. For solving aesthetic problems and for manufacturing various decorative elements Architectural concrete is used, which differs from conventional material in composition and performance characteristics.

Types of architectural concrete

Architectural decorative concrete is divided into two main types, differing both in area of use and composition. Each of these materials should be used for its intended purpose.

Decorative white

The material is mainly used for the design and decoration of facades, interior design, and objects of various shapes and textures are made from it.

The main condition for the operation of architectural concrete products of this type is the load limitation. Exceeding the maximum permissible value leads to the collapse of the structure.

Light white

White lightweight concrete is used for the manufacture of lightweight elements that perform a decorative function: tile coverings, stairs, balconies. Lightweight concrete is often used to imitate natural rocks - natural sandstone or marble.

What components are included in the material?

The composition of architectural concrete includes almost the same ingredients that are used to prepare conventional mixtures, namely:

water;
binder;
filler;
modifiers;
dye.

Washed river sand, marble or granite chips, thanks to which it is possible to accurately replicate the texture and structure of natural rocks.

Portland cement, which is a binding additive, is recommended to be used in a light gray or whitish shade; it should not contain any unnecessary impurities.

For maximum resemblance to natural stone, the material also includes coloring pigments. The uniform distribution of color throughout the entire volume of concrete is ensured by the addition of dye at the stage of stirring the dry mixture.

The dry mixture is diluted with clean water that does not contain foreign impurities - this is a prerequisite for obtaining high-quality material.

Frost-resistant and anti-foaming ingredients, adhesives, and plasticizers are used as modifying additives. The addition of one or another component depends on the required characteristics and the form that future elements should have. With their help, architectural concrete products acquire the necessary resistance to mechanical stress and sudden temperature changes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

The advantages of this material include:

sufficiently high strength, allowing the construction of garden or terrace balustrades, stairs;
plasticity, thanks to which products of any shape are created;
long service life;
relatively low cost;
resistance to precipitation and harmful external factors.

Disadvantages of architectural concrete:

significant weight of finished structures, which does not allow the use of decorative elements to decorate the facades of frame and wooden houses;
the complexity of installation of products, requiring the use of special equipment and the involvement of experienced craftsmen, which significantly increases costs;
low artistic expressiveness, expressed in the impossibility of creating small parts;
the need for careful adjustment of each element;
hardening time concrete mixture in form, amounting to at least 1-2 days.

Technology and methods of preparation

The technology for producing architectural concrete is quite simple.

First of all, it is necessary to sift all dry ingredients through a special sieve. The cement is mixed with the filler, the selected dye and modifying components are added. The mixture is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained. A small depression is made in the resulting material and filled with clean water.

The proportions of components when producing architectural concrete with your own hands are taken depending on the brand of cement. For the most commonly used brand M500, the ratio of ingredients in the mixture is as follows: 1 part cement to 2 parts liquid and 3 parts sand.

The readiness of the material is checked as follows: ready mix clenches his fist tightly for a few seconds. If, after squeezing, the lump crumbles, then you need to add a little more water, and vice versa, if liquid flows out when squeezing, then you need to add filler.

Manufacturing methods

Architectural concrete can be made using a variety of methods, each of which allows you to create a product that closely resembles natural stone.

Embossing method

The embossed method of producing architectural concrete, which requires a special matrix, is the most widespread due to its simplicity. Concrete produced in this way is mainly used for finishing wall surfaces and laying garden paths and paths.

Before laying concrete, a layer of primer is applied to the cleaned surface, on which a reinforcing mesh is installed to strengthen the concrete. A thick layer (up to 5 cm) of ready-made and thoroughly mixed cement mixture is poured onto the mesh. After the composition hardens for a short time (about an hour), embossing is performed using a matrix.

To decorate small areas or create a covering for paths, as a rule, the design is applied to the concrete that has not yet dried. To speed up the manufacturing process, it is recommended to use several molds at once.

This method involves adding a coloring pigment not while mixing the components, but after making the print. Surface ready-made elements it is painted over with a powder composition that is rubbed into the body of the product using trowels. To secure the top layer, additional impregnation is performed.

Vibration pressing

How to make architectural concrete suitable for making pavers or sidewalks? Of course, using the vibration pressing method, which is used to create products of various reliefs and shapes.

The process of producing concrete in this way involves the use of a special vibration press, under which the product is formed and compacted.

This technology has its advantages and disadvantages, which determine the area of use of the elements. For example, under vibration it is impossible to produce openwork elements, but at the same time, the resulting products are perfectly suitable for making exterior finishing, requiring the use of frost-resistant and durable materials.

The cost of equipment for vibrocompression is quite high, but it pays off high speed manufacturing.

Pressing

When producing thin-walled products from architectural concrete by pressing, special molds and a hydraulic press are used. When working, it is important to pay special attention to the quality of the raw materials used, on which the safety and durability of products, strength and resistance to external factors depend.

Technology is no different high performance, and the final cost of production is too high.

Casting

Casting is the most effective method production of architectural concrete. Vibration installations are not used in production, and gypsum concrete and polymer concrete are used as materials.

This method makes it possible to produce a product of any openwork shape or a thin-walled element; it is economically beneficial and has high productivity.

Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials; it is used in a variety of areas of construction, from the construction of houses to the manufacture of various decorative products. In the latter case, special concrete is used, which is called architectural concrete. Next, we will take a closer look at what architectural concrete is, what properties it has, and how you can prepare it yourself.

Finishing with decorative concrete

Features of architectural concrete

Architectural (or decorative, as it is also called) concrete differs from ordinary concrete in its resistance to various negative influences, such as sudden temperature changes, increased moisture, etc. Products made from architectural concrete can be incredibly attractive, imitating natural stone. With their help, you can decorate any building from the outside or decorate the room from the inside.

The photo shows the structure of decorative concrete

Types of material

Decorative concrete mortar is conventionally divided into two main types, each of which is intended for different types works:

White decorative concrete is used for the design of facades, interior decoration, as well as for the creation of various decorative elements that will be subject to heavy loads.
Lightweight white concrete - used to create various lightweight structures with decorative elements, in the manufacture of tiles, imitation of natural stone, etc.

In general, architectural concrete is designed to solve two important problems:

Imitation of the surface of natural stone;
Ensuring the strength and reliability of the product.

As a rule, this material imitates the surface of sandstone. Moreover, in many respects it even surpasses him.

Compound

The composition of architectural concrete consists of the following ingredients:

Filler Most often, natural quartz sand is used as a filler. It is this that gives the material the structure of natural stone. Sometimes marble chips or finely ground glass are added to the composition, which also allows you to achieve an interesting effect. Binder: Portland cement is used as a binder; it is desirable that it be white. The quality of cement must be of the highest quality; any impurities in it are strictly prohibited. Coloring pigments This component is intended to color the material and make it even more similar to natural stone. Pigments are added at the stage of mixing the solution, so the product is colored throughout the mass. It must be said that pigments come in the most different colors, including very bright ones, however, for realistic imitation, natural shades should be used. Water must be clean, without any impurities. The quality of the material depends on this. Modifying additives These additives include plasticizers, antifoams, antifreeze additives, adhesives, etc. With their help, you can improve the properties of the material and give it certain properties. Crushed stone In some cases, crushed stone of certain types and the desired color range is added to the concrete composition. This allows you to give it strength and at the same time achieve a certain decorative effect.

Note! The proportions depend on the specifics of the products that will be made from this material, as well as the type of molding and some other factors.

Scheme of the mold for pressing

Molding Methods

Decorative concrete can be formed using different methods, so let’s take a closer look at them:

Tamping or stuffing is manual method, with which you can obtain a product in rigid forms. It consists of pouring mortar and tamping using a metal rod or wooden stick. To improve the properties of the material, vibration installations can also be used.

This technology allows you to create products of medium and even high levels of complexity of shapes. As for the disadvantages, these include a high percentage of defects, as well as low strength of the products.

Vibrating table with concrete forms

Vibration pressing method – this method is based on vibration pressure up to 1 kg/cm2. For molding, a special vibropress and molds are used.

This technology is used to produce Various types paving stones, paving slabs, and simple architectural forms. Recently, polyurethane substrates have been used as forms, which make it possible to obtain a higher quality surface. The advantages of this method include high strength of products, good productivity and ease of manufacturing products.

With the help of pigments, this method can produce an attractive colored tiles, which can decorate any area or any courtyard.

Pressure pressing - when pouring using this technology, they use hydraulic presses and molds. In this case, molding is performed under a pressure of 50-500 kg/cm2. This technology of architectural concrete is used in the manufacture of thin-walled structures that have high strength and resistance to low temperatures.

The solution can also be poured into formwork or applied by spraying when performing various construction works.

Path lined with artificial stone

Production of decorative concrete

Manufacturing decorative concrete will save a significant amount, since the price of natural stone or paving slabs is much higher than the cost of self-made material.

The instructions look like this:

The production of architectural concrete begins with mixing cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3.
Next, water is added to the composition. In addition, at this stage the mass is colored with dye, and additives are also poured into it. The amount of additives in each individual case may vary; detailed instructions for their use are available on the packaging.
After obtaining a homogeneous mixture, crushed stone is added to the solution. As a rule, its content is 40% of the total mass. After thorough mixing, the composition will be ready for use.

Pigments for concrete

After preparing the solution, it is poured into formwork, which is pre-reinforced, or into special forms. During the pouring process, concrete is periodically compacted.

Advice! After hardening, concrete turns out to be very strong, so for it machining use power tools with diamond bits. In particular, procedures such as cutting reinforced concrete with diamond wheels, diamond drilling of holes in concrete, or grinding with diamond core bits can be performed.

Conclusion

The scope of application of decorative concrete is quite extensive, which is due to its many advantages. In particular, it will always find application in private households. As we found out, making architectural concrete with your own hands is quite simple (see also the article “Saw for concrete: varieties cutting tool and application features").

From the video in this article you can get Additional information on this topic.

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definition, types, features, types of processing and protection

Among all existing building materials, any concrete stands out for its versatility. But it is achieved mainly due to the presence of a very extensive list of concretes, each of which is ideal for certain tasks. One of these types is architectural concrete.

Definition

Architectural concrete – what is it? This material refers to building mixtures based on sand and cement. Various inorganic and mineral substances can be used as additives. It is used primarily to create decorative elements (statues or decorations on buildings), but in some cases it can also be used in the manufacture of structural parts of buildings. Architectural concrete is also called polymer, acrylic, decorative or artistic. All these are synonyms.

Varieties

Depending on the composition and other features of architectural concrete, it is divided into three basic varieties:

Sculptural concrete.
Decorative concrete.
Geometric concrete.

The first option is characterized by the presence of both decorative and structural properties, which allows it to be used to create bas-reliefs, sculptures or overlays in the “wild stone” style. All these elements must combine both extensive opportunities for self made, and high strength of the final structure.

Second, decorative look architectural concrete, is used when it is necessary to impart decorative properties to ready-made structural elements. For example, it is usually used to decorate the interior and exterior of buildings. IN in this case High plasticity and a large number of opportunities for the designer’s work come first.

The last, geometric variety, is used mostly to create buildings or parts thereof. In this case, strength and other features associated specifically with construction are more important than with decoration, however, due to its properties, this type of concrete allows you to give buildings unique features and appearance, which would be much more difficult (or even impossible) to achieve in any other way.

Composition and features

The technology of architectural concrete used, as mentioned above, directly depends on the selected composition. If the emphasis is placed specifically on structural properties, then the material receives higher strength, resistance to damage, increased resistance to water, and so on. A lot has to do with what is required at the moment, what conditions the building will be in after construction is completed, and for what purposes it will be used. In the case of decorative properties, more emphasis is often placed on the texture or texture of the material.

To make the substance more plastic, plasticizers, polymers, mineral or chemical additives are added to the mixture. If it is necessary to obtain more serious reinforcing properties, sand, gravel, tuff or limestone are added. Among other things, in the production of architectural concrete, substances can be used to increase resistance to low temperatures, hardeners, sealants and other similar additives, of which there are a huge number. But to make it clean decorative properties Rocks, mica, quartzite, basalt, marble or granite particles are usually mixed in. Sometimes used colored glass or ceramic chips. And of course, dyes are actively used if the final product needs to be given a certain non-standard color.

General features of the material:

does not slip;
easy to clean;
perfectly absorbs sounds;
has protection against damage;
does not interact with sunlight;
withstands rain, wind, snow and other similar external factors;
retains its properties at temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees;
little weight;
hardens in the interval from 14 to 28 days;
does not allow gases and chlorides to pass through.

Almost any type of architectural concrete has all these properties, and other features are added to them, if necessary. For example, if a product made from such a material is supposed to be installed at too high or low a temperature, then with the help of additives the range of properties can be shifted in one direction or another.

Surface treatment

Depending on the type of architectural concrete, products made from it are subjected to in different ways processing.

Sculptural Concrete:

Hand painting.
Modeling.
Engraving.
Mechanical restoration.

Geometric concrete:

Machine polishing and grinding.
Sandblasting.
Exposure to acid.
Fire treatment.

Decorative concrete is mainly processed by applying various elements made from the most different materials. They all imitate natural elements.

External protective coating

A special coating is usually applied on top of architectural concrete, increasing its protection from various factors.

Protection against drawings prevents vandals from spoiling the appearance of the product.
Protection from grease, dust and dirt maintains the perfect appearance of the structure.
Water-repellent coating ensures longer service life.
The decorative layer improves the appearance of the product.

The features of a particular protective coating directly depend on the type of concrete and the conditions in which the structure will be during operation. For example, a statue located in hard to reach place, on the shore of a reservoir, will most likely receive protection from water, but not from drawing.

Results

Architectural concrete as such appeared relatively recently, about 50 years ago. Since then it has been actively used in different countries both for construction and for creating decorative elements. This material cannot be called cheap, but most of the costs are not for the mortar, but for the work of designers, artists, decorators, architects and everyone who gives this or that product its final appearance.

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Architectural concrete and method of its production

Architectural concrete and the method of its production refer to concrete mixtures and methods for their production and are intended for use in construction. Architectural concrete includes aggregate - sand and crushed stone and binder - cement, characterized by the maximum total contact surface of the binder with the aggregate, and the following ratio of components (in weight%): cement 10-20, sand 25-40, crushed stone 30-55. The method of producing Architectural concrete consists in selecting crushed stone of a given rock and is distinguished by the fact that the granulometric composition of the aggregate is selected and adjusted through repeated comparison of granulometric analysis data with ideal granulometric composition data. 2 s. and 2 salary f-ly.

The invention relates to concrete mixtures and methods for their production and is intended for use in construction.

Known concrete includes aggregate and cement binder. The disadvantage of known concrete is the high consumption of cement, which reduces the architectural advantages of concrete, as well as the presence of a dye in cement, which reduces the light and alkali resistance of concrete. The closest thing to the invention is artificial marble, including white sand aggregate and crushed quartz crushed stone and cement binder. The method of producing known concrete involves the selection of crushed stone of a given quartz breed. Known concrete and the method of its production have the following disadvantages: increased cement content, the presence of dye, reduced light and alkali resistance of concrete, which complicates the production of large batches of uniformly colored products. The objective of the invention is to increase the strength and aesthetic characteristics of concrete and its durability. The problem is solved due to the fact that architectural concrete, including sand and crushed stone filler, and white cement binder, characterized by the maximum total contact surface of the binder with the aggregate, which reduces the amount of cement in concrete and helps improve strength and aesthetic qualities, has the following ratio of components (weight): Cement 10-20 Sand 25 40 Crushed stone 30 55 In addition, architectural concrete may differ in that: it contains crushed stone of a given color range; provides simulations various breeds stone; helps improve the aesthetic qualities of concrete; contains a superplasticizer in an amount of up to 3% by weight of cement; helps improve the quality of concrete and solve the problem. The problem is also solved by the fact that the method of manufacturing architectural concrete, in which crushed stone of a given rock is selected, differs in that the granulometric composition of the filler is selected and adjusted through repeated comparison of granulometric analysis data with ideal granulometric composition data, which ensures the maximum total contact surface of the binder with the aggregate a given granulometric composition, helping to reduce the amount of cement in concrete, thus increasing its strength and aesthetic qualities. Architectural concrete includes sand and crushed stone of various species, a given color range, cement, which can be ordinary or white, can also include a superplasticizer, for example, LSTI-2, in the following component ratios, Cement 10-20 Sand 25-40 Crushed stone 30-55 Superplasticizer up to 3% by weight of cement. The mixture for the production of architectural concrete contains water in an amount of 3-8% by weight of the mixture. The method of manufacturing architectural concrete consists in selecting crushed stone and sand of specified rocks, determined by the required color range of architectural concrete, while the granulometric composition of the sand and crushed stone aggregate is selected and adjusted through repeated comparison of granulometric analysis data with ideal granulometric composition data, which allows obtaining the maximum total surface contact of the binder with the aggregate. These components are mixed in a concrete mixer for 1-3 minutes. The resulting mixture is placed on a pre-prepared mold tray and kept for 15 minutes. Selection of the granulometric composition of architectural concrete, ensuring the maximum total contact surface of the cement gel with the filler, promotes rapid hardening of concrete, ensures high strength characteristics of 30-60 NPa in compression, 7-8 MPa in tension, uniform coloring of the given color range of the entire batch of products, high light and alkali resistance of concrete, variety of imitated architectural concrete natural stones. Such indicators of architectural concrete provide the possibility of its use both as finishing concrete with high physical and technical capabilities, and as structural concrete with high aesthetic properties. The choice of one or another use case depends on economic feasibility. Examples of the composition of architectural concrete: (weight) Composition 1: Cement 10 Sand 39 Crushed stone 40 Water 8 Superplasticizer 3. Composition 2: Cement 20 Sand 24 Crushed stone 49 Water 6 Superplasticizer 1. Concrete is compacted using vibration, the frequency and amplitude of which is predetermined . The source of vibration is a vibrator, the location of which is also predetermined. When treating the surface of concrete using chemical and mechanical methods, including grinding and polishing, it makes it possible to expose the aggregate of a given color range and ensure the production of a surface of products with a high artistic expression. The texture of architectural concrete is determined correct selection aggregate fractions - the ratio of coarse and fine aggregate. The granulometric composition is selected according to the method perfect schedule. The ideal schedule is based on at least four grain analysis of the aggregate and comparison of the analysis data with the reference composition. Based on the results of the granulometric analysis, if necessary, the composition of the concrete mixture is adjusted with the addition of the necessary fractions in the required quantities. The industrial applicability of architectural concrete and the method of its production is determined by the above factors and indicators of concrete and is confirmed by tests. The selection of the granulometric composition using the ideal graph method was carried out using computer programs.

Claim

1. Architectural concrete, including sand and crushed stone aggregate and cement binder, characterized in that the concrete has a maximum total contact surface of the binder with the aggregate and the following ratio of components, wt. Cement 10 20 Sand 25 40 Crushed stone 30 55 2. Concrete according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains crushed stone of a given color range. 3. Concrete according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a superplasticizer in an amount of up to 3% by weight of cement. 4. A method for producing architectural concrete, in which crushed stone of a given rock is selected, characterized in that the granulometric composition of the aggregate is selected and adjusted through repeated comparison of granulometric analysis data with ideal granulometric composition data.

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Architectural concrete - what is it, technology and composition

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Using cement mortars in construction you won’t surprise anyone. The scope of application of such material has become so extensive that it has already begun to be divided into masonry, finishing, starting mixture for concrete pumps, etc. But the most interesting can be called architectural concrete. This article will tell you what it is, what components are used for its production and for what purposes it is used.

What is called architectural mortar?

In the vast majority of cases, this is the name for a solution made of white Portland cement, the task of which is to ensure aesthetics and maximum resistance of future products to various influences.

Desire to receive high level resisting destructive influences is quite natural. For example, this is simply necessary when creating architectural elements from a similar solution.

It is also worth noting that architectural concrete is divided into types depending on the intended use.

White decorative

It is used to create products that will constantly succumb to destructive influences and huge loads– finishing of facades, creation of decorative elements, etc.

For construction monolithic structures and parts of the structure that will bear a large load-bearing load, use heavy concrete.

White light

This mixture is more suitable for making tiles, stone-imitating elements and other products not intended to withstand high blood pressure to the surface.

What does it contain?

When buying concrete from a manufacturer, you need to understand that everyone can use their own recipe in production - the main thing is that the resulting mixture complies with GOST standards. But let's look at the most commonly used components from which architectural concrete is made:

Binding component. As mentioned earlier, it is white Portland cement. It must be of high quality and have the purest possible structure without third-party components.

Fillers. The main task of the concrete mixture is to achieve a believable imitation of a stone surface. That is why quartz sand is added to the composition. In some cases, crushed marble or glass may be used.

Water. It must be clean and free of impurities.

Dye. Special pigments a certain color added at the cooking stage. With their help you can get a stone duplicate in the desired color design. It’s great if such a component will insignificantly reduce performance characteristics material.

Modifiers. Manufacturers add them to increase resistance to shock, frost, sun and other important characteristics. This can be an additive, substances to prevent foaming, a plasticizer for concrete, etc.

In some cases, it is also possible to add crushed stone. It is used to increase durability and is selected according to color needs.

Now you know what architectural concrete is and what it is made from. You can see other types of concrete solutions and their prices from the manufacturer in the website catalog. Finishing concrete M100, masonry mortar, starting mixture, etc. are presented there.

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architectural decor without borders:: Articles

One of the oldest building materials is reaching new heights. Take the history of the last 100-150 years: first, concrete is just a foundation, then - load-bearing frame, in the post-war years, in modernist boxes, concrete is used to the maximum for everything (for speed and cheapness), and then finds itself in disgrace along with modernism and under the pressure of defenders environment.

Various experiments by manufacturers are also contributing to the revival of interest in concrete. They learned how to make it colored and snow-white, smooth and textured, with deep relief and printed patterns, more bending strength with less thickness. On the facades of some buildings made of concrete panels or blocks, “the most primitive building material” is unrecognizable. Let's take a closer look at how this happens.

“RAW” texture: we use a natural look

Let's start with the fact that the texture of concrete itself, before any processing, is very decorative. Here, traces of removable formwork add charm, and that pleasant wear that appears on the concrete surface over time - under the influence of atmospheric influences.

An unmistakable sign of the universal acceptance of concrete as decorative material This is due to the fact that it is used to decorate the interiors of schools and kindergartens. For example, the ES/EB3 Braamcamp Freire secondary school in Lisbon is concrete both outside and inside, and coupled with the ingenious geometry of the spaces, this is very impressive. True, so far such examples are found mainly in Europe, but the slogan “All the best for children” is far from alien to them.

high school ES/EB3 Braamcamp Freire, Lisbon, Portugal. Arch. CVDB, 2012

The same fact is supported by the increasing number of cases where people, so to speak, of sober mind and solid memory, order private houses made of concrete - no, not faceless gray boxes, but designer buildings with excellent thermal insulation (such are the properties of concrete!) and unusual performance.

Even complex plastics in the volume-spatial solution are not required: solid rectangular wall, cast from concrete, can already look like an art panel. Suffice it to recall the residential buildings of the Greek bureau tense, which we wrote about - on the island of Euboea and in sunny Attica.

Residential building in Sikamino, Greece. Arch. tense architecture network

A rare and labor-intensive technique was used by the Chilean architect Matias Zegers. To build the walls, the color of the scorched Chilean sands, concrete was poured by hand not just on site, but in small batches over many days, layer by layer, just as brick walls are laid out. And each layer, as it dried, absorbed all the features of the day when it was flooded, be it searing heat, a dust storm or pouring rain. That's why the texture concrete wall it immediately came out with a touch of “noble antiquity.”

A private house Casa Mirador, Chile. Arch. Matthias Segers

Color layout: adding pigments to the composition

The easiest way to make concrete stand out even more is to add color. Instead of painting the facade, pigments are added to the material. They resist wear and ultraviolet radiation many times longer. The most common pigment for coloring concrete is iron oxide in nature, but there are other “coloring” techniques. Use colored cements or acid etching, which removes upper layer and exposes natural, no longer “gray” aggregates.

Although the color palette of concrete cannot be called diverse. almost all of it is shown on the façade of the Yard House office center in London. The walls of the building were made of concrete tiles cast directly on the construction site.

Yard House office center, London, UK. Arch. Assembly, 2012

And yet, even one shade - provided that the proportion of concrete in the total mass of the structure is sufficiently large - radically changes its appearance. Imagine, say, that the outdoor furniture for the Sigmundshof garden in Berlin were simply “gray concrete”: here the surface of the seats changes color even depending on the lighting and viewing angle.

Interaction with light: reflecting and highlighting

In addition to bright colors, lighting technologies are also used. Outdoor furniture for the Sigmundshof garden in Berlin they made it from concrete, which reflects light. Moreover, both natural and artificial, and such concrete can be used, for example, for highlighting and “highlighting” dangerous places on stairs, roads, etc.

Outdoor furniture made of reflective concrete in Sigmundshof, Berlin, Germany. Arch. Suzanne Hoffman

But even without a certain practical benefit, concrete with reflective particles, which are usually distributed over the surface in a chaotic manner, attracts the eye. By the way, Mexican scientists recently came up with fluorescent cement: so far it glows only for 12 hours, but over time, concrete coatings with luminous cement will possibly replace technical lighting of buildings and roads at night.

Reflective concrete, Hering International

“Photoconcrete”: applying images to the wall

Various images can be printed on concrete, although not color in the full sense of the word. More precisely, not to print, but to engrave, and in two different ways.

The first is called photolithography: the image is converted to a black-and-white raster and printed as a stencil on a special film. After this, a compound is applied to the film that slows down the setting of the concrete, and the darker the area, the more compound is required. The thus processed “stencil” is placed in the formwork and poured with concrete, and after about 24 hours, by removing the formwork and washing the surface with water, you can see the developed image.

It was in this way that the facades of a student dormitory in Montreal were decorated with footage from an old black and white film that tells about a fire that happened in these places a century ago.

Student residence Edison Residence, Montreal, Canada. Arch. KANVA, 2014

The second method of engraving on concrete is photogravure. The image is again made in black and white and, using a computer, decomposed into 256 shades of gray. The result is no longer transferred to film, but to a flexible matrix, which is “imprinted” into the concrete surface as many times as desired. That is, if you need to duplicate the same image, then it is better to use this method, which, moreover, is more economical and provides excellent quality.

One of the famous examples of photogravure is the Museum of Architectural Drawing of the Sergei Tchoban Foundation in Berlin. The motif that was covered concrete plates facades, borrowed from Pietro Gonzago. It was with the drawing of the Italian that the collection now presented in the museum once began.

Museum of Architectural Drawing, Berlin, Germany. Arch. SPEECH, 2013

Relief and openwork: moving into volume

Ornaments on concrete can easily take on a third dimension. The slots can be through, turning the slab into a patterned lace, or they can remove layers of different thicknesses, forming inscriptions or simply enriching the natural texture of concrete. Both approaches were shown by Manuel Gautran in the expansion of the Lille Museum of Art.

The walls of the museum contrast especially brightly at night, when the seemingly impenetrable monolith begins to glow in places. By the way, some of the facades of the Museum of Architectural Drawings are also made in relief using this technology.

Because the “strongest” modern architecture made of concrete, along with its “superficial” manifestations of decorativeness, cannot help but use “classical” tools - games with light, space, layout of volumes, expanding its capabilities to that very infinity.

Extension of the LaM Museum, Lille, France. Arch. Manuelle Gautrand, 2010

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Architectural concrete - Production of Architectural concrete - Textures and facades made of architectural concrete - archstone Moscow

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We will design, manufacture, deliver and install facade decor in any region of Russia.

Architectural decor of the facade

Architectural precast concrete is used in large, prestigious construction and infrastructure projects with distinct individual characteristics. The ability to manufacture assembly modules from architectural concrete of almost any shape and size, as well as the unique combination of high strength with relatively low weight, guarantee the growth of its popularity among the architectural community and construction organizations. The mobility of our concrete production allows the architect to show all the uniqueness and individuality of the building, to apply avant-garde approaches to design, leaving the concept of standard solution For budget construction.

Strengthening the strength of architectural concrete while reducing the weight of assembly modules is achieved by glass fiber reinforcement, as in the production of most modern composite materials. The technology we use for manufacturing parts ensures the main properties of a facade made of architectural concrete - lightness, strength, durability. Installation work We carry them out at the site year-round, since “wet processes” are excluded. The service life of such a facade coincides with the service life of the entire building.

Architectural concrete as a building design element

In modern architecture, concrete has long ceased to be just a building material. Architectural concrete is today an integral part of modern architecture and is an outstanding high-tech material.

In addition to its original use in the field of design, the development of architectural concrete as a building material has led to its formation as a center of modern architecturally attractive construction.

Architectural concrete is a type of concrete and has ideal characteristics for creating various forms and surface textures.

Having knowledge about the most modern technologies in the field of concrete, our team is ready to implement any architectural project using architectural concrete.

Advantages of architectural concrete

Unlike conventional cladding systems, which usually form flat planes of facades, architectural concrete, manufactured according to molds, allows architects to design individual design solutions for buildings being erected. These can be complex volumetric elements with different surface textures, thematic relief, floral or geometric patterns. Modern architectural concrete is not just a material - it is a product, a facade element, a structural element, a completed module, a relief panel.

Cost of architectural concrete

Since any customer, in addition to the aesthetic component, is no less, or perhaps even more, concerned about the project budget, our design department offers the most optimal options for unifying architectural concrete elements, since this is one of the significant ways to save money.

Our work experience certainly confirms that the creation of a façade design made of prefabricated architectural concrete must go in parallel with the development of design solutions by the company that will implement the project. Collaboration between architect and construction organization should begin as early as possible - at the stage of developing the concept of the future facade.

Archikamen Moscow

An example of the implementation of architectural concrete is the new shopping mall on Radishchev Street in Yekaterinburg. Details of our company’s implementation of this project can be seen on the “Turnkey Facade” page.

www.decorstroy.com

Definition

Architectural concrete - what is it? This material belongs to construction mixtures based on sand and cement. Various inorganic and mineral substances can be used as additives. It is used primarily to create decorative elements (statues or decorations on buildings), but in some cases it can also be used in the manufacture of structural parts of buildings. Architectural concrete is also called polymer, acrylic, decorative or artistic. All these are synonyms.

Varieties

Depending on the composition and other features of architectural concrete, it is divided into three basic varieties:

Sculptural concrete.
Decorative concrete.
Geometric concrete.

The first option is characterized by the presence of both decorative and structural properties, which allows it to be used to create bas-reliefs, sculptures or overlays in the “wild stone” style. All these elements must combine both extensive possibilities for manual work and high strength of the final structure.

The second, decorative type of architectural concrete, is used when it is necessary to impart decorative properties to ready-made structural elements. For example, it is usually used to decorate the interior and exterior of buildings. In this case, high plasticity and a large number of opportunities for the designer’s work come first.

The last, geometric variety, is used mostly to create buildings or parts thereof. In this case, strength and other features related specifically to construction are more important than to decoration, however, due to its properties, this type of concrete allows you to give buildings unique features and appearance, which would be much more difficult (or even impossible) to achieve in another way.

Composition and features

To make the substance more plastic, plasticizers, polymers, mineral or chemical additives are added to the mixture. If it is necessary to obtain more serious reinforcing properties, sand, gravel, tuff or limestone are added. Among other things, in the production of architectural concrete, substances can be used to increase resistance to low temperatures, hardeners, sealants and other similar additives, of which there are a huge number. But to impart purely decorative properties, rocks, mica, quartzite, basalt, and particles of marble or granite are usually mixed in. Sometimes colored glass or ceramic chips are used. And of course, dyes are actively used if the final product needs to be given a certain non-standard color.

General features of the material:

does not slip;
easy to clean;
perfectly absorbs sounds;
has protection against damage;
does not interact with sunlight;
withstands rain, wind, snow and other similar external factors;
retains its properties at temperatures from -50 to +50 degrees;
little weight;
hardens in the interval from 14 to 28 days;
does not allow gases and chlorides to pass through.

Surface treatment

Depending on the type of architectural concrete, products made from it are subjected to different processing methods.

Sculptural Concrete:

Hand painting.
Modeling.
Engraving.
Mechanical restoration.

Geometric concrete:

Machine polishing and grinding.
Sandblasting.
Exposure to acid.
Fire treatment.

Decorative concrete is mainly processed by applying various elements made from a variety of materials to its surface. They all imitate natural elements.

External protective coating

A special coating is usually applied on top of architectural concrete, increasing its protection from various factors.

Protection against drawings prevents vandals from spoiling the appearance of the product.
Protection from grease, dust and dirt maintains the perfect appearance of the structure.
Water-repellent coating ensures longer service life.
The decorative layer improves the appearance of the product.

The features of a particular protective coating directly depend on the type of concrete and the conditions in which the structure will be during operation. For example, a statue located in a hard-to-reach place, on the shore of a reservoir, will most likely receive protection from water, but not from drawing.

Results

Architectural concrete as such appeared relatively recently, about 50 years ago. Since then, it has been actively used in different countries both for construction and for creating decorative elements. This material cannot be called cheap, but most of the costs go not to the building mixture itself, but to the work of designers, artists, decorators, architects and everyone who gives this or that product its final appearance.

Architectural concrete is actively used not only in the field of construction, but also landscape design. It is noteworthy that decorative concrete products have greater ductility and a high level of strength. Using decorative stamped concrete, you can quickly make garden paths and platforms that can successfully replace paving slabs.

The finished product made of decorative concrete resembles tiles in appearance, but is much cheaper and has a longer service life. Decorative concrete perfectly imitates the appearance of natural surfaces (for example, wood-like concrete, natural stone or marble looks original).

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Art concrete allows you to implement unique design solutions.

As is already clear from the name, artistic concrete performs supporting and aesthetic functions. Thanks to the polymers it contains, it can be used not only to create, but also to decorate existing objects. Depending on the composition, products made from decorative concrete can be more structural (geometric concrete), decorative or artistic and decorative (sculptural concrete mixture). Popular stamped and colored concrete are varieties of artistic concrete.

Due to its flexibility in its uncured form, concrete can easily imitate various surfaces— for this you should use special stamps (metal, polyurethane). This is the so-called pressed concrete (press concrete), which you can easily create with your own hands.

Depending on the functional purpose, architectural concrete whose composition can be changed, for example, using superplasticizers or more mineral additives will improve its decorative or structural qualities.

Any concrete decor must be covered with a layer of protective coating, which creates more durable surface, resistant to abrasion and mechanical or chemical damage, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Algorithm for manufacturing platforms and paths from printed concrete

When starting to make a concrete platform or garden path, you should carefully prepare the site and draw up a project. First of all, you should install wooden formwork, which limits the pouring area. The surface of the area is cleared of debris and covered with dense plastic film, is installed storm drain. Then to prevent destruction concrete structure a reinforcing mesh is installed onto which concrete is poured.

If desired, a small amount of reinforcing polypropylene fibers can be added to the concrete solution - this will prevent the appearance of cracks on the surface during drying and use.

To make decorative concrete with your own hands, you will need high-quality cement (gray cement is also possible, but white cement is preferable), sand (quartz), stone chips, coloring pigments, and plasticizing additives. All ingredients should be mixed, first sifted through a fine sieve (this is done to make the dry mixture more homogeneous and eliminate lumps and foreign impurities), then carefully pour in water (in small portions).

The proportions of ingredients depend on many factors, first of all, the chosen technology, the brand of cement used, and the type of finished product.

Advice: the selection of concrete grade should be approached with all responsibility, since the quality of the finished site depends on such qualities as frost resistance and strength. The best option there will be concrete grade M (M300, M400, M500).

The concrete is carefully leveled and compacted with a vibrating screed or roller. Adjustment of the top layer of uncured concrete is carried out using a special tool - a trowel.

After the concrete has set, a colored fixative is applied to its surface (after application, the top layer should be leveled), which gives the coating the desired color - this is how you can make colored concrete yourself. Do not forget that all work should be performed at above-zero temperatures, in dry weather.

When the concrete has hardened, stamping is performed. To apply the required relief, use a special stencil for concrete. The pattern is transferred to the surface by compaction; in some cases, patterns are finalized using special rollers.

Helpful tip: since embossing is the most popular way to make stamped concrete with your own hands, during the work process, so that the concrete stamps do not stick to the surface, a special release agent in the form of a powder is applied to it. For maximum realism, the stamps must be on the concrete surface for a long time (until it finally hardens); after their removal, the concrete is washed with water and covered with a special protective layer.

At the final stage, decorative printed concrete is coated with a layer of protective varnish. This improves the appearance of the coating, makes it more resistant to mechanical stress, precipitation and ultraviolet radiation. For example, concrete made in this way successfully withstands sudden temperature changes, does not deform and does not lose brightness.

How to make the right decorative concrete stone

In order to make decorative rock made of concrete, you will need:

a wooden box of a suitable size;
sealant (silicone);
plasticizers, additives;
quartz sand, marble chips, cement;
tiles with decorative surface under a stone;
flat brush.

Concrete can easily be made into stone blocks used for decorative purposes. First you need to make or select a form for filling. A wooden box of a suitable size is coated on the inside with a thick layer of silicone sealant. To prevent voids from forming during the application process, the sealant is pressed and smoothed with a wet flat brush.

A tile imitating a stone surface is applied to the layer of sealant (face down). Such simple manipulations allow you to create a high-quality imitation of natural stone from concrete with your own hands.

Tip: to avoid sticking to the sealant, the tiles should first be lubricated with grease. If you were unable to purchase suitable tiles, you can use it instead natural stones, which are placed at some distance from each other.

After the silicone has dried, the tiles (stones) are removed, and the resulting relief is used as a stencil.

To prepare a concrete solution, mix Portland cement, quartz sand, stone chips with water in the proportion recommended by the manufacturer, and add a plasticizing agent. For additional strength of the finished product, a small amount of reinforcing fiber can be added. The consistency of the solution should not be too thin, but should resemble thick pancake batter.

A small amount of mortar is poured onto the bottom of the mold, a mesh of reinforcement is laid for greater strength, then the whole thing is filled with the rest of the concrete mortar and left until completely dry. Decorative blocks prepared in this way are used for finishing sidewalks, curbs, paths, and floors.

In addition, a technology with the intriguing name flex concrete allows you to absolutely realistically imitate various types of surfaces, from tree bark to granite or even aged surfaces. This decorative technological system will help you make your home or yard unique. To prepare a flex concrete solution, you need to mix the ready-made dry mixture with a small amount water.

A properly prepared solution has a consistency that is convenient for work and does not stick to the working tool. Surface treatment (refinement) can last for 24 hours after mixing and applying the solution. After drying, the surface is painted using a brush, roller, or spray.

Concrete can be used to make many products and architectural elements. A special place among such products is occupied by concrete columns, which can be not only decorative, but also load-bearing elements of the structure. Despite the simplicity of the technology, working with decorative cement requires certain skills and relevant experience. However, if you follow all the recommendations, you can easily create your own beautiful playground or garden path from art concrete.

How to make colored concrete

Despite stereotypes, concrete floors can be more than just dull gray, but also have a variety of colorful shades. Despite the apparent complexity, making colored concrete with your own hands is quite simple. To achieve the desired result, you can use one of the following methods:

in the process of mixing concrete mortar, pigment can be added both in dry and liquid form - this method most suitable for giving the desired color paving slabs, curbs, paving stones;
spraying - great for simulating drawings, various patterns or images. The required color brightness or surface texture is achieved through the use of an acid dye, which can be applied in several layers or using a special stencil;
coating a hardening surface with pigment mixed with a penetrating base or varnish. This method is optimal if you want beautiful concrete floors.

So, the technology for creating decorative concrete has its own characteristics, but its popularity is fully justified by its high functionality and aesthetics.

A sensational article on Vitaly Kostenko’s blog

Concrete is a universal building material that is used everywhere. In particular, it is used in monolithic multi-story construction, pouring foundations, producing concrete products, forming airfield runways, and building roads. In fact, it is a practical multi-component mixture that is gray in color.

However, recently, the material has begun to be used for the decorative design of buildings and structures.

For this purpose, architectural concrete is used (synonyms: arch concrete/polymer concrete/acrylic concrete/art concrete/art concrete/decorative/sculptural concrete) - a plastic mixture that allows you to create an imitation of natural coating, flat and volumetric decorations.

This material began to be used relatively recently, so it makes sense to get to know it in more detail.

What is it, scope of application of decorative concrete

As a building material, architectural concrete was patented in America, approximately in the middle 60s last century. This mixture is created on the basis of cement with the addition various types fillers and coloring pigments. In essence, this is ordinary concrete, but there are a number of significant differences.

In particular:

Fine-grained structure, which allows you to grind the surface to a perfectly smooth state.

Low sorption humidity - the material maintains its integrity throughout its entire service life.

Independence from sudden temperature changes.

Neutrality to any environment.

It should be noted that concrete is produced in different color scheme, which provides almost limitless possibilities for architectural solutions. In addition, at the customer’s request, original fillers, for example, shells, can be added to architectural concrete.

If we talk about the scope of application, architectural concrete is used to perform the following work:

Decorative finishing interior spaces and external wall structures.

Facade cladding.

Casting sculptural forms.

Bas-reliefs.

Balustrades.

Stairs.

A key feature of architectural concrete is matrix finishing - pouring molds of varying textures to produce finished products of any shape.

Advantages and disadvantages of artistic material

Despite its versatility and wide range of applications, architectural concrete is far from an ideal material. Let's start with the advantages.

TO strengths architectural concrete parameters include the following:

High strength and resistance to dynamic loads. Thanks to this feature, the material can be used for decorative design of access roads to a country house.

Resistance to aggressive environments. Concrete is neutral to acids and alkalis and does not collapse when exposed to moisture and high temperatures.

Not susceptible to mechanical abrasion. Therefore, the material is often used as flooring first floors of shopping and entertainment centers and other buildings with high traffic volumes.

Attractive price. Considering the wide range of architectural solutions, concrete is sold in an affordable price segment, which distinguishes it from natural materials.

Long service life. To increase this characteristic, polymer fibers are added to the mixture.

Flaws:

Technological process manufacturing involves the use of chemically active components, therefore architectural concrete is not considered environmentally friendly.

When facing facades, the load on supporting and load-bearing structures increases significantly.

Laying such a concrete mixture on your own is practically impossible: in order to preserve the texture, the work must be performed by qualified craftsmen, and this significantly increases the final cost of the material.

Low pace of work: architectural concrete gains initial strength of about 48 hours.

It is impossible to create small parts.

However, even a large number of disadvantages do not affect the popularity of architectural concrete in the domestic and world markets. In fact, it is an excellent alternative to natural finishing materials, helping to significantly reduce the cost of design of buildings and structures.

Varieties of arch concrete

Considering the versatility of its applications, architectural concrete is not a homogeneous gray mass, as many are accustomed to thinking about the material. The mixture produced is divided into three main groups. In particular:

Geometric concrete is a multicomponent mixture for casting monolithic structures of any configuration in formwork.

Decorative concrete is a mixture intended for finishing finished structures.

Sculptural concrete is a mixture for casting artistic and volumetric decorations.

In addition, there are the following varieties on the market:

White decorative: the main purpose is interior decoration, facade decoration. Restriction on use - no high loads to the surface.

Forming methods

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

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

Composition and tables of proportions for preparing the mixture

Any concrete is a precisely adjusted proportion of materials that ensure the workability of the mixture and the strength of the structure. If we talk about decorative varieties of material, the composition will be as follows:

Connecting element

Cement grades used here M-400/M-500, without additional impurities and additives. In addition, given the purpose of the mixture, the cement must be white.

Filler

This component provides the volume and plasticity of the mixture. Most manufacturers use sifted quartz sand, which provides finished products with a texture identical to natural materials.

Crushed stone

In the manufacture of ordinary construction concrete this component provides strength. When making architectural concrete, adding crushed stone is not prerequisite. However, many manufacturers take this step to improve the performance of the mixture.

Supplements

It is allowed to use plasticizing additives and modifiers to improve the properties of the concrete mixture. The addition of additives improves the plasticity of concrete, increases frost resistance and moisture resistance, and allows you to achieve a glossy surface.

Dyes

Dyes make hardened concrete look like natural coating. These components are added during the mixing process, which ensures uniform pigmentation. Color palette has no restrictions, so the shade of the finished product depends only on the desire and imagination of the customer.

Water

This component is added to increase the plasticity and workability of the mixture. The presence of additional impurities in the water is not allowed: this can negatively affect the properties of concrete.

The proportion of components directly depends on the intended use of the concrete mixture. The ratio of filler, water plasticizers and binder is calculated in construction laboratories. The detailed manufacturing recipe is classified as a trade secret, so manufacturers are in no hurry to divulge their secrets.

Tables of ratios of sand parts ( P), cement M-400 And M-500 (C) and crushed stone ( SCH) to prepare a solution of arch concrete:

How to make the material yourself

For decoration country house It is not always necessary to buy material from the manufacturer. The technology for making the mixture is quite simple, so you can do the work yourself. Of course, each manufacturer has its own “trademark” secrets that distinguish its products from competitors. However key principles the production of the mixture remains unchanged.

Here you need to follow the following sequence of actions:

Preparation of cement-sand mixture in compliance with standard proportions 1:3.

Adding water. Liquid is added until the mixture reaches the desired mobility. In addition, at this stage the composition includes plasticizers and coloring agents.

Adding cement. The content of this component should not exceed 40% from the total volume of the mixture. Input is also added here to make the concrete plastic and workable.

After this, the mixture is poured into ready-made molds of the desired configuration and carefully compacted to avoid the formation of voids. Further work can be carried out later 48 hours after pouring, to fully gain strength, concrete needs 28 days.

Factories - manufacturers

The demand for products made from decorative materials is rapidly gaining popularity, however, not all manufacturers produce such products. Among the trustworthy companies are the following:

PLACHINTA. The plant is located in Crimea and produces high-strength architectural concrete for landscape design recreation areas. In addition, the company's product range includes piece products of all shapes and sizes. Delivery is carried out throughout Russia.

"Arbet". The company is located in Moscow and offers customers any design options using the subject of our conversation. The manufacturer strictly monitors product quality, uses high-tech equipment, and attracts the attention of customers with competitive prices.

"Dekorstroy". A Moscow company with one of the most powerful production bases in Russia. The technological process is carried out on certified equipment, GOST standards are strictly observed.