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Posted on November 22, 2008 by Pearle Tsuji | Posted under Reference and Education
Concrete Stamping: Easy And Fast Techniques
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The first rule of design is to stamp concrete in a color and a way that will not hurt the general environment. This means that a natural color is always recommended, as it will work just fine with all the rest. For an aesthetic appearance, stamp the concrete so the lines of the pattern end up being perpendicular on the length of the area. If you want to know how your pattern is going to look, you need to put some mats on the surface that will be stamped. Then, the rest of the crew helping with you with the concrete stamping will know in which direction to go when making the pattern. The second step is to put the concrete in its place. Standard guidelines must be abided to. For instance, the concrete must be maximum four inches thick and the mix, the depth and the reinforcement must be applied as needed, depending on the type of concrete used.The color in the concrete can be an integral color, for which combining the color with a mix before applying is recommended, or you can use the broadcast method that involved using the color hardener on the concrete directly. If you use the second method, then you will have to wait for all the excess water to be absorbed before doing anything else. You must put some effort into this, as you will need to spread the color hardener as uniformly as possible, using equal movements of the arms while doing this. The color will appear as it should just after a few minutes, so instantly you will not be able to tell if you were successful or not. Some mats need the color release agent to be used. You will have to purchase about 3.5 pounds of color release agent for an area of one hundred square feet. Brush the agent into the mats and then on all the surface of the concrete. Try to manage to spread the agent evenly for the best results. The color release agent must be close to the color of the concrete. You can also experiment with some designs. For instance, a darker tone for the color release agent, will make the concrete stamp to look more deep and shadowy. Any excess can be removed through washing. For the texturing, you will not need to pressure the mats too hard into the concrete. Texturing must occur at the needed time and then, a steady hand will really be recommended. A crew can work best with the mats. One person has to take care of the color release agent and spread it with care on all the surface. Another will be responsible for placing the texturing mats. A skilled individual will work well with three replacing mats while the concrete is poured. Another worker will have to tamp the mats after they are put on the concrete; the procedure must be done only once. Finally, the fourth person in the crew will be responsible for lifting the mats. After the concrete is let to rest for an entire day, it is time to put a washer into action. You will need a high power one to remove all the excess for the color release agent. You can use some release agent on the grout lines, to give the stamp concrete a more natural look. The final step include sealing the concrete with a decorative model. Do this only after the surface is really dry. The clear enhancer will be poured so it covers everything evenly. A second coat will be poured, also, but on the perpendicular direction. About The Author: Visit www.articleclick.com for additional article contributions by Pearle Tsuji. |
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