Patterned concrete, also known as decorative concrete, is simply concrete that has a specific shape, pattern, or design “stamped” before it cures, which resembles that of a natural stone and cobblestone patio design. With origins dating back to ancient times, modern concrete and its main ingredient, i, e. Cement, has changed significantly over time. This extraordinary material was used by the Romans and Greeks about 2,000 years ago, who used volcanic ash and lime, which, when mixed with water, formed a hard mass.
Finally, in 1891, the first concrete street in the United States, in Ohio, was poured. Between 1890 and 1920, concrete manufacturers began producing innovative building facades. Among them were prefabricated builders, who used colors and dyes to improve the appearance of smooth concrete. While some manufacturers chose to mix pigments into fresh concrete for casting, others simply immersed the entire casting in solutions that were similar to chemical stains.
Concrete craftsmen also began mixing pigments to add color to smooth concrete. Some even kept recipe files for mixing and creating multiple colors. The introduction of colored concrete highlighted the need to produce it in batches. Contractors wanted a mix that not only mixed evenly with the concrete, but also formed a permanent bond in the cement paste, for a durable finish.
To meet the growing need for pigments, in 1915, Mason Scofield, a young engineer, began manufacturing colors to make decorative concrete. The company, which was later renamed L, M. Scofield, left a permanent mark on the history of decorative concrete. Their products contained color hardeners such as cement, color wax, aggregate spreading (to help color and harden the surface), chemical dyes and sealants.
In 1920, Scofield moved the company to Los Angeles, believing that the Southern California market would be open to decorative concrete. This change proved to be very profitable; famous celebrities such as Groucho Marx, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin began adding Scofield colored concrete products to their homes, leading to the popularity of decorative concrete. About 70 years ago, Brad Bowman, now known as the father of stamped concrete, introduced texture and embossing to the world of decorative concrete. This meant that smooth concrete could be made to look like brick, slate, slab, wood, tile, etc.
Developed and patented the tools and procedures needed to create various stamping designs. The best part of its creation was that people could easily customize it to their specifications. It was in the 1950s that Bowman began experimenting with ways to produce concrete patterns on a larger scale. While he had initially started working with a single blade of wood, he eventually installed two blades that were approximately the width of a brick; the final step was to configure platform stamps that could print several units at once.
The first material used as a seal was wood, then sheet metal, and finally, cast aluminum platforms were created that proved to be more efficient. Demand for stamped concrete grew exponentially in the 1970s; since then, it has become a common material that architects, designers and contractors use in most of their projects. The Bomanita Corporation. This further promoted the use of decorative concrete in construction projects.
Over time, different decorative concrete designs began to flood the market, at attractive prices. The variety of designs and colors available, from acid and transparent dyes to high-quality dyes, practically swept the world by storm. The best part was that, this type of decorative concrete was not only attractive, but also more durable. Patterned designs are now commonly used for patios, sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, and even interior floors.
The main reason behind its success is the ease of creating delicate designs and its affordability. In 1956, the owner of Stegmeier Co. It was designed to prevent bare feet from burning on a hot, sunny day. Stegmeier also created an “aged effect” by adding color to a dust emission, but prevented texture seals from sticking to concrete.
To solve this problem, he invented a latex rubber tool to give fresh concrete a wood grain texture, taking the concept of decorative concrete one step further. Cast aluminum stamps manufactured by Bowman were heavy, had a limited lifespan, and served only for printing patterns, while doing little to provide texture. In the 1970s, Jon Nasvik tackled this problem by developing seals made of urethane. The resulting seals were not only durable, but also lightweight.
Nasvik further improved concrete stamping by introducing a plastic seal to the market in the late 1970s. Since the stamps were made of plastic, they could easily be used to print patterns and add texture to fresh concrete. The first commercially applied pattern was that of a broken and used brick. The embossing patterns that developed from this were used only by Bomanite contractors, and were given the name “Bomacron”.
However, if it hadn't been for Stegmeir's non-stick powder, the use of these seals would be impossible. Around the time when plastic seals entered the concrete market, Disney Corporation was already designing EPCOT in Orlando. The Bomacrones were included in their designs and helped create 12 to 15 of the most unusual decorative concrete patterns for the project. This led to the widespread use of decorative printing around the world.
In general, the development of the decorative concrete industry can be attributed to a few people; those who manufactured materials for concrete contractors, those who created the tools and processes needed to create stamping designs, and those who improved the quality of decorative concrete in general. These individuals and companies conducted extensive research to develop decorative concrete, and it is because of their hard work that the decorative concrete industry is so successful today. For more information on decorative concrete and help with your next project, contact us now. Patterned concrete, often called textured or printed concrete, reproduces stones, such as slate and slab, tile, brick and even wood.
The wide variety of patterns and colors make it popular for beautifying patios, pool covers, driveways and more. Plus, it's an affordable paving option that requires less maintenance than other materials. In some cases, patterned concrete can be even more durable than standard concrete, especially if a color hardener was used when it was poured. The installation consists of pressing molds into the concrete while the concrete is still in its plastic state.
When using stamped concrete for indoor or outdoor floors, you get a smoother and more even surface than can be achieved with bricks, tiles, or wood. Common sizes start with 6 grit and can go up to 8500 grit, although concrete can only maintain an 800 grit gloss, it can be helped by adding a concrete hardener, such as sodium silicate or lithium silicate, which will allow the concrete to maintain a gloss of 1800 to 3000 grit. Unlike conventional cement-concrete mixes, polymeric cement overlays can be applied thinly or coarsely without fear of delamination or typical product failure. The tile requires a stable pad on which it will be placed, which means that you will often need concrete anyway.
Also called printed concrete or textured concrete, stamped concrete is a type of architectural concrete that allows you to create realistic patterns similar to more expensive materials, such as natural stone, granite, and tile. Concrete layers date back to the 1960s, when chemical engineers at some of the largest and best-known chemical companies began experimenting with acrylic paint resins as modifiers for cement-sand mixtures. Although inexpensive and easy to care for, linoleum and vinyl are not as durable as concrete, nor do they have the aesthetic and rich look that concrete offers. It is a protective layer that usually gives a little shine to the surface, highlighting the richness of the colors used in decorative concrete, regardless of the technique.
In any case, stamped concrete looks better than real, because no grass or moss will grow between the joints, and it will not rot or splinter if it imitates wooden planks. Tinted concrete is as easy to maintain as a regular concrete slab, if not easier, because the sealant prevents staining and rinses easily. Concrete can be marked with many different tools, but the most common tools are concrete saws and grinders. Finally, another advantage of stained concrete is that it is relatively inexpensive compared to other options, while offering a personalized and unique product.
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