| Decorative concrete: | | | | add correct concentrations of coloring agents to the |
| The industrial revolution in the twentieth century | | | | concrete mixture during its preparation stage. The |
| made a mass change in each and every industry in | | | | coloring agents are usually chemical compounds of |
| the world. The industry of civil engineering was no | | | | chromium and other heavy metals. Mixtures of almost |
| exception. There have been huge changes in the | | | | all colors can be achieved through this method. |
| style and outlook of the people towards the | | | | Different colors are achieved by mixing different |
| construction business. There have been grave | | | | proportions oxides with the parent elements in the |
| changes in the styles, construction methodologies and | | | | mixture. |
| the raw materials used. Introduction of new | | | | Stamped concrete |
| technologies and advancements in this field have | | | | Another innovative method of decorative concrete is |
| paved way for better ways of constructions. | | | | the stamped method. As the name suggests, |
| During this period of transition, a few things like the | | | | Stamped is prepared by impressing design molds into |
| basics of constructions and the usage of a few | | | | the wet mixture and are left to dry. The molds are |
| building materials have not changed. Concrete is one | | | | usually made up of stone, wood or rubber. The |
| such basic building material that almost all architects | | | | intended design of the walls are made in the molds |
| and engineers rely on as the first choice. Concrete | | | | and after removal of these molds from the dried |
| mixtures are always used for the strength and | | | | concrete mixture, excellent impressions of the actual |
| stability of the building. This perception towards | | | | design are obtained. Releasing solutions like lubricant |
| concrete is slowly changing and architects have | | | | mixtures are used to release the molds from the |
| started using concrete as a means to decorate the | | | | concrete without getting stuck into the mixture. This |
| interior and exterior finishing of the buildings. This new | | | | method has been widely adapted by tile |
| concept which goes by the name decorative | | | | manufacturers to design and manufacture such tiles. |
| concrete has been adopted by thousands of | | | | Form linings |
| engineers due to its impressive looks and for the sort | | | | This unique way of creating decorative impressions |
| of professional touches that it gives. | | | | are widely used in Canada and the States, where |
| How is decorative concrete prepared? | | | | most of the public buildings, walls and bridges have |
| The preparation of decorative concrete does not | | | | these decorations. The method is more similar to the |
| differ much from the preparation of normal mixtures | | | | stamped concrete method where impressions are |
| except for the usage of extra content for | | | | created from the molds. The molds used here need |
| decorations like coloring agents. Unlike normal | | | | extra care as they are prepared by artists are |
| concrete which is used for the sole purpose of | | | | sculptors who give importance to every single part |
| strength, decorative concrete is used for beautifying | | | | of the design. The molds are usually prepared using |
| the walls, floors and ceilings of the building. Hence the | | | | wax and thickened clay. One advantage is the limited |
| concentration of this concrete is not as thick as a | | | | usage of coloring agents in the initial concrete mixture |
| normal concrete mixture. The designs and styles play | | | | because the colored coating is achieved through form |
| major roles in the concentration of the mixtures. For | | | | lining molds, which transfer their color to the walls of |
| instance, the walls that are imprinted with trendy | | | | the blocks. |
| designs made up of decorative concrete need a | | | | Advantages of decorative concrete |
| heavy concentration as they are a part of the actual | | | | Decorative concrete has become the latest trend in |
| building. Portable displays of such designs, which are | | | | interior designing and people have not started |
| more like wall hangings, need lesser concentration to | | | | adapting to it without a reason. These decorative |
| help in the mobility. | | | | creations come at highly cost effective rates when |
| Types of decorative concrete | | | | compared to other interior decorations. The ease of |
| Colored mixtures | | | | preparation and the small time frame within which |
| This is the most widely used decorative concrete. | | | | they are prepared are some of the other |
| The reason for its wide usage can be attributed to | | | | advantages of decorative concrete. More Information |
| its ease of preparation. All the curator needs to do is | | | | On Decorative Concrete. |