Aggregates that glow and sparkle. Scented concrete. Salted concrete. Cremated ashes in concrete … Just some of the out-there options that are only offered by this industry.
Tag: Mix Design
High-Performance Mix Design — Understanding GFRC Mixes
GFRC is a combination of fine aggregate, cement, water, polymer, chemical admixtures and glass fiber. The key to GFRC is the glass-fiber reinforcement. The fibers take the place of steel in a wet-cast mix. They allow GFRC to develop much higher flexural strengths than typical wet-cast concrete, allowing you to cast thinner, lighter sections and pieces.
Scent, Inlays, and Human Cremains, All in one Concrete Countertop
Concrete artisans are adept at dovetailing different techniques to amplify the impact of their finished work. Bill Kulish, owner of Quintechs LLC in Wilmington, Del., had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity last year to combine a couple of the special effects described in this feature (and a couple that aren’t) in a highly personal kitchen counter.
High-performance Mix Design for Concrete Countertops
When I entered the concrete countertop industry after 25 years in the architectural precast industry, I had a hard time understanding some of the practices in use. There seemed to be a lot of misinformation surrounding the how and why of mix designs when it came to concrete countertops. Some […]
Tips for Doing the Math on Volumetric Batching for Concrete
The concrete industry at large designs mixes using the volumetric method. Fresh concrete is sold by volume, generally by the cubic yard, which is how we will look at it. Divide cubic yard volumes by 27 to get cubic foot volumes.
Fluid (Wet-Cast) Countertop Mixes vs. Stiff Countertop Mixes
Are you new to countertops? Are you confused about what the term "wet-cast" means? Here’s a look at fluid concrete mixes for wet-casting as compared to stiff mixes for hand-packing, which is also known as "the Buddy Rhodes method."
Cement Alternatives for Concrete
Since manufacturing portland cement damages the environment, more and more concrete makers are giving alternatives a chance. According to the LEED certification system, concrete has several green qualities, including a long lifetime and recyclability. Portland cement, one of concrete’s primary ingredients, is another story.
High-performance Concrete – New Systems For Concrete Countertops
Bag mixes for countertops share some characteristics: They are designed to minimize cracking and shrinking, they are strong enough to be poured in thinner slabs and they are optimized for workability.
One of the Best GFRC Mix Designs
Let’s start at the beginning: What is GFRC, what are its benefits and what are its downsides? GFRC stands for glass-fiber reinforced concrete. The GFRC I use is a composite of portland cement, silica sand, Forton VF-774 , Liquefaction Compound, Vitro Minerals VCAS-micronHS, water, and alkali-resistant chopped glass-fiber strands.
Innovative Concrete Blend: Xtreme Series from SureCrete Design Products
Innovative concrete blends often start with an innovative admixture. In the case of the new Xtreme Series line from SureCrete Design Products, that admixture is CarpenterStone.
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