Architectural concrete
View Patent ↗A method of forming architectural concrete in a quicker and more cost effective manner relative to conventional concrete formation methods. The method includes forming the architectural concrete without the use of a surface retarder, and using prescribed amounts of fine sand and aggregate to allow for creation of the desired aesthetic look of the architectural concrete.
1. A method of forming architectural concrete upon a subgrade, the method comprising the steps of:
pouring a concrete mixture over the subgrade, the concrete mixture defining an exposed surface;
broadcasting a prescribed quantity of fine sand over approximately 15-85% of the exposed surface of the concrete mixture;
broadcasting a prescribed quantity of aggregate over approximately 15-85% of the exposed surface of the concrete mixture; and
manipulating the fine sand and aggregate to simulate the appearance of quarried stone;
wherein the prescribed quantities of fine sand and aggregate broadcast over the exposed surface of the concrete mixture allow the architectural concrete to be formed independent of applying a surface retarder to the concrete mixture.
2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of broadcasting a quantity of fine sand includes broadcasting fine sand over approximately 65-85% of the exposed surface of the concrete mixture.
3. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of broadcasting a quantity of fine sand includes broadcasting fine sand over approximately 75-85% of the exposed surface of the concrete mixture.
4. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of broadcasting a quantity of aggregate includes broadcasting aggregate over approximately 65-85% of the exposed surface of the concrete mixture.
5. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of broadcasting a quantity of aggregate includes broadcasting aggregate over approximately 75-85% of the exposed surface of the concrete mixture.
6. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
finishing the exposed surface of the concrete mixture to dispose a quantity of cement/fines paste derived from the concrete mixture at the exposed surface thereof,
the manipulating step including mixing the fine sand and aggregate into the cement/fines paste.
7. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the fine sand and the aggregate are broadcast over the exposed surface pneumatically.
8. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the aggregate is broadcast over the exposed surface after the fine sand has been broadcast over the exposed surface, the aggregate being broadcast while the concrete mixtures is in a plastic state.
9. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the fine sand is of a given color corresponding to the simulated quarried stone.