By creating your own landscaping
materials, you can achieve professional landscaping results. Save money,
be creative and work at your own pace! After reviewing this
guide, you will have all the information necessary to successfully make
patio pavers, retaining wall blocks, stone veneers and more. No project
is too big or too small, just make certain that you begin with quality molds.
Mixing Concrete:
1. You can buy pre-mixed bags of
ready-to-mix concrete. These simply require water and mixing; the
measuring is already done for you. An 80 lb bag will, on average, will make 4
sq. feet x 2.5" thick. A more economical method is to make your own
concrete, using this simple time-tested formula as a guide - 1:2:3 parts by
dry volume - one part Portland cement, two parts sand three parts coarse
aggregate. For molds under 2" in thickness, use aggregate that is
no more that 1/4" in size. Concrete can take anywhere from 15 min
to 24 hrs to set; it all depends on what concrete mix is used, weather
conditions, the size of the mold, and the amount of water used. The
cycle time can be reduced further by using only enough water in the mix as is
absolutely needed, or using a faster setting concrete mix, professional
concrete casting companies will use between 5 to 15
percent water, this will aid in hardening the mix as fast as possible.
2. A light weight concrete mix can be used
for a wall veneer stone, or patio applications to make light weight concrete,
substitute some of the aggregate with pumas stone, styro-foam beads, or
perlite - even wood chips.
3. You do not have to forgo the look of
real stone, simply because you have chosen to landscape
with concrete. And, next to using a highly-detailed mold, the
most important step is coloring the concrete. There are several proven
methods and a variety of quality products available to help
you create a natural appearance.
Concrete Dye:
Dry pigment, made from Iron Oxide, is a common colorant
used for dyeing concrete; they come in a variety of earth tones - brick reds,
brown, ocher, umber, etc. During the mixing process, these powders
can be added, a small amount at a time until the desired color is
achieved.
For a mottled look, a small amount of dry pigment can
be sprinkled and smudged into the mold, prior to pouring the concrete.
Try using 2 or 3 complimentary colors, this will give a random appearance to
the stone. For a rougher finish, sprinkle baking soda into the mold.
To get a marbled effect, mix the concrete, then
separate a small portion from the larger batch and add the dye. Return
the mixture to the larger batch and stir it - just enough to create
swirls. You can repeat this procedure, using different colors each time.
Make sure that you keep a record of the quantities,
colors and techniques used, in order to duplicate your results.
Concrete Stain:
You can take advantage of the porous nature of
concrete, by using a concrete stain. These masonry stains act just like
wood stains and are absorbed into the top one-sixteenth inch of the
concrete. The pigment is highly colorized and available in a multitude
of earth tone hues. Concrete stains can also be used to restore
previously-stained concrete, as this product will fade overtime.
Concrete Color Wash:
A color wash is a technique that allows an accent color
to be absorbed into the nooks and crannies of the stone. It can be
achieved by mixing iron oxide pigment and water into a slurry with the
consistency of a thin soupy mix. This procedure should be applied
to the castings after demolding and while it is still uncured,
this allows for better chemical bonding between the wash and the
concrete. To apply the wash, brush the entire surface, especially into
all the recesses. Once this is done, take a clean, moist cloth and wipe
only the very top surface. with a few passes – a depth of color that
highlights the natural look of the casting.
4. Using a shovel mix these ingredients
into a wheelbarrow, a bucket or onto large tarp. It is wise to
start with a moderate amount of dry mix, as it gets exponentially harder to
mix as water is added. Be sure it is evenly and completely mixed. Use
the minimum amount of water possible while still keeping the mixture workable.
The less water used, the stronger the dried, finished product will be, and
will cure faster.
5. Try to use the same amount of water for
additional batches to be mixed, and work fast to keep dry lines from forming.
This is where the concrete is already drying and the transition to the new,
wetter mix will be clearly visible and create a weak point.
Pouring Concrete:
Using a mold release agent is not required
for our molds, but using some sort of mold release spray wax or caster oil
will help to release deeper castings .
1. , After pouring, shaking side to side
and tapping the sides will draw most air and water away from the surface of
the mold helping to avoid surface voids. and air bubbles. This is a
important step and should not be missed.
2. During pouring, the molds do not
require backing - though we do recommend that, to achieve the best results
when pouring molds over 3" thick, they be packed into sand for support.
3. When only half or a partial part is
required, simply insert a divider wall into the wet mix. this will enable you
to make any shape without breaking the finished stone after it is already
cured, this is extremely helpful for veneers if you need a special shape to
fill a gap.
4. If, when pouring concrete into the
mold, you come up short you can add some additional gravel to the wet concrete
to raise the level.
Releasing Castings:
1. Concrete can take anywhere from
15 min to 24 hrs to set it all depends on what concrete mix is used, weather
conditions, and the size of the mold. After release, additional
drying can be done out of the molds -
2. Our molds are custom-made from a
flexible type of plastic that allows the concrete castings to be released
quite easily. You may find deeper castings may require a little more
effort, if a mold release is needed you can simply smear a very small amount
of motor or castor oil in a clean mold before pouring.
3. Make sure that the concrete has dried
and hardened before you try to release it from the mold, concrete will
shrink slightly, during the hardening process, and will be easier to remove,
just turn the mold over and pull with even pressure from the edges, do not use
tools to pry the part out, as this can damage the part and mold.
4. Clean the mold with water, or soft
brush after each use.