Google books - Nice resource

[henpecked]

Was lloking for a bit of advice on concrete.
Didnt warrant buying a book, also wanjted a bit of knowledge spread.

So found THIS little beauty.
Bits and bobs of PDF's for you to sample. Good knowledge in the available text and hundreds of books to chose from.

You can buy and DL your other favourite books from here too.

Hp

[lutonlagerlout]

i have got this one sitting next to me desk
the things yanks do with concrete is amazing
LLL

[henpecked]

Yes, sad as it seems, Ive often wondered why concrete isn't featured more as an architectural specification. You can polish, imprint etc. Being in Coventry, I had alot of this experience as a lad. The shuttering ply used to throw up most of the town was awful, but left amazing woody patterns on cast beams.

specialising in this, would be a sure-fire winner, I think. You would be cheap (from a product point of view) and an asset to big concrete pouring firms who, at this moment in time, dont get envolved that much with the finished products look.

Hp

you heard it here first

[lutonlagerlout]

big problem hen
in this country the only choices you get with concrete are more or less water/cement

in the states they can specify hundreds of colours and aggregates

here you can have pink or grey
LLL

[henpecked]

Not colour (would be miles in future for UK)

Finishes.

Polishing , printing, post cast painting all could be utilised to spruce up drab library's/shopping centres on a budget.

Hp

[GB_Groundworks]

i have this one some lovely concrete work and shuttering in here



p.s lots of people doing pattern, printed, polished, acid etched, coloured concrete already





Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1281730983

[henpecked]

Looks the dogs.

you could cut out the tiler, floor screeder and 3 weeks work off the job by offering this.
Why this isnt an integral part of site work is a missed opportunity I think, the amount of high spec jobs that end up with this finish is endless, this would be a one-stop solution.

Hp

[lutonlagerlout]

err because it cracks and looks shite hen

have a look at any PIC near you

concrete finishing isnt a trade here like it is in america,i would love to do a floor like

but havent got the kit or skills to do it
LLL

[henpecked]

but havent got the kit or skills to do it
LLL

Hexacerly!

If it was a 'proper' part of the planning/design process, the right bits would be cheap. Look at PIC for example.
Just think if it was took seriously enough, the benefits would be its own advert.
Like I said, it negates 2 processes in the construction matrix, so as a QS does most of the 'yay or nay' on site, a good concrete finisher would float to the top in most instances.IMHO

Food for thought, methinks

Hp

[Bob_A]

I was looking into using acid stains on 25sq/metres of concrete at the end of my garden.
Nothing special like the pic in LLL's post, just wanted to change it from concrete grey to another colour that might blend in more with the garden.
Just not had the bottle to do it in case I make it worse.