Exposed Aggregate Concrete

Mike2006

Hi,

Can anyone recommend an installer for this product (Munster Region).
or
Has anyone installed it themselves or know how it is done.

See attached pic...

Thanks,

Mike.

AckwelFoley

Im afraid i cant help you on either count, sorry.

I believe any company recommendations will need to be sent to you by PM

Builderfromhell

The guy who did the exposed agregate concrete in Limerick's Milk market is based in limerick I believe. Have his number someplace as he was pricing a job for a client of mine. Will PM you if I find it.

Very expensive system if you are only doing a small bit. You can even get simulated exposed aggregate floorcovering these days. I think 'Altro' do it.

Mellor

How its down depends on the location.
A solution we used recently on a c.1950s warehouse being converted to an office was to to grind and polish the original floor. This was cheaper than a new floor, and all the funny areas of infill and newer concrete looked different, which was part of the intended look.

If its a floor, polishing might be a cost effective option.

Mike2006

Yeah, I'd say that I only have about 30-40 m2 to do. I saw it while I was on holidays and I thought to myself that it would be a nice cheap alternative to paving slabs.. Boy was I wrong...

I rang a local crowd who do paving etc.. and the guy said that I would be looking at about €120 per m2....

Can't see how this is.. It looks like it is just coloured concrete with stones thrown on top when it starts to go off a bit...
I am tempted to try to do it myself on a bit of ground to see how it works out...

Mike.

Mellor

Mike2006 wrote: »

Can't see how this is.. It looks like it is just coloured concrete with stones thrown on top when it starts to go off a bit...

If that's what it looked like then it wasn't exposed aggr. concrete.
Sounds more like somebody dry dashed the ground.

CJhaughey

You can do it two ways, Mix the deco agg in at mixing stage then powerwash the fat off as it starts to go off.
This is probably stronger but obviously a lot more expensive as you need more aggregate in the mix.
The second way is to broadcast the agg over the top of fresh poured mix and then trowel it in so the fat covers it. After the mix goes off a bit you either powerwash or use a stiff brush to reveal the agg. You may also need to use a retarder with this method.
If you are handy with concrete you would be as well to get a bag of deco agg and practise a few times till you get the hang of it. It's not rocket science but you need to have a feel for how the mix is going off.
I haven't done it but have watched it being done. A good concrete man makes it look easy.

oraiste

In my opinion, this is a 'polished concrete' finish. Grinding the top layer of concrete exposes the aggregrate (same principle to creating a terrazzo floor).

The selection of colour and size of the aggregate chips and cement binder will determine the type of finish that you will achieve.

If you are plaaning to go on the DIY route, some great videos on creating concrete worktops can be found on youtube (polishing demonstations etc.) - the same principle would apply to concrete floors. For example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgj-7ltD6Ew

There are specialist concrete polishing companys in Ireland. Just google 'polished concrete' for the main contractors in the Irish market.

Terrazzo installers should also be able to achieve the polished concrete finish.

kboc

PM sent