Printed concrete. Features, prices, reviews

Recently, printed concrete is becoming more popular. This material is used to cover beaches, swimming pools, sidewalks, garage complexes, bridges and other territories.

Description of printed concrete

This material is still known as press concrete. It acts as a material for the cladding of horizontal and vertical surfaces, which makes it possible to create an imitation of natural stone at low cost. Printed concrete has excellent performance characteristics, it is produced by the method of imprinting the matrix on the surface.

Material specifications

Such concrete can be operated at a wide range of temperatures - from -50 to +50 degrees. The surface does not slip and does not lose color, and is also resistant to sunlight. Among other things, this material perfectly resists impact abrasive forces. Consumers mention that in terms of strength and durability, such concrete surpasses conventional road tile and asphalt pavements. Decorative material of this type usually undergoes temperature effects and numerous cycles of freezing and thawing, which can amount to three hundred. Using printed concrete, home masters have the opportunity to complete work in much less impressive terms, which is very popular with consumers. Among other things, this material allows you to save money. He steadfastly emphasizes the effects of chemicals, which makes it possible to use it in the conditions of premises of the appropriate destination. It can be, for example, car workshops.

Features of use

Printed concrete is used today in many areas. If we are talking about vertical surfaces, then the layer can vary from 0.5 to 3 centimeters. It can be interior walls, columns, arches, fireplaces, slopes, doorways and much more. The horizontal surfaces can have a layer whose thickness is 1-1.5 cm. In this case we are talking about balconies, staircases, paths, sidewalks, terraces, etc. The technology of printed concrete can assume the use of a base for finishing in the form of a brick, Concrete, building blocks, particle board, gypsum board, stone slabs, tiles, etc. As the main requirement to the base is its immobility and integrity.

Customer Reviews

Stamped concrete has positive and negative characteristics. Among the first, consumers especially emphasize the lack of the need to prepare the substrate by the type of grout, plaster or putty. On the surface, errors, roughness, and chips can be left, it is not necessary to remove them before using the stamped material, which reduces the monetary and time costs.

The material described is universal, it can be used both inside and outside the premises. In the latter case, the material perfectly copes with the temperature effects, which indicates frost resistance. In addition to heat resistance, the material does not burn, which makes it possible to use it when decorating furnace equipment. Stamped concrete has the properties of hydrophobicity, which indicates water and dirt repellent characteristics. At the same time, the material retains the ability to breathe and pass steam, which is very appreciated by consumers when decorating facades.

However, buyers especially highlight the high strength characteristics of this concrete. The material described has a low weight, which allows it to be used for vertical coatings. Thus, the weight of one square meter on a vertical base, whose thickness is 1 cm, is about 12 kg. This parameter can be compared with clinker tiles. That's why consumers use this material to cover the facades, which were previously insulated with rock wool or polystyrene. At the same time, home masters note that they observe a strong fixing of the finish, which can not peel off and fall. At the expense of insignificant weight decorative printed concrete does not render significant influence on walls and the base of construction.

Concrete in the form of imitation of other materials

The described decorative covering can be made in the form of imitation of various natural textures by type of wood, natural stone, boards, sandstone, slate, etc. This allows us to use inexpensive material that naturally enough transmits structures of other natural textures. Consumers note that it is the simplest way to decorate arches, columns, slopes and other complex surfaces with this material in comparison with natural counterparts, because there is no need to customize the material to the size. Among other things, this saves money.

Variations of decorative solutions

If you decide to use printed concrete, the shapes of this material can be completely different. This applies to the shades, which are on sale a great variety. You can choose from 20 options, one of which is certainly suitable for exterior or interior design. During the work you can combine different textures and colors. This allows you to recreate on the surface of unique patterns, which can consist of imitating a stone and a board. It is enough just to take care of the finished coating, this is noted by those consumers who for a long time use printed material. The surface can be washed with a soap solution, cold or warm water. Use for this purpose brushes that have soft pile, as well as soft rags. If there are any sins on the surface in the form of dents and chips, then the material can be replaced in separate areas, which will return the coating to its original appearance.

Technology of printed concrete

The technology assumes at the first stage the removal of the top fertile soil layer, afterwards the surface must be well compacted, and afterwards it should be filled with a layer of crushed stone, the thickness of which should be equal to 15 cm. The preparation should be compacted by laying polyethylene after it, providing a lap of 10 cm. Formwork and fit fittings. Do not work when the temperature is below -5 degrees. The brand of concrete used should be not less than M300, Portland cement of M 400 or 500 grade should be used. The mixture must contain a plasticizing additive. Concrete, the price of which will be less for self-manufacturing, should contain reinforcing polypropylene fiber. This will eliminate the formation of cracks. Ready mix should be laid in the formwork, distributing it and ramming the deep vibrator. Next, you should start applying a color fixer.

Features of work

The surface is smoothed with an aluminum smoothing pad. At the next stage, a pattern is imprinted, where textural matrices should be used. It must be done without delay, until the concrete lends itself easily to pressing with your fingers. Lay the texture matrix is necessary, moving along the entire length along the formwork.

If you decide to purchase concrete, the price of this material should interest you. In the warehouse it can be purchased for 2,000 rubles per 1 square meter. It is worth noting that if you plan to cover this trim a small area, then it will be much more profitable to purchase finished material. After all, additional materials and tools, most likely, will not be found in the arsenal of the master. Once you know the composition of printed concrete, you can start making it. If you set up production, then you can even earn money.