Pool Patio Makeovers, Cast in place Architectural Concrete works

Pool Patios Makeovers~ENTER SITE~

Well...Your wife just LOVES the look, elegance and prestige of stamped concrete.....and it just so happens that you're pretty handy around the house and you figure you can stamp the concrete yourself...well...if the wife even LETS you...here are some pointers for the do-it-yourself kinda guy:

Do it yourself - Stamped Concrete Specifications:

Because concrete must be both strong and workable, a careful balance of the cement to water ratio is required when making concrete. Our formula is as follows: Tricalcium silicate 50 % Ca3SiO5 or 3CaO.SiO2
Dicalcium silicate 25 % Ca2SiO4 or 2CaO.SiO2
Tricalcium aluminate 10 % Ca3Al2O6 or 3CaO .Al2O3
Tetracalcium aluminoferrite 10 % Ca4Al2Fe10 or 4CaO.Al2O3.Fe2O3
Gypsum 5 % CaSO4.2H2O. The equation for the hydration of tricalcium silicate is given by:
Tricalcium silicate + Water--->Calcium silicate hydrate+Calcium hydroxide + heat
2 Ca3SiO5 + 7 H2O ---> 3 CaO.2SiO2.4H2O + 3 Ca(OH)2 + 173.6kJ

Upon the addition of water, tricalcium silicate rapidly reacts to release calcium ions, hydroxide ions, and a large amount of heat. The pH quickly rises to over 12 because of the release of alkaline hydroxide (OH-) ions. This initial hydrolysis slows down quickly after it starts resulting in a decrease in heat evolved.

The reaction slowly continues producing calcium and hydroxide ions until the system becomes saturated. Once this occurs, the calcium hydroxide starts to crystallize. Simultaneously, calcium silicate hydrate begins to form. Ions precipitate out of solution accelerating the reaction of tricalcium silicate to calcium and hydroxide ions. The evolution of heat is then dramatically increased.

The formation of the calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate crystals provide "seeds" upon which more calcium silicate hydrate can form. The calcium silicate hydrate crystals grow thicker making it more difficult for water molecules to reach the unhydrated tricalcium silicate. The speed of the reaction is now controlled by the rate at which water molecules diffuse through the calcium silicate hydrate coating. This coating thickens over time causing the production of calcium silicate hydrate to become slower and slower.

When water is added to cement, each of the compounds undergoes hydration and contributes to the final ConcreteForever.com product. Only the calcium silicates contribute to strength. Tricalcium silicate is responsible for most of the early strength (first 7 days). Dicalcium silicate, which reacts more slowly, contributes only to the strength at later times.

Steel Reinforcement: Preformed bars #3 or greater complying with the requirements of ASTM A-615, Grade 60, unless otherwise indicated, and of domestic manufacture. Mesh reinforcement shall conform to the requirements of ASTM A-185.

B. Metal Accessories: Shall include all spacers, chairs, ties, and other devices for properly spacing, supporting, and fastening reinforcement in place.

C. Cement: Portland cement of North American manufacture conforming to the requirements of ASTM C-150, Type I or II. Use only one brand of cement throughout the project, one concrete plant when using integral color.

D. Concrete Aggregates: Shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C-33.
1. Fine Aggregate: Sand shall consist of hard, tough, and preferably siliceous material, clean, free from mineral or other coatings, soft particles, clay, loam, or other deleterious matter.

2. Coarse Aggregate: Crushed stone or gravel, having clean, hard, durable, uncoated particles, free from deleterious matter. The 1-1/2" aggregate shall conform to gradation #467 and the 3/4" aggregate to the size #67 in Table II of ASTM C-33. The 3/4" aggregate shall be used for structural slabs, lintel beams, and any other location where 3/4 of the clear space between reinforcing bars or between bars and the forms require this size aggregate.

E. Admixtures:

1. Water Reducing Admixture: "Eucon 75" by The Euclid Chemical Company, Polyheed Non-Chloride by Master Builders, WRDA with Hycol by Grace Construction Products, or Platocrete 160" by Sika Chemical Corporation. The admixture shall conform to ASTM C-494, Type A, for proper color pigmentation and not contain more chloride ions than are present in municipal drinking water.

2. Non-Corrosive, Non-Chloride Accelerator: "Accelguard80" by The Euclid Chemical Company, or approved equal. The admixture shall conform to ASTM C-494, Type C or E, and not contain more chloride ions than are present in municipal drinking water. The admixture manufacturer must have long-term non-corrosive test data from an independent testing laboratory (or at least a year's duration) using an acceptable accelerated corrosion test method such as that using electrical potential measures.

3. Air Entraining Admixture: Conform to ASTM C-260, "Darex AEA" as manufactured by The Construction Products Division of W.R. Grace & Company, or approved equal to obtain desired color pigment.

4. Prohibited Admixture: Calcium chloride, thiocyanates or admixture containing more than 0.05% chloride ions are not permitted.

5. Certification: Written conformance to the above mentioned requirements and the chloride ion content of the admixture will be required from the admixture manufacturer prior to mix design review by the Architect.

F. Curing Paper: Water, reinforced appear; "Orange Label Sisalkraft," as manufactured by the American Sisalkraft
Corporation, "Scuf-Champ,: as manufactured by Ludlow Papers, "Flor-Cur W/S," as manufactured by Glas-Kraft, or approved equal.

G. Moisture Barrier: "J" Pro Vapor Shield, Super Sampson SS4 or Tu Tuff 4.

H. Color Hardener: L.M. Scofield Company Lithochrome color hardener. Hardener shall be Brick Red color.

I. Concrete Colorant: L.M. Scofield Company Chromix admixture color shall be Quarry Red.

J. Release Agent: L.M. Scofield Company Lithochrome antiquing release. Color shall be Santa Barbara Brown.

K. Floor Slab Sealer: ProSoCo Inc., SLX 100 penetrating sealer.

L. Texture Mat: ADA., Texture Tool, or approved equal; brick basket weave pattern.

M. Concrete Stain: L.M. Scofield Company, lithochrome chemical stain, Padre Brown, natural.

N. Truncated Dome Stamp: Cobblecrete ADA concrete texturing tool.

2.2 MIXES

A. Grade and Strength:

1. Concrete Requirements: Exterior Sidewalk

Minimum Compressive Strength 4000psi - 28 Days

1 inch Aggregate Size

Minimum Cement Content 564 lbs/yd

Slabs-On-Grade

2. All concrete shall contain the specified water reducing admixture or the specified high range water reducing admixture (superplasticizer. Add admixtures in dosage recommended by the admixture manufacturer. All concrete required to be air-entrained shall contain an approved air entraining admixture.

3. Prior to starting construction, submit proposed mix design, accompanied by complete standard deviation analysis or trail batch data. No change in source of materials or mix shall be made without Architect's approval.

B. The concrete mix designs shall be proportioned in accordance with Section 4.3 "Proportioning on the Basis of Field Experience or 4.4 Trial Mixture" of ACI 318-83. The proportions of ingredients shall be such as to produce a mixture which will work readily into the corners and angles of the forms and around reinforcement by the methods of placing and consolidation employed on the work, but without permitting the materials to segregate or excessive free water to collect on the surface.

C. The approved air-entraining admixture shall be used in concrete exposed to weather to obtain proper percentages of air-entrainment as follows: 6% plus/minus 1%.

A. Form Materials: Plywood, metal, metal-framed plywood, or other approved panel-type materials to provide full-depth, continuous, true and smooth exposed surfaces.

1. Use flexible or curved forms that will provide uniform curvature for curves of a radius of 100 feet or less.

2.3 STEEL REINFORCEMENT

A. Reinforcing Bars: ASTMS A 615/A 615M, Grade 60, deformed.

B. Steel Bar Mats: ASTM A 184/A 184M