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Decorative Concrete

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Decorative Concrete

Decorative Concrete's Indirect Impact on Obtaining LEED Certification

There are seven categories where the use of concrete with decorative finishes or admixtures has an indirect impact on obtaining LEED certification, with each worth 1 LEED point. For full guidelines, see UGBC's LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations Rating System (PDF).

Credit 6.1: Storm Water Design – Quality Control
The use of pervious concrete to help direct stormwater runoff back into the environment without the use of large artificial collection areas is a direct LEED qualifier. The use of integral color to beautify the pervious concrete is an indirect impact on the LEED credit, and helps minimize the artificial look of large expanses of gray concrete flatwork.

Credit 1.1: Building Reuse – Maintain 75% of Existing Walls, Floors, and Roof
The use of existing concrete walls, floors and roofing systems reduces costs on all fronts in renovation projects. Decorative concrete finishes have become very popular in retrofit or renovation applications. The most popular types of decorative finishes that indirectly impact this LEED category are:

• Stains and sealer systems for existing concrete floors

• Microtoppings (uncolored or colored) to refurbish existing worn concrete floors

• Stampable overlays to provide texture and pattern to existing concrete floors

• Vertical stampable wall overlays to give existing concrete walls the look of stone or tile

Credit 1.2: Building Reuse – Maintain 95% of Existing Walls, Floors, and Roof
Identical to Credit 1.1, but using 95% of existing floors, walls and roofing vs. 75%.

Credit 4.1: Recycled Content – 10% (post-consumer and pre-consumer)
Using supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash, silica fume and slag cement, are considered pre-consumer strategies for use of recycled content. Using recycled concrete or slag instead of extracted aggregates qualifies as post-consumer. Using these materials will directly impact obtaining this LEED point. Using integral color or shake-on color hardener when pouring concrete with post- and pre-consumer materials will have an indirect decorative impact.

Tip: When using integral color with concrete containing supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash, silica fume and slag, dose the color based on the weight of the portland cement plus the weight of the supplementary cementitious materials.

Credit 4.2: Recycled Content – 20% (post-consumer and pre-consumer)
Identical to credit 4.1, but containing 20% vs. 10%.

Credit 5.1: Regional Materials – 10% Extracted, Processed and Manufactured Locally
This credit supports the use of local materials and reduced transportation distances. The requirements stipulate the use of building materials or products that have been "extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% (based on cost) of the total material value." Concrete will usually qualify for this credit since ready-mix and precast plants are generally within 50 miles of a jobsite. Adding color to the concrete will have an indirect impact. Also, decorative toppings, stains, color hardeners and sealers manufactured within 500 miles of the project site will also have an indirect impact on obtaining this LEED credit.

Credit 5.2: Regional Materials – 20% Extracted, Processed and Manufactured Locally
Identical to credit 5.1, but 20% extracted vs. 10%.

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