Outrageous Concrete Paving Option - Decorative Sandblast Stenciling

by Jim Peterson, President, ConcreteNetwork.Com

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Timeline Walk Business Card
Design Concept Drawing

The innovative use of decorative sandblast stenciling is growing in municipal, commercial, and even residential applications.

Brickform, in Rancho Cucamonga California, offers precision cut stock or custom stencil patterns that are cut into a resilient, self adhesive, sandblast- specific material.

Stock or Custom?

While a variety of standard stencil designs are offered- mainly for borders, the real creativity comes in stencils created for a specific site and theme. Though stencils come in widths from 12 and 30- they can abut each other to create almost any size design.

Surface Options

Creative concrete contractors are working with stencils in a variety of ways. One option is to pour plain gray concrete, seal the concrete surface, sandblast the design, and then acid etch stain the sandblasted portion of the design (note: the time lapse between sealing and sandblasting is at least 28 days).

Another option is to pour concrete and apply a color hardener, seal the concrete, sandblast the design, and then leave the design as is or apply a concrete stain or stains to produce a variety of colored effects.

Even another option is to use a cementious coating for adding texture, contrast, and dimension to the sandblasted design. Concrete can be poured and a color hardener applied, the concrete surface sealed, a design sandblasted, then the cementious coating applied to the sandblasted area for added color and texture.

Artistic concrete contractors can achieve and amazing variety of intriguing surfaces.

Concrete Contractors as the Idea Man?

In fact, Debbie Bliss, Technical Information Coordinator of Brickform, notes, most of the creative ideas for sandblast stenciling are brought up to owners and architects by the concrete contractors who have experience with the products."

An example is the upcoming Timeline Walk in Windsor, California. The architect wanted to do stamped concrete but the town council and historical society decided it would be cleaner if the 35 one to two foot square designs were sandblasted into the surface along the historical walk.

Kristine Bickell from the Town of Windsor notes, our historical walk includes many intricate designs with artwork depicting local places like the train depot and hotel, and plants indigenous to the area. Sandblasting is an effective way to show these items in detail.

The Town of Windsor put out a request for designs to local artisans. The work from 8 different artists was chosen. Brickform will now take this original artwork and create stencils.

Technical Stuff

Like any decorative concrete application, there are procedures to be followed in everything from surface preparation to angle of the sandblasting operation. A six sack concrete mix is recommended for stenciling applications on new concrete. Concrete must have 28 days cure time prior to sandblasting.

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