Description

Overview

     Concrete can be finished in many ways to create an attractive, yet practical, structure. Finishing and preparing architectural concrete surfaces requires special skill and knowledge that goes beyond normal flatwork finishing procedures. Architectural concrete broadly refers to placements that are exposed to public view and where special techniques are needed to achieve a specified appearance. Modern architectural concrete surfaces include walls and other vertically formed surfaces, as well as horizontal surfaces such as floors, sidewalks, and pavements. This module presents information on the classes of architectural concrete surfaces and the techniques commonly used to make them visually attractive.

Learning Objective 1 – Successful completion of this module prepares trainees to: Describe various approaches to coloring and texturing concrete surfaces.

1. Identify and describe concrete surface classes and the function of mockups.
2. Describe how colored and white cements are created.
3. Explain how concrete surfaces can be colored.
4. Explain how to create various textured surfaces.

Learning Objective 2 – Successful completion of this module prepares trainees to: Describe exposed aggregate finishes and explain how they are created.

1. Explain how the aggregates and other ingredients are selected.
2. Describe various methods used to place aggregates.
3. Describe various methods used to expose embedded aggregate.

Performance Tasks

1. Finish a stamped concrete slab using a color-shake hardener.
2. Use the water-washing technique to create an exposed aggregate finish with or without the use of surface retarders