Decorative Concrete Home Goods
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How concrete is made into decorative home goods
| Concrete is a composite made from three main ingredients. |
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and can be enhanced with three optional ingredients. |
- Sand
- Cement - the glue
- Aggregate - such as gravel, glass, or seashells
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- Pigments - for color
- Fibers - such as plastic or fiberglass. Gives the concrete greater tensile strength and allows the craftsman to make thinner goods.
- Accelerant - speeds the curing process.
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The craftsman combines the ingredients in a mixer. Think of a cement truck rolling down the road with its mixer turning, only a slightly smaller version. When just the right mix of sand, cement, and aggregate is mixed, along with any coloring pigments or strengthening fibers, the concrete is poured into a mold. The mold is made of a non-porous material, such as plastic or rubber.  Unlike pottery which uses intense heat to take out the water, concrete is not actually drying - it's curing. An exothermic chemical process occurs as the concrete sits, making a strong composite material. Water actually helps the process of curing, so it's important to keep the concrete wet and allow it to cure slowly. The concrete candle holder and bowls featured here cure for approximately one week before being taken out of their mold. Once the concrete decor is taken out of the mold which gave its shape, it's rinsed with water and covered with a sealant to fill in many of the pores and help the concrete home good last long while looking great.
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