Concrete can take almost any form, texture, and colour to enhance the appearance of a
building and its functional structural requirements. Architectural concrete refers to concrete that
while providing an aesthetic finish to the building also serves a structural function.
Architectural concrete has become increasingly more important in the recent years.
Visible concrete surfaces are in great demand both as a stylistic means as well as a design
form of architecture.
“Architectural concrete is concrete that will be permanently exposed to view and therefore
requires special care in selection of the concrete materials, forming, placing, and finishing to
obtain the desired architectural appearance.” (American Concrete Institute)
THE ADVANTAGES OF ARCHITECTURAL CONCRETE:
Durable and low maintenance
Cost effective in comparison with other systems
Resists mechanical damage
Eliminates the need for the application of coatings or paints
Versatile in design
The major types of architectural concrete finishes are
PIGMENTED CONCRETE
EXPOSED AGGREGATE CONCRETE
EXPOSED CONCRETE
SCOURED & STAINED CONCRETE
POLISHED CONCRETE
EXPOSED AGGREGATE CONCRETE
It is a term used to describe a concrete surface, such as a floor, path, pavement or parking lot,
that has exposed gravel. Exposed aggregate concrete is made by removing the top layer of
cement and fine aggregate from freshly-poured concrete. This leaves the aggregate particles
(crushed stone or gravel) exposed and sticking out at the top of the surface. It is a durable
and skid-resistant surface and is often used to make driveways, paths, pool decks and floors
safer.
Exposed aggregate concrete serves two purposes; it is both decorative and functional. This
method is used to create flat surfaces that not only look good, but they also provide extra
grip in wet conditions.
EXPOSED CONCRETE
Exposed concrete represents the use of concrete as not simply as a utilitarian medium for
construction but as an aesthetic enhancement to the structure, while still serving its
function. The surface of concrete remains exposed without any additional overlays like
plastering or paint finishes. A well finished concrete surface revealing the raw beauty of
concrete is achieved.
SCOURED & STAINED CONCRETE
Stained Concrete
Transforming ordinary concrete slab into a luxurious floor resembling marble or glazed
stone. Its multi-hued colour variations create a stunning surface that looks perfectly aged. It
will not chip, fade, or peel, and will last a lifetime. Stains can be applied to both new or
existing concrete floors and work equally well with concrete overlays. Costly flooring
solutions can be avoided using this system.
Scoured Concrete
Creates a series of grooves cut into the concrete. Scoring" decorative lines and simple
geometric patterns into acid-stained concrete and cement overlays is a great way to break
up the monotony of a single colour and draw more attention to the floor. The greatest
benefit of scored concrete is the fact that it gives another opportunity to personalize the
appearance. With this process, we can create distinct patterns, even logos or names can be
created. Because concrete stains penetrate deeply into the concrete surface, they produce
fade-resistant, permanent colour. Unlike with a paint or coating, the colour won't flake off
or peel away.
POLISHED CONCRETE
It is a multi-step process where a concrete floor is mechanically ground, honed and polished
with bonded abrasives in order to cut a concrete floor's surface. Polished concrete can be
created in a variety of ways, from the least expensive "grind and seal" method to honed
concrete, which uses a penetrating sealer to create a reflective surface.
Mechanically polished concrete is the type usually used in commercial projects, as it is long-
lasting and more durable under heavy foot traffic. It is created by applying a chemical
hardener that densifies the porous concrete, and then grinding it to the desired gloss and
smoothness.
PIGMENTED CONCRETE
Combining cement with pigments and coloured aggregates expands the number of colours
available to discerning customers. Colours are cleaner and more intense because pigments
and specialty aggregates don’t have to overcome the greyish paste of common concrete.
The dreams of the owner and the visions of an architect can be achieved only if the
concreting is well designed and planned. Each element of the concreting process, the raw
materials, the mix design, the form works, the placing, the curing and the de shuttering all
plays vital roles in achieving the required architectural concrete finish. Because of the
complexity of all the determinants that may affect the outcome of architectural concrete,
using mock-ups is an efficient method to verify the adequacy of the design and construction
practices. Mock-ups of architectural concrete are also critical to obtain approval for the
aesthetics from the design team and owner and to establish control samples as a baseline
for what will be acceptable on the project.
The scope of achieving any special finish to a concrete element is almost unlimited.
With the advancements in concrete technology any wild dreams of an architect or client can
be made into reality.
