Concrete does not evoke the best associations, but the opinion about it is getting better. Such a positive change in thinking about this material was influenced by at least several factors, the most important of which are price and availability. Concrete as a finishing material has been disenchanted.Today it is made of practically all garden accessories.
Concrete is experiencing an authentic renaissance. It is eagerly used for the construction of stairs, terraces, raised rebates, driveways, flower beds and fireplaces. It combines well with other materials - wood, metal, natural stone. It also perfectly imitates these materials, including wood. It has been established that concrete fits modern urban gardens, but it is not entirely true.The popularity of concrete is best evidenced by the fact that it is already used for interior decoration.
Advanced production techniques allow concrete to be given any color, texture or shape. Architectural concrete, as it is commonly called concrete elements of garden architecture, is unrivaled in terms of resistance to weather conditions.It also wins with parameters such as abrasion and fire resistance.It is easy to maintain. The most common problem is moss and lichen; To get rid of them, all you need is a high-pressure washer.
Manufacturers are racing each other in ideas to adapt products to customer needs, especially in the field of aesthetics and functionality. Concrete pots, honeycomb cubes or concrete planks have already become settled. Currently, concrete furniture and large modules for a comprehensive garden arrangement are in fashion.Color restrictions practically do not exist.
Concrete is obtained by mixing three components: water, sand (or other natural aggregate) and cement.Additives are sometimes used to give the casting better durability or appearance.Uncomplicated production encourages the production of elements according to your own ideas. There are even special molds for self-pouring cubes for garden paths on the market. Unfortunately, the production of more complex molds is not so easy due to the weight.In this case, it is best to use the offer of a specialized service provider.
Not as heavy as it seems …
Concrete has also undergone a major transformation. Today, thanks to the admixtures of fiberglass, concrete is obtained that is much harder and more durable than the one traditionally used in construction and garden architecture.Elements made of it can be thinner, which makes them automatically lighter. Perfect for the production of garden furniture.
Practical flower bed on wheels - do it yourself!
1. We make a mold for casting from two boxes. The outer box is assembled from laminated chipboard sealed with silicone on the inside, and the inner box is glued with styrodur or polystyrene. We wrap the walls of the inner box with foil. We set the dimensions of the flowerbed according to your needs. There should be a space of 3-4 cm between the walls of the boxes. Grease the walls of the molds with cooking oil - the bigger one inside, the smaller one outside.
2. We pour concrete mortar on the bottom of the larger mold. Press 4 plugs into the fresh mass and put the smaller form on them.
3. We weight the form down with stones. Gradually fill the space between the walls with mortar, tapping it gently from time to time to get rid of air bubbles.
4. The filling should dry for several days. After approx. 3 days, remove the inner mold and leave the flowerbed to dry further.
5, We remove the external form, for this purpose we unscrew the screws and remove the laminated walls. 6 After two weeks, the mortar should be hard enough to drill holes for fixing the wheels. There are plugs in the bottom, now they can be easily drilled to perform the necessary drainage.
