A Fascination With Concrete Decorating

As a professional wall stencil and ornamental mold designer, I cater extensively to the professional faux finish industry. But as a "do it yourself" enthusiast since I was a teenager, I am fascinated with ways the rest of us can create items or finishes that look like the pros did them. My newest fascination has become playing with concrete!

The internet is such a cool thing. Isn't it?
You can learn literally anything you want by spending a few hours perusing. Searching out do it yourself concrete websites is no exception. Once you start however, it's hard to stop! Available information is abundant.

My latest subject has been various forms of decorative concrete.
I'm not talking about staining here as much as I am creating the look of stone with light weight concrete and using concrete products as a re-surfacing agent.

Imagine being able to create beautiful stone looks with real concrete! This can actually be accomplished with use of a stencil.

Using a stone stencil with concrete:
Portland cement is best to use with stenciled designs since it does not have tiny rocks in it that would interfere with the application or smoothness of the finish. You can find stone stencils at any number of websites on the internet.

Rubber gloves are recommended for application.

The cement can actually be pre-tinted prior to application. Use either powdered or liquid concrete or stucco colorings. These should be added as you add the water to the cement.

1. Be sure the surface you are applying the stone finish to does not need special pre-preparation before beginning. For instance, if you are applying the stencil to concrete, consult your local hardware store for advice regarding the type of concrete surface you want to re-finish. Good preparation of the surface is key to success.
2. Tape the stencil to the desired area of the surface. It's best to begin in a corner.
3. With a wide (about 4") plastic or metal, flat scraper, spread the concrete mixture over the stencil as you hold the openings down with your fingers to prevent the stencil from buckling. This will give you a nice, crisp image.
4. Scrape the stencil smooth first, to force the concrete tight against the stencil openings. Without removing the stencil, apply more concrete over the top of the stencil. Allow natural bumps and ridges to stay in the concrete for a more realistic finish.
5. Un-tape the stencil and gently peel it back to reveal the 3 dimensional stones.
6. To add additional color to the stones, use a wide, dry paint brush. Dip the tips of the bristles in to paint colors such as black, rust, green or gray. Dab any excess paint on to a paper towel then lightly brush the face of the stones to deposit the color. Two to three colors can be used for variations in the stone.

This fake stone treatment can be used anywhere you wish to add the look of real stone walls or pathways. Consider it for exterior columns, small patios, basement walls or block walls.

When applying this treatment to wood surfaces, it is wise to follow instructions for stucco with the use of wire mesh and a "skim coat" application of concrete before beginning the stone stenciling. You can find how to do this by researching it on the internet or asking your local hardware store for assistance.

Creating Fake Concrete Boulders

My Mother wanted large boulders in her landscaping. But not only are large boulders costly, they are also much too heavy for an elderly woman to wrestle. So she decided that she would make her own! I was amazed at the result!

After fashioning the size and shape of the rock out of chicken wire, she began the process of padding it with various dried grasses then covering it with pre-tinted concrete. She added hints of black, gray and deep brown exterior paint to the dried stone, then covered the base of the stone with soil and rock to make it appear to be half buried in the earth. She made additional smaller boulders that were placed nearby to complete the picture.

Neighbors and family members regularly comment on how real her boulders look!

Recipes for Lightweight Concrete
1 quart of water
2 quarts portland cement
3 quarts sand
3 quarts perlite
Use a bucket to mix all of the dry ingredients together. In a separate bucket, pour in the 2/3 of the water then begin adding the dry mixture a little at a time. Continue to add more water until the mixture reaches the consistency of pudding.

Concrete with Ornamental Molds
We rarely think of the beauty of exterior ornamental elements though they are widely gaining in popularity through out the United States. Not only can they be used in the garden as stand alone ornaments among plants, but can also be attached to buildings or concrete walls and fences to embellish and delight. Ornamental molds come in many styles ranging from stepping stones to more ornate beauties such as intricate medallions and friezes.

Any mold that can be used with plaster, can also be used with cement.
Again, choose Portland cement over standard concrete in order to ensure a smooth finished design.

Mold Instructions
1. Brush the inside of the mold with cooking, mineral or baby oil to prevent the cement from sticking.
2. Mix the cement according to the package directions.
3. Pour the mold one half full of mixed cement then tap the mold up and down to cause air bubbles to come to the surface.
4. Gently and slowly fill the mold up to the top. Do not over fill. I often use a window squeegee to scrape any excess from the back of the mold.
5. Allow the concrete to set. If the concrete feels warm, it has not yet completed the chemical processing. Do not remove the ornament until it feels completely cold to the touch.
6. Remove the ornament from the mold.
7. To permanently attach it to a concrete or block wall, simply spread pre-mixed mortar over the back, press the hold to the surface for one minute (longer for larger designs). This will adhere it beautifully.

© Victoria Larsen 2009. All rights reserved