CONCRETE FURNITURE
pa nou chang - ds 224 - fall 2020
Concrete can have a variety of textures and finishes. It is an inexpensive material, porous, extremely durable, amplifies sound, fire resistant but also very heavy. Concrete is strong but has low tensile strength. The plasticity characteristic of concrete allows it to be formed into almost any shape.
Concrete is produced by mixing Portland Cement, aggregate (such as sand, crushed stones, gravel, slag etc) and potable water. Precast concrete is when the concrete is poured into molds at the factory and then left to cure. Furniture, concrete masonry units, industrial objects are precast products.
To protect concrete from weather exposure, water, grease and oil stains, abrasion and deicing salts apply concrete sealers. It is best to apply two thin coats and make sure that the sealer doesn't puddle or form uneven thick areas.
'spurt’ lounge chair created by Paulsberg
Designed by J.Byron-H, these stools are made of cast and warped glass-fiber reinforced concrete
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ASTM C418-12 is the Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete by Sandblasting
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ASTM C642 - 13 is the Standard Test Method for Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete
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ASTM C187 - 16 is the Standard Test Method for Amount of Water Required for Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
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ASTM C185 - 20 is the Standard Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
Concrete is extremely durable, can act as a thermal mass, can be recycled, is manufactured from abundant natural materials, can also be made with materials recycled from the waste of other manufactured products. The raw materials for concrete can be sourced locally or regionally, but it takes a great deal of energy to produce cement (one of its main ingredients). During this production process carbon dioxide is emitted. It also takes a large amount of water to clean aggregate (second main ingredient in concrete).
Concrete is inexpensive and lasts for a long time. Specialty cement is more expensive than standard cement due to the labor costs. White concrete is four times more expensive than gray concrete. Concrete dust that is created during demolition and natural disaster can be harmful. It does not affect indoor air quality when it is left in place but it does emit low to negligible amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
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American Concrete Institute (ACI)
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American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC)
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Portland Cement Association (PCA)
Created by Foster + Partners, is the ‘arc table’ has a soft fluid base that is made from a material composed of cement and organic fibre
Concrete Furnitures
Kreten Side Tables designed by Friedman-Heiman
Knowles, E. E. (2013). Comprehensive Guide for Selecting Interior Finishes, The. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133142181/
Concrete Network. “How to Seal Concrete - Sealing Concrete in 7 Steps.” The Concrete Network, Concrete Network, 18 Aug. 2020, www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/maintaining/sealingplain.htm.