Comment by Dale Messenger on April 20, 2011 at 8:59am

I for one love the look. Very high end. As far as for the price I would think that 12-15 would be a good price. I for one if I did a project like this I would use rebar. Just for added strength. But Im in Pennsylvania alot of earth movement with the freeze thaw. So it would need to be preaty strong to hold up. Everyones comments on this topic are extremely informative. And I love how much people have been inspired by it.After the Charleston Project I got the idea of doing this at my house. So as soon as weather permits I will show pics. Another way you could get the price down is to use. Broken bag mixs from your local concrete stores or suppliers. For the scratch coat it doesnt matter the color of concrete.

Comment by David Driggs on April 20, 2011 at 9:38am

Good idea, Dale. I have walked by the contractor's entrance at Lowe's and seen the pallets of broken bags for sale for a buck each. I just found out that the Home Depot here throws theirs away. Time to get to know a few folks in low places, perhaps. No offense to the hard working men and women of the world, of course.

I agree on your price thoughts too. I'll probably get a few displays stategically placed, and set the retail price about $15. I'll let some landscapers and a nursery make a mark if they sell some, and see what happens. By the way, guys, what happens if these borders get some cracks? They look more like rocks?

Comment by Russel Whitney on April 20, 2011 at 12:42pm

I did the border about a year ago.

I agree, the use of rebar is a good idea. I'm in southwest Fl so we don't have to many weather influenced issues.

I did a similar Job at my own house about ten years ago. It's held up really well. I have abused the boarder with the lawn mower just to see if it would break but it didnt

Comment by Tim Meger on April 22, 2011 at 2:24am

I got my start in decorative concrete through kwik kerb! They just started using that cable stuff recently but they used to just teach to put in a cut evey 3-4 feet, right through to the soil. that way it can move up n down all day without much chance of breaking up. curbing in my area starts around $5 up to $10 or so... this style wouldnt be a ton more labor, not that much different in materials cost so $15 or $18 should be fair... but then again its all a matter of the consumer seeing value in it!

 

Comment by Russel Whitney on April 22, 2011 at 7:45am

Hi Tim,

 I really don't know enough about the curbing materials or actual costs. I get my raw materials from a pool construction supply  that most of the curb guys go to. Some of the differences between us  are as follows

I always use resin or polymer in my mix .

I use lath and fiber in my structure/shape coat.

I use a second coat to carve and stamp.

I think the curbing guys down here are just using a portland/sand mix -no fiber-no polymer 

 

At one point I had looked into buying out a company who was going under but it's not a very good market here

Comment by Tim Meger on April 23, 2011 at 1:08am

Yeah thats what the guy here was using, portland and sand... nothing else. But for this Im not even sure you need the lath running through it... for that matter im not even sure why you would need to have two coats. Couldnt the initial coat also be carved? Mix your mix a bit on the dry side... I think its called "dry-pak" or something... nearly no slump to it... so you lay it down, use trowels to form it up to a basic shape, then just go to town carving it up and making it all gorgeous!!!

I actually had a friend ask me about doing something like this for him just this week, so... this is definitely inspiring...

And to clarify, I wasnt "IN" Kwik Kerb nor have I ever bought their stuff, but I was checking into their franchise opportunity and it opened my eyes to what ELSE was out there in the world of concrete and now... here I am!

Comment by Russel Whitney on April 23, 2011 at 9:18am

I guess you could do it in one coat. The lath not only adds strength, it also saves material. ( or filler)  I felt the rock should have a little more beef to them over the curbing that had been installed at the next door neighbors.

Comment by Dale Messenger on April 23, 2011 at 9:31am

I think you could do it with out the lathe. I would still put rebar in it for strength. Also if you did it in a single application. I would try using fiber in the mix for added strength. With the two step method. I think it would just be faster. You could lay down a rough shape ( plop shovel fulls down) And keep on going. Then come back and add a little and shape and carve. Well I guess its all in what you want. This picture and topic has generated alot of comments I love it.

Comment by Russel Whitney on April 23, 2011 at 9:49am

I'm with ya dale. Hard to get anything done around here ! Between the V.A. videos and the forum I find myself on the computer as often as possible! I don't even like computers!! ha ha

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