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Authentic-Looking Stone Takes Creative Handcarving Techniques
Submitted by Vertical Artisans in Hickory Hills, IL
By Khara Dizmon, ConcreteNetwork.com Managing Editor
For this pool side pergola, the look of dry stack stone just couldn't be achieved with vertical stamping tools. Using techniques in handcarved decorative concrete, the columns of this patio took on a realistic stone look, a completely custom design for this inviting outdoor living area.
VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL
Nathan Giffin of VerticalArtisans.com was hired to help train the staff of Barba Concrete to create the look of stone for these patio pillars. "The concrete company specialized in foundations. They poured the footings and the pillars, but they had no experience in handcarved decorative concrete," explains Giffin.
A 2" overlay of Cantera vertical wall concrete mix from Butterfield Color was placed on the pillars. "We colored it in earthtones with a combination of Elements from Butterfield Color and solid stains from Smith Paints," says Giffin. The handcarving technique uses a series of texture rollers, trowels and tools for relief. "Vertical concrete can accomplish things you can't normally accomplish with standard building materials," says Giffin. "You couldn't get this look the client wanted using regular stamps. That's the beauty of handcarved decorative concrete, you can sculpt any style whether it be limestone, granite, boulders, or any geological structure," he says. "You can create an architectural look or a very organic look."
VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL
"Outdoor kitchens and pergolas are hot items," notes Giffin, "and more people are moving in this direction." Using concrete allows for outdoor areas to blend naturally with their environment at a fraction of the cost it would require to install natural stone. Advances in technology and skills make the end results very natural and authentic-looking. For contractors interested in the handcarving technique, Giffin offers both hands-on and online training courses. His site, VerticalArtisans.com, is the largest site on the web teaching the handcarving method. "VerticalArtisans.com has a plethora of information about vertical concrete. There are 16-17 online videos that illustrate, in-depth, how the handcarving technique works," explains Giffin. "These videos are free to watch." For those with an eager desire to learn more about the techniques, Giffin offers online training through subscription with nearly 100 videos and articles illustrating and explaining how to handcarve decorative concrete.
This one-of-a-kind outdoor living area is a great representation of the type of look handcarved decorative concrete can achieve. For those interested in watching Giffin explain and demonstrate his techniques, his handcarved vertical concrete class is offered in conjunction with Bob Harris at the Decorative Concrete Institute training center, September 23-25, 2009 in Temple GA.
For more information:
VerticalArtisans.com
Authentic-Looking Stone Takes Creative Handcarving Techniques
Submitted by Vertical Artisans in Hickory Hills, IL
By Khara Dizmon, ConcreteNetwork.com Managing Editor
For this pool side pergola, the look of dry stack stone just couldn't be achieved with vertical stamping tools. Using techniques in handcarved decorative concrete, the columns of this patio took on a realistic stone look, a completely custom design for this inviting outdoor living area.
VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL
Nathan Giffin of VerticalArtisans.com was hired to help train the staff of Barba Concrete to create the look of stone for these patio pillars. "The concrete company specialized in foundations. They poured the footings and the pillars, but they had no experience in handcarved decorative concrete," explains Giffin.
A 2" overlay of Cantera vertical wall concrete mix from Butterfield Color was placed on the pillars. "We colored it in earthtones with a combination of Elements from Butterfield Color and solid stains from Smith Paints," says Giffin. The handcarving technique uses a series of texture rollers, trowels and tools for relief. "Vertical concrete can accomplish things you can't normally accomplish with standard building materials," says Giffin. "You couldn't get this look the client wanted using regular stamps. That's the beauty of handcarved decorative concrete, you can sculpt any style whether it be limestone, granite, boulders, or any geological structure," he says. "You can create an architectural look or a very organic look."
VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL VerticalArtisans.com Hickory Hills, IL
"Outdoor kitchens and pergolas are hot items," notes Giffin, "and more people are moving in this direction." Using concrete allows for outdoor areas to blend naturally with their environment at a fraction of the cost it would require to install natural stone. Advances in technology and skills make the end results very natural and authentic-looking. For contractors interested in the handcarving technique, Giffin offers both hands-on and online training courses. His site, VerticalArtisans.com, is the largest site on the web teaching the handcarving method. "VerticalArtisans.com has a plethora of information about vertical concrete. There are 16-17 online videos that illustrate, in-depth, how the handcarving technique works," explains Giffin. "These videos are free to watch." For those with an eager desire to learn more about the techniques, Giffin offers online training through subscription with nearly 100 videos and articles illustrating and explaining how to handcarve decorative concrete.
This one-of-a-kind outdoor living area is a great representation of the type of look handcarved decorative concrete can achieve. For those interested in watching Giffin explain and demonstrate his techniques, his handcarved vertical concrete class is offered in conjunction with Bob Harris at the Decorative Concrete Institute training center, September 23-25, 2009 in Temple GA.
For more information:
VerticalArtisans.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by catherine wendy mattingly on
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The Cantera mix says to wait 7 days to color. Is this necessary?
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Permalink Reply by Nathan Giffin Vertical Artisans on
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No but , if you can afford the time delay it does make it easier to color. The concrete is devoid of water and the color is more true. When you stain concrete on the next day it does seem a bit darker because of the water still residing in the concrete. Does that make sense. They may tell you that the bonders may not bond properly but I have not experienced anything like that in over 4 years using their products.
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