something in the garden

hello and bonjour from france.

I'm a british plasterer in france working for myself in what's becoming an increasingly difficult market.Trying to focus on decorative rustic finishes(can be seen on my site).Only inside work with machine onecoat gypsum based plaster ,on predominantlly a terracotta brick(fench traditional).

I'm soon to be doing an interior swimming pool with knauf cement board.I have to present something to the client in false stone roughly 30m², one wall finishing flushto the pool no lip.I've told him I can get more releif and structure with a cement carving ,stamping mix,than with stick on bricks(his other option).

So this leads me to my rustic garden.Using an accumulated pile of assorted rubble and a metallique structure of rebar and metal lathe ,Nathan said in one post "don't let your first job be your first client".

These first photo's is where I am.Rubble is coated with cement fine masonry sand at a 2:1 ratio with ashovel of metakaolin and 12mm polypropaline fibres at 20grammes .this to consolidate the rubble.

The metal structure I bought ready mix spray scratch coat used on new builds here,this i used because it has a certain polymer content to stick like it does,again to this I added 12mm fibres at 15 grammes a 25kg sack.

Now I'm at the tricky part.

I have an additive I bought from Italy along with other stuff for concrete.I'ts for making stampable concrete up to 5cm or 10 in succesive passes.InUS It seems you have lot's of supply choices and specialty products ,here is not the case,It's one bag mixes sold by the pallet by the big boys and a closed shop.I'm too small,this is why I'm going my way.

What's next ,the rubble finish coat ,to support kid's foot passage.I'm thinking of 3cm minimum thickness with again a 2:1 ratio , the sand will be 1 part white fine sand 1mm max , a 3\4 0.5 fine sand with a1\4 calcium fines,and 4mm polypropaline fibres.

question?

does this mix design seem okay or should I have more cement with afine mix?

For stamping I'made rubber molds from local stone ,coloured release powder and coloured hardener,I'll use minerilizer for waterproofing and acrylic paint if needed after.

For the vertical mix I' like to use the same mix

question?

can I add perlite in an outside mix for extra thickness, and in what quantity sand replacement will this be harder to waterproof.

Getting back to the original client and cement board,70kg max loading with metal stud for m², this is why Im interested in the perlite.

At your mercy, and have a good day .

graham malloch de GMCP