Dan,
If you have access to photos of said 'difficult to replicate' sidewalk finish, I would love to see.
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> Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:14:07 -0500> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [BP] concrete and clay> To: [log in to unmask]> > > -----Original Message-----> > From: Hammarberg, Eric> > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:37 AM> > > > Concrete generally seems to be thought of as a bulk > > commercial material or a substitute for stone. Few have > > exploited its creative aspects, Mr Kahn and Early are > > exceptions. There are a number of systems where they roll > > patterns into paving cocncrete but these are again cheap > > immitations of other materials such as brick paving. I have > > always loved exposed aggregate sidewalks with pea gravel but > > using it as the pastic workable mat'l that it is should be > > exploited but seldom seen.> > I want to echo that sentiment.> > First: the tradition of craftsmanship in concrete. Beautiful concrete> work entered my conscience when I moved from Memphis to Raleigh. Raleigh> was noticeably crude. The workmanship of concrete placement and finish> in Memphis revealed a community with a level of craftsmanship in the> trade that lifted everyone's work. > > The company stamps I had noticed in older concrete sidewalks and> retaining walls took on new meaning as emblems of pride in craft, not> simply of marketing. Of course, finding people today that can replicate> the textural treatments of vertically-formed concrete surfaces is> virtually impossible, as many tricks of the trade seem to be largely> lost. We find it a problem in historic district administration where you> are trying to match the details of the existing district qualities and> no one can do it...like the sanded finish of old retaining walls and> sidewalks, and the striated edge treatments of walks breaking the> surface plane into panels.> > Faux material treatments are simply prohibited in our guidelines. Bleah.> No dyed concrete masquerading as brick. It goes back to our discussions> of authenticity. > > Since no one could reproduce the fine-grained surface texture of our> historic concrete walks (which were really a one-inch thick topping over> compacted cinders), we have developed a washed treatment that at least> brings some textural quality to the walks, and knocks down the bright> shiny grey color of the brushed concrete that is so shockingly at> variance with the patina of the rest of the walks in the districts.> Rather than using pea gravel, we just use regular crusher run batch> concrete and apply a washed surface. You want to avoid excessive working> of the concrete so the aggregate doesn't fall away from the face of the> walk. It exposes the differing colors and such of the local aggregate,> and at a minimum additional expense and effort, at least offers> something more interesting than a broom finish does.> > ___________________________________________________________> Dan Becker, Exec. Dir. "Have nothing in your house that> Raleigh Historic you do not know to be useful> Districts Commission or believe to be beautiful."> [log in to unmask] -- William Morris > 919/516-2632> > > “E-mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized City or Law Enforcement official.”> > --> To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the> uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:> <http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>>
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To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>
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