PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION
Project Description:
Bomanite Licensee, Premier Concrete Construction installed the Bomanite Custom Polishing System Patene Teres at the Hanscome AFB MA Post Exchange. The project was completed in 2010 and contained 24,000 sq.ft. of dyed and polished concrete flooring surfaces. Bomanite Concrete Dye, Bomanite Stabilizer Pro and Bomanite Vitrafinish were used to acheive this low-maintenance flooring system.
The Patène Teres by Bomanite System incorporates Bomanite stains and dyes to color fully cured concrete. Once cured the concrete is ground to expose the desired type and amount of aggregate. Color is then incorporated into the surface followed by polishing to the required gloss level and treated with a Bomanite stain resist. The primary benefit of Bomanite Patène Teres is the ability to add topical color in a wide range of colors and looks using conventionally placed and finished, un-colored concrete.
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS/INFORMATION
Project Description:
The Army National Guard of Colorado, located in Windsor, CO, was looking for a flooring material to showcase their emblem and compliment the new design of space. Inspired by the emblem design at Fort Lupton and Buckley Air Force Base, they called on Bomanite Licensee, Colorado Hardscapes to install an intricate emblem of the Army National Guard logo, as well as place and polish the concrete surrounding the emblem in the front entry, assembly halls and hallways. Colorado Hardscapes worked closely with RB+B to design a custom emblem in the concrete, as well as the color and design of the Bomanite polished concrete.
The hallways, assembly hall and front entry used Bomanite polished concrete with a VitraFinish. In the assembly hall, where the concrete was placed by a different subcontractor but polished by Colorado Hardscapes, a reactive stain was added around the perimeter. After the project was completed, it was interesting to note the difference in the front entry where Colorado Hardscapes placed and polished the concrete versus the assembly hall where the existing floor was just polished. Placing and polishing the concrete is essential for a uniform look.
The emblem in the concrete was improved upon from previous projects because the emblem was ground ¼” deep, placed with logo, filled with a high-solid epoxy, and polished to the same level of the concrete surrounding it.
East Phillips Community Center was a new project. The architect choose polished concrete for the ease of maintenance, savings cost and sustainability. Mark Kalar, LHB Architects, wanted a polishing company that was known for there decorative work because of the amount of design scoring and complexity of layouts and colors the project entails. Bomanite Polishing Licensee, Concrete Arts was choosen.
The Patene Teres Bomanite Custom Polishing System incorporated several Concrete Dye Colors; Black Orchid, Pineapple, Pomegranate and Warm Honey. Two finishing products were used as well; Bomanite Stabilizer used to harden and densify the concrete and Bomanite Stainguard to provide a protective finish.
The challenges that went along with this project were the layout, design score, separation of all the eclectic colors, color combination and choices and the placement of a metal medallion that needed to be in the center of the room. Concrete Arts provided them with clean lines, no cracking even amongst all the cuts that came together, solid colors with variations that were used to give more of a stained patina look rather than a solid monolithic look.
When Oz Architecture and FCI Constructors first contacted Bomanite Licensed Contractor, Colorado Hardscapes to do the flooring in the lobby of the Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge, they envisioned a simple Bomanite stain and seal finish. The flooring would have been beautiful with that original design. However, after looking at other options, they and the owners decided to upgrade to polished concrete with decorative radial sawcuts and caulking. The result was beyond beautiful; it was “awesome” according to FCI.
The combination of excellent communication between FCI and Colorado Hardscapes during construction and clear expectations about the limits and inherent beauty in polished concrete allowed this job to become “our best polish job yet” according to Colorado Hardscapes’ Ron Schnell. The multi-colored stain choices (Bomanite Ebony and Auburn), the variety in the sawcuts, and the high-polish finishing seal gave the floor its unique beauty. It flowed well with the layout of the room and the furniture in this main gathering room of the college.
One of the surprises in this particular flooring choice came via the cracks inherent in most concrete floors. While initially concerned with the potential of visible cracks in the finished product, the decision makers came to see this as one of the beauties uniquely characteristic to concrete floors, especially highly polished floors. “We are very happy with the way it turned out,” said FCI. “The owner and architect have both commented on how well it looks. It was great working with you and I hope to do it again in the future.”
The Project Architect, JD Nelson of Anderson, Mason, and Dale wanted an inexpensive floor relative to the cost of stone, a consistent look of acetone dye rather than a mottled acid stain floor, a reflective floor surface, and something new with a nice level of interest. He liked the idea of being able to specify a color and know that if it did not turn out well; it could be ground off and another color could be chosen. He explained that the first color he chose was not to his liking. This color was easily ground off, allowing him to choose a second color. The normal acid stain job is hard to erase without changing the surface of the concrete. The polishing contractor has the grinders. The concrete has been or will be ground anyway so the process of removing a stain is not detrimental to the job.
JD had some experience in concrete staining, but was open to input from the contractors. So he set up a contest. He called it a “beauty contest”. Three contractors were invited to the contest to show how they would interpret his specification. He allowed the contractors to show how they would stain and polish the floor. Each was given a 10’ x 10’ area. Colorado Hardscapes actually tried two ways. One way was a classic two cut grind, acid stain, and two coats of water based sealer. The other way was the Bomanite Concrete Polish system with acetone dyes polished by All West Surface Prep (AWSP).
The two tests done by Colorado Hardscapes lead to an interesting observation. These two choices were done side by side. While waiting for the architects, the CU rep, and the General Contractor to come by and judge the 4 pads done by 3 contractors, the stained floor was scratched. A metal bar left a deep scratch in the stained concrete floor with two coats of stain. However, when the object crossed the v-cut line that separated the two samples, it did not scratch the polished concrete. Thus, showing how much more durable the polished surface is than the sealed concrete.
The collaborative team of Bomanite Licensed Contractors, Colorado Hardscapes and All-West Surface Prep were chosen for this project that was completed over a 4 month period on time and on budget. Colorado Hardscapes was responsible for the layout, cutting, and dying of all decorative pads in the floor. They stained the floor with Bomanite Maple Syrup concrete dye. The control joints were cleaned and filled with a polyurethane caulk. The project consisted of two buildings totalling in 32,000 sq. ft of polished dyed concrete flooring: the North Building with three floor levels and the South Building with two floor levels. Each building encompassed hallways, a flight of stairs and landing that were polished as well. There were 6200 linear feet of edges to blend and polish that presented a challenge in having to use hand tools rather than the large grinders to make sure the walls and floors matched perfectly. The floors were ground with 18/20 diamonds, then 30/40, 60/80, and 120/150 diamonds. Bomanite Stabilizer Pro was applied between the 60/80 and 120/150 diamonds. Then the floor was polished with 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1500 diamond resins. Bomanite Stain Guard was applied at the end of the polishing to give the floor a nice universal shine.
The Patène Teres system utilizes Bomanite Chemical Stains and Bomanite Concrete Dyes to color fully cured concrete as part of the polishing process. The concrete slab typically starts out as uncolored gray or for some applications have Bomanite Integral Color in the concrete or had Bomanite Color Hardener applied to the surface during concrete placement and finishing. The floor is ground then stained or dyed and then processed as per the standard VitraFlor System. The primary benefit of Bomanite Patène Teres is the ability to add topical color to the concrete in a wide range of colors and looks. The use of skilled saw cutting techniques to achieve patterns or designs in conjunction with the Patène Teres process can transform concrete into art. From simple monotone shades through bright and vibrant colors, the final appearance can be metropolitan chic or variegated and rustic. Patène Teres by Bomanite is intended primarily for new construction or major renovation projects.
