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Garden Art Gallery

More Leftover concrete (stepping stones)

20 years ago

These were made from that same leftover concrete but on the first day so I was able to pour it into some quickly made molds that I had been wanting to try out and some of the left over ceramic cuts from the tile used throughout the inside of the house. Some of the tiles moved some with me being in such a hurry, next time, I will take my time. These are my first tries (getting some expierence)..

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Comments (13)

anne54
20 years ago
I just love what I can see of these. Would you mind emailing
me the larger versions, just so I can see them?
Anne
0
Wendy_the_Pooh
20 years ago
Nice first tries! That's a good idea - those quilt patterns. They look very attractive to me and go well together, which is important in a path, I think.

Are you subconsciously trying to light a fire underneath me to get me to actually go to HD or Lowes to actually get the materials to do some stepping stones or other mosaics? It may be starting to work, but you haven't seen a picture of my stepping stones here yet.

I have:
1) a table to work on
2) a turntable to use

I need:
1) protective canvas or plastic to work on
2) materials
3) a wee bit more motivation

Wendy
0
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concrete stepping stones
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Comments (4)
There is a book called Garden Stone by Barbra Pleasent. Very insperational and could point you in a direction that will help you be creative in the ideas you are trying to achieve. One place to start looking is a local stone yard. They can give you some ideas you may not have consiered and probably less expensive. For expample there is a chapter about mosaic stone pathways. Great for the stone collector not so much if you want to do something fast. However it is an idea that could be explored and then acted upon. For what it is worth check out the option of a stoneyard, it is what they do and if near your area they can probably help with your goal. I'm going to mine rather soon. As for the big box stores they really are going with what the demand is so it becomes somewhat limited. "Fashion forward is what sells." Not so much if you want something more unique. Good Luck!
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Comments (19)
Hey Stylin --- Your "terrace" has great potential! Should be a great spot to hang. As for post pour color...no rush. You really need to allow the 'crete to cure for at least three weeks and preferrably a "full" 28 days before you stain it ,no matter whether you use acid stains or the ferrous oxide...so you have time to read up & experiment a little. Also, neither of these stains will affect the stones or any ceramics...they only react with cement. I've heard that the oxide can sometimes leave a stain on wood sometimes if it is allowed to dissolve and sit there long enough, but it is the chemical reaction with the cement in the concrete that creates the color. And roger the "strong textures"...they can mimic flowing water (think Zen Gardens), grass & tree forms or just about anything you want. It has endless possibilities & can be paired with the other techniques very easily. You can even "practice" with a few different types of trowels and a big tray of mud to see what different effects & patterns you can come up with. One option that has not been mentioned is what is known as "integral color". This comes as either a liquid or dry powder and is added at the time the concrete is mixed. It is 100% permenent, but can tend to look a little "flat" on some applications. While you often see it used to create very strong coloration, I personally think the best effects are when it is fairly sublte and just takes the "grayness" or coldness off the concrete a little. Some of the lighter and more neautral colors are great when mixed with the kind of effects you seem to be moving towards...and...stains or glazes on top of subtly colored concrete can look really wonderful. They tend to highlight any texture that's there. Anyhow...as you can see there are endless possibilities. And below is another link. This site has some pretty good color charts, but you still have to "squint & imagine" how they might look if you cut the color way back. Good news is, most contractors can provide actual mix samples in advance. Best of luck and no matter what else you do...have fun. All my best, Tango Here is a link that might be useful: Nice Color Charts
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Comments (13)
Ellie's Mom, Was this concrete (sand, portland cement and gravel) or mortar (sand and portland cement)? Go to the home improvement store and buy a piece of ridgid insulation board. It comes in different thicknesses and you can cut it with a razor knife or any sharp knife. If you buy the thickest ones you can cut off a piece and cut your design out of the center. Make sure you leave a 2 inch border around the edge so the sides don't bulge. Or buy the thinner board and cut into 2 inch by 1 1/2 inch strips. Butt the corners together and push long nails into each corner. Wrap around the outside with duct tape. These will be bottomless molds just place on a piece of plastic wrap on top of a flat surface. The insulation boards are 8 feet long and about 2 feet wide so you can make quite a few molds. If you treat the molds nice you can reuse them quite a few times. If these are just decoration and no one will walk on them you can make them 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. If you're going to walk on them go for 2". Your husband is so encouraging! Tell him he is wrong. The mixture would be too hard to push in your mosaics. You can use cardboard boxes that you wrap the outside with duct tape. BUT make sure you have something available to butt up against the sides so the cement doesn't bulge the sides. You can place contact paper in the bottom of your mold with the sticky side up and place your mosaics on the sticky paper. Just remember that you are working in reverse. After you're done placing the mosaics pour or place your mix on top of the mosaics. If this is a ridgid mold, tap the sides to help release air bubbles. After 24 hours gently turn the mold over to remove the stepping stone. Peel off the contact paper and clean up (GENTLY!!) your mosaics. Have fun and don't let your daughter touch these like she's doing in the pictures above. When these are fresh the lime in the portland cement can burn skin. Billie
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Comments (5)
I believe our situation was similar. We have a concrete porch at the front door which has a foundation projecting about 6 feet into the lawn. Then a concrete step down to the sidewalk. The step and first section of the sidewalk were settling. I believe this is a consequence of backfill from construction. I had a concrete jacking company lift it. They drilled a hole through both the step and sidewalk section. Then, under high pressure pumped concrete into the void below thus lifting everything level. It cost $275 but I'm not sure I would have been able to lift and level it myself. Aside from a newer concrete "spot" on the surface one would never know anything was done.
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gourd
Original Author
20 years ago
Yes, they are patterns from my quilting books. I made a bigger mosiac into a star shape and it is almost 4' x 4' to put in a workroom that we are making in the center of the room.. 155 pieces or so.
0
Wendy_the_Pooh
20 years ago
So you mean tiles in cement?
0
Wendy_the_Pooh
20 years ago
As a poured floor with tiles set in it before it hardens?

Wendy
0
gourd
Original Author
20 years ago
Yes, it is a ceramic tile mosaic that will be put onto the floor, then other terracotta color tile throughout.
0
Wendy_the_Pooh
20 years ago
You know, if you can do mosaic stepping stones, so can I (this is part of my self-pep talk, don't mind me). Why am I so motivation-deficient when it comes to getting going with something "big" like that, yet I love it and think it's fun when I finally do try it? I want to try making something like that.

Wendy
0
gourd
Original Author
20 years ago
You bet, you sure can do it. These were accidently fogged by the painters and i had to wash some of it off the paint, they almost ruined them, they were solid "Gray"..
0
ceebee
20 years ago
My garden would be prettier with a dozen of these.

ceebee
0
gourd
Original Author
20 years ago
For molds I used those big waterdishes made out of alluminum that they sell at Walmart in the Pet section. They are huge, about 4.00 a piece. There are molds out there and also we can use pizza boxes, but I wanted round and kind of wide to be able to put a design. The next ones I want to try with glass (someday)...

ceebee, you can do it too. If I can, anybody can.. it's the motivation that needs to happen.. If those guys had not mentioned they had extra cement, I would still be waiting for the right time.. big procastinator here..
0
anne54
20 years ago
Sure ceebee, if you don't make real
stepping stones, you can paint
a picture of a lovely pathway
with stepping stones.
0
Havenewfs
19 years ago
Wow, If anyone reads this still, how would you use a pizza box for stepping stones? We have some cement in a bag and I have to go to Home Depot for other reasons anyhow.
0
katkerri
19 years ago
Those look great gourd!
0

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