Pigments and surface treatments

Concrete, Apr 2007 by Clark, Neil

As concrete remains one of the most popular building materials around, the type and variety of surface treatments on offer continue to expand. Many products on the market are used to reduce dust and protect concrete from wear. Increasingly, however, there are products that are used to enhance the appearance of concrete such as pigments as well as matt and gloss finishes.

Many concrete finishes offer first-class protection and dust-reducing properties, ideal for use in situations where concrete dust may be an issue, such as car parks, garages and loading bays. The basic liquid from Treatex, diluted with pure water, penetrates 6-8mm into clean and dry concrete. Dust particles are bound with the free lime of the concrete and crystallised. This has the added benefit of increasing the hardness of the concrete by more than 34%. There is no formation of film on the surface, which avoids damage by high footfall, resulting in a permanent dust-free surface. The product also prevents penetration of water, oil and grease and is resistant to most chemicals.

Treatex concrete finishes are suitable for use on indoor concrete surfaces as well as outdoor concrete areas such as walls, paths and façades. Concrete treatment on outdoor areas clearly shows a lower water absorption capability, which as a consequence considerably reduces the risk of frost damage. Further still, such products are acid-proof, helping to preserve the binder of the concrete (the cement), which is especially important in urban areas where car exhaust fumes can destroy concrete.

Enhancing concrete

In addition to this more practical purpose for concrete finishes, there is the aesthetic option of enhancing such surfaces through the use of colour. Treatex's pigmentation product allows colour to penetrate into the concrete, leaving no surface film and, when used in conjunction with the concrete base and emulsion, UV resistance is increased and the surface is protected from bleaching and wear. Treatex offers pigmentation in black, white, blue, green, grey, yellow and red as standard but can supply bespoke colours for larger projects.

This is ideal for situations where architects may wish to create statement façades, or to provide a fresh look for many existing, dull concrete structures. Lots of townscapes in the UK are afflicted with unexciting concrete buildings; thanks to these products they can be transformed using a range of colours whilst sealing in dust and protecting the building. It is a great way to liven up an otherwise uninspiring structure. Also, finishes from Treatex are ecofriendly as they are made using only high-quality natural ingredients and leave no harmful residues whilst producing a micro-porous water repellent and fire-resistant surface. The products are water-based, completely free from solvents and do not emit vapours during application and upon completion, avoiding harm to both people and the environment.

Use of concrete finishes

One such project where concrete protection and pigmentation has been integral to the outward appearance of the building is the Oteiza Museum in Alzuza, Spain. The museum houses the personal collection of the renowned sculptor and artist Jörge Oteiza with 1650 sculptures, 2000 pieces from Oteiza's experimental laboratory, and a large number of drawings and collages. The Museum stands in a rural setting in Navarra, 9km from Pamplona and houses one of the largest collections of contemporary art. To enhance the appearance of a number of brass sculptures inside the museum, the architect asked Treatex to formulate a bespoke pigment to use in conjunction with the protector and hardener. The company created an unusual 'pinky-terracotta' pigment for extensive use on both the exterior and interior of the museum. The result is a stunning and unusual concrete building that does not exhibit the typical signs of wear usually attributed to an untreated concrete building.

Treatex concrete finishes have also been used at Charlottehaven, an exclusive set of serviced apartments in the heart of historic Copenhagen; the Civican cultural centre in Navaresse, near Pamplona, Spain; and a great number of exhibition centres, storage buildings, factories, car parks and government buildings across Europe.

Concluding remarks

Treatex concrete finishes are quick and easy to apply and are ideal for application in both commercial and residential installations.

NEIL CLARK, TREATEX