PATTERN IMPRINTED CONCRETE SUPPLIES LTD
UNIT 2
RED SHUTE HILL IND ESTATE
HERMITAGE
NR NEWBURY
BERKSHIRE RG18 9QL
Tel: 01635 202224
Fax: 01635 202230
Suppliers of: Paving Systems available for Specification including; Pattern Imprinted Concrete Paving, Imprinted Walling, Concrete Sealers, Asphalt Restorers, Resin Bound & Bonded Surfacing
Pattern Imprinted Concrete Supplies Ltd supply a wide range of materials and products and training for concrete imprinting for both paving and walling in the UK and for world-wide export. PICS provide a real alternative to both block paving, natural stone and resin bonded paving and wall systems. PICS have also recently acquired Hatcrete adding the ColourMix & AdColour Product Ranges to its portfolio.
Useful Resources:
- Social Media: Facebook
Imprinted Concrete training course:
Our imprinted concrete training course is designed for those that are new to the industry, or those who want to develop their existing practical experience through structured training. The course takes place over 2 days, the first day focusses on imprinted concrete theory followed by practical application on day two. Please contact us for further information.
PICS & Hatcrete Main Product Applications Include:
PICSPAVE – A complete pattern imprinted concrete system:
PICSPAVE is a system designed to create the aesthetic value and feel of natural stone, slate, cobble, tile, brick or wood. Available in over 100 designs and colour combinations, PICSPAVE will suit any application, Commercial, Industrial or Domestic.
- Colour: Available in over 100 designs and colour combinations
- Release Agent: Allows easy release of PICSPAVE Textured Imprinting Mats from the wet surface of concrete after application
- Sealers: a range of acrylic sealers for pattern imprinted concrete surfaces
- Imprinting Mats: PICS sell or hire the widest range of top quality Matcrete & Proline imprinting mats
- Tools: PICS supply a wide range of Kraft and ancillary concrete tools to the pattern imprinted market
- Preparation: a range of drainage channels, manhole covers, mortars, tarmac repair products
- Training: PICS offers training for all installations
PICS Hatcrete - Industrial Flooring:
Manufacture and supply of specialist materials used in large commercial flooring projects.
- Colourmix: Integral colour for concrete that has superseded traditional concrete dyes and pigments
- HATCRETE® Adcolour: Colouring additive for cementitious materials providing streak free colour
- Water based Cure & Seal: A transparent, acrylic polymer resin providing a hard wearing sealing solution
- Solvent based Cure & Seal: A high solids, high performance sealer suitable for heavily trafficked areas
- Industrial Quartz: Colour Hardener designed for heavy duty, decorative flooring applications
WALLCRETE – Wall render:
Recreating the appearance of natural stone, brick or rock walling from days gone by.
- WALLCRETE Render: Advanced lightweight render, which contains a bonding agent to enable simple mixing with water
- WALLCRETE imprinting mats: Replicate a variety of natural stone textures and finishes
- WALLCRETE textured finish skin mats: offering installers benefits in speed of installation
- Wall liquid release agent: Sprayable liquid for ensuring effective and simple imprinting of the WALLCRETE mats
- Wall Seal: Designed to protect the WALLCRETE surface from the elements, and enhance the natural colour
- Wall Stain: An extra strength stain, which creates a low sheen natural appearance on Wallcrete surfaces
- Wall pigment: A range of colours are available to be added to WALLCRETE as an integral colour
- Tools: PICS provide a range of mixing, carving and finishing tools to aid the WALLCRETE installer
PICSEAL and PERMASEAL Block Paving Sealers:
- PICSEAL Domestic Paving Sealer was developed by PICS in 1993 to combat the constant problems of staining and weed growth and to enhance the colour and aesthetic appeal.
- PERMASEAL Commercial Paving Sealant is our water-based sealer and is suitable only in very specific situations, normally for large areas such as supermarket carparks, pedestrian walkways etc.
PICSCOAT Tarmac Restoration:
- PICSCOAT is our own brand heavy duty commercial quality Tarmac restoration and Asphalt refurbishment product. Surfaces that have become faded, worn and shabby are transformed to “good as new” with a single application.
PICSBOND Resin Bonded Stone:
- PICSBOND is a resin bound or bonded thin overlay system using durable polyurethane resin combined with natural aggregates, to produce an attractive surface dressing suitable for roads, car parks, ramps and pedestrian areas.
Full Sealer Range:
PICS manufacture a wide range of solvent and water based sealing and curing solutions across all sectors. Whether sealing a pattern imprinted concrete driveway or curing a power floated industrial floor, there is a quality sealing solution for your specific application.
- Pattern Imprinted Concrete / Decorative Concrete Sealers
- Commercial Block Paving Sealers
- Driveway Refurbishment Sealers
- Industrial Flooring Sealers
- Decorative Walling Sealers
Further information along with technical data and useful resources can be found on the Pattern Imprinted Concrete Supplies web site.
PICS - Does Salt Damage Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveways?
Does Salt Damage Pattern Imprinted Concrete Driveways?
While it is fair to say that concrete doesn’t like salt, nor does it like freeze-thaw cycles, if the correct concrete is used then neither putting salt on it nor freeze-thaw cycles will damage it. If the concrete wasn’t suitable to be used in areas where salt may be put on it, then it wouldn’t be used in the construction of bridges, roads, sea defences, and so on.
Inadvertently, we all put salt on our driveways
Whether we like it or not, we all inadvertently put salt on our driveways because we park our cars in pretty much the same place every day and as a result our cars drip salt from the roads onto the drive at those precise points. If concrete was adversely affected by salt, then we would see damaged areas on every imprinted concrete driveway across the country where people park their cars.
Does Salt Stain Pattern Imprinted Concrete?
In the same way that washing a car in a hard water area and leaving it to dry in the sun will lead to visible streaks when salt water evaporates on any surface, it leaves a visible salty deposit behind. However, it is easily removed with a good jet wash and a small amount of dilute acid wash, which will break down the salt on the surface.
Choosing the Right Contractor
If you go with a reputable contractor that has a trading history, they will have concrete installations that have seen many winters. Many of our customers have been trading for 10,15, 20 and some over 30 years and their early work still looks good, and you wouldn’t know if the area was five or twenty-five years old. Working with a reputable contractor may not be the cheapest option, of course, however, you get what you pay for. If you still have concerns about the suitability and longevity of imprinted concrete for your project, you can always ask any prospective contractor to provide some examples of the work they’ve done to put your mind at rest.
In Summary
A high-quality pattern imprinted concrete installation will not be adversely affected by salt. This is evidenced by the range of commercial and domestic projects that utilise pattern imprinted concrete where contact with salt is inevitable. Staining can occasionally occur, as it can on any surface. This is easily removed with a small amount of dilute acid wash and a jet wash. Working with the right contractor for you is important, and a reputable contractor will be happy to share previous projects, giving you the peace of mind that your imprinted concrete installation will stand the test of time and salt.
Dr Concrete.
PICS - How Much Colour Surface Hardener Is It Best To Use?
We often get asked how much colour surface hardener (CSH) should be used on an installation and the reasons why.
The two factors that will affect the amount of CSH that will be/needs to be used are:
Surface wetness /softness of the concrete. (mainly the wetness)
Prevailing weather conditions. Consequently, wet concrete on a wet day will require more colour than dry concrete on a dry day to achieve the same surface consistency and colour.
Using too little CSH (considering the above two points) will create three potential issues:
Colour will not be true. e.g. a red colour may look pink, or a black colour may look grey.
Using insufficient CSH will not ‘dry up’ the surface. There will then be a poor water/cement ratio at the surface and consequently, the long-term abrasion resistance and freeze-thaw and de-icing salt resistance will be compromised.
Thin-coloured wearing surface.
The ‘poor water cement ratio’ and ‘thin coloured wearing surface’ issues will manifest themselves further down the line regarding the long-term durability of the paved area.
Applying Enough CSH To Elimate Colour Differences:
The colour not being true is an instant issue that can create problems, particularly on multi-pour installations. On one pour installations, if too little CSH is used and the colour is not true and/or is a bit patchy since there is nothing to compare it with, this may not be noticed by the end-user and the installation company will ‘get away with it’ as the area still looks attractive and aesthetically pleasing.
However, on multi-pour installations, colour differences between individual pours are noticeable, and areas must be coloured appropriately to avoid any heartache, which is very often difficult to resolve.
Therefore, two points are recommended as good standard practice:
Most importantly, always ensure that the concrete is coloured generously on either side of a day joint. This will greatly reduce/eliminate a potential colour difference on either side of the day joint, which is always the most noticeable area on any installation.
In addition to the above point, why not use a bit more CSH on the whole of the slab so that it’s all a truer colour and a more durable surface is created?
So, the wetter the concrete, the more CSH that is required.
But, how do you know when enough CSH has been applied?
A very good guide is that if the CSH is very easy to float in, then probably the surface is still a bit too wet /not enough CSH has yet been applied. In these situations, another application is recommended. As soon as an application of CSH becomes a bit harder work to float in then that is an indication that the surface has been ‘dried up’ and the resultant surface is more likely to be a true reflection of the intended colour. This guide, when followed, not only addresses potential colour variances but also produces a good water-cement ratio, which in turn produces a more durable and long-lasting surface with a thicker wearing layer.
So, how much CSH to order for a job?
All jobs will vary, depending on concrete and climatic conditions. When asked, we always recommend:
Always take to site 1 bag of CSH per 10m2, plus 50%
So, for a 60m2 job, take 6 bags, plus 50% = 9 bags. Dr Concrete would be surprised if only 6 bags were used and equally surprised if all 9 bags were used. Most times it will be around 7 or 8 bags to produce a quality slab which is true in colour and has good wearing characteristics.
Remember! You can always take a leftover bag back to use another day. However, if the concrete comes a bit wet and/or climatic conditions are damp, and you need a bit more CSH, it is difficult to get hold of an extra bag when needed. Look at the extra CSH as an insurance policy. Finally, even if you do use a bit more CSH than the minimum guide of 1 bag per 10m2 and it costs you a bit extra, what’s one or two bags on a 60m2 pour? If it means one less return visit to the site for a remedial (or worse still a dig up), you’ll be ‘quids in’ AND have better looking, more durable work and happier customers.
Dr Concrete.
