Monuments from concrete - features of self-made

09-03-2018

Building

As you know, there are many options for monuments on the market. For this purpose, a variety of materials are used, from very simple and common, to rare and even outlandish. And if it is almost impossible to process granite without special equipment and skills of stone-cutter, then virtually any person can manufacture monuments made of concrete, the main thing is to know the technology features and carry them all, since strength and durability is very important.

In the photo: forms for the manufacture of concrete monuments are diverse, it is important to choose the option that suits you best

Features of the preparatory phase

At this stage, you should cook everything that is needed at work.

Consider what should be on hand so that in the manufacturing process is not distracted:

First, you need to find forms for concrete - modern plastic options are best suited for monuments. Its smooth surface will provide excellent appearance without polishing. You can buy only the form for the slab, and make the base yourself, or cast it in a special design, it all depends on personal preferences and capabilities.

On the market there are many different forms for the manufacture of monuments with their own hands

In order to increase the strength and durability of the structure, reinforcing elements are also needed, which often use reinforcement with a thickness of 10-12 millimeters or a metal circle.. The size of the elements depends on the configuration and mass of the monument and is calculated individually in each individual case.
You also need high-quality cement, it is best to purchase the brand M500 without additives (on the bag must be marked D0). The strength of the obtained product directly depends on the cement, so in no case should you save on it.

The presence of GOSTs on packaging - additional evidence of product quality

You can use marble aggregate as a filler, then you need to purchase this material in the required amount. It should be borne in mind that the price of high-quality crumb is quite high, so many use the option with a special dye for concrete, it is added either to the entire solution, or to the part that will be used for the outer layer.
Another important component is a plasticizer, with its help the mixture becomes plastic, and air is removed from it much better, which is especially important if you do not have a vibrating table and the compaction will be carried out manually..

The plasticizer allows the air to freely escape from the solution

Note! Do not forget that the cleaner the sand, the stronger the artificial stone will turn out. It is best to wash it, it is very easy to do it: pour it into a container, pour water on it and stir it, the sand will settle. And the particles of clay and other impurities will remain on top, the dirty water is drained, and the procedure is repeated 2-3 more times.

Workflow stages

Как известно, памятники на могилу из бетона подвергаются множеству неблагоприятных факторов, поэтому технологический процесс должен соблюдаться очень скрупулезно. Рассмотрим его основные особенности (читайте также статью «Уход за бетоном – как сделать материал максимально прочным»).

Preparation of the solution

The mixture is prepared as follows:

If the work will be carried out manually, then a large convenient container is needed, but it is better to use a concrete mixer, this way it is possible to provide a higher quality mixture.

First, you should mix the sand with cement, most often for the front layer the ratio of components is 1: 1, after that the plasticizer and dye are diluted in water, so the additives are guaranteed to be distributed throughout the entire solution, water is added so that the composition has a thick cream.
For the inside, the solution is prepared in the proportion of cement to sand of 1: 3, in addition, you will need well-washed rubble, the amount of which is determined experimentally during the preparation of the mixture.

Tip! The amount of mortar depends on the dimensions of the product, it is worth remembering that the thickness of the upper layer should be at least 1 centimeter, the rest is an internal aggregate with rubble.

Shaping the product

This process can be divided into several stages:

1st stage	The mold is being processed for concrete monuments so that the solution does not stick to it, and the surface was perfectly smooth. It is best to use for this purpose a special compound or silicone grease, which is sold in auto shops. How to use the composition, tell the instructions on the package.
2nd stage	Apply the first layer with a thickness of 1-2 centimeters, while you need to carefully seal the solution so that it fills all the fragments of the form. The appearance of the monument depends on it, so the work should be carried out very carefully.
3rd stage	Several reinforcement bars are put on the first layer for the reinforcement of the structure, but one should not forget that the lower ends should come out for further fastening, it is better to do it right away, as well as drilling holes in the concrete and cutting the reinforced concrete with diamond circles - labor-intensive , and better to avoid them.
4th stage	After compacting the concrete, several more bars of reinforcement are laid, and the outer layer is laid, which should be carefully leveled with a trowel. It, most likely, should be ground, therefore the better alignment will be spent, the less work will be further.
The final stage	Finally, the filled form must be left in a dry room at a temperature of 15-20 degrees, the product can be removed after two days and left for 4 weeks, constantly moistening the surface for maximum strength.

Silicone grease is convenient to use - it is sold as a spray

Concrete monuments made in such a way will serve for decades, not inferior to counterparts from artificial marble.

Conclusion

Сделать надежный памятник не так и просто, но приложив некоторые усилия можно добиться хорошего результата. Видео в этой статье расскажет еще некоторые особенности данного вида работ (см.также статью «Цоколь из бетона: практические рекомендации и советы»).