"polished concrete"

Project:  Refurbishment and restoration of 6 flights of concrete stairs and landings at Pennybank Chambers, London     Client: Emrys Architects, DDC LTDMaterials used:  MicroConcrete coating in Grey colour and Satin finishThe Living Concrete team were commissioned by Emrys to refurbish and restore an old concrete staircase. This was followed by hand application of Microconcrete coating with Anti-slip agent around the cast iron step threads which were cast in brass finish.  MicroConcrete coating is especially suitable to this type of artisan restoration and it is ideal for tougher environments such as stairs, shop and office floors, bars, hotels and exteriors with no need for joins or breaks. It can be applied over existing materials which reduces the time needed for application and maintenance.

The Living Concrete team are highly experienced at working with leading designers to create bespoke furniture for beautiful spaces. That’s why Charlotte Crosland came to us to discuss the design, manufacture and installation of this stunning outdoor kitchen and entertainment space, housed in a purpose built oak building at her client’s Great Missenden home.We cast a number of items including work surfaces, kitchen cupboards with shelving and drawers, fridge enclosure, BBQ, cast in sink with copper fittings and seatWe used a unique eco concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption and the smooth Silk Mist finish was treated and sealed with Satin Stain protection to make it damage proof. Our high-performance concrete doesn’t corrode or degrade, making it a long-lasting, practical choice that will keep its good looks. It’s fireproof too – a major advantage inside the home, but equally so in an outdoor oak-built structure such as this.

The recent refurbishment of 4 Chiswell Street by Ben Adams Architects includes Armourcoat’s Istria polished plaster wall finish. Situated close to the historic Bunhill cricket ground in Islington, this once tired office building has been re-imagined as a modern and open workspace.Entering through an impressive new façade and front entrance, the architect’s design includes a double height reception space bathed in natural light. A sculpturally fluted wall finished in Istria polished plaster and custom terrazzo floor continue a circular motif repeated throughout the design. With exposed services and stylish use of concrete colours, the structure has been transformed into a contemporary and relevant commercial building with a distinctive urban feel.Named after the characteristic building stone of Venice, the Istria polished plaster finish is made from a combination of slaked lime, recycled marble powder and special additives. The Istria finish is full of ingrained surface movement and creates a matt or honed stone appearance. Tonal variation and surface movement within the finish complements other natural materials including wood, stone and fabric.

‘Autobarn’ is an unusual build comprising an elegant five-bay garage and accompanying workshop sitting within the grounds of a Grade-II listed 18th-century home in Somerset.Designed by Bindloss Dawes Architects, the brief was to create a garage with an adjoining workshop to house the client’s classic car collection. The finished result is an aesthetically beautiful building with its deceptively simple wooden barn-themed styling using agricultural materials such as concrete and recycled wood under a zinc roof. With surfaces comprising steel, timber and polished concrete floor, the architects incorporated Troldtekt acoustic panels to clad both the walls and ceilings between the steel frames for sound absorption and to combat the issue of reverberating noise.The added advantage of having services hidden behind the white panelling means the final result is a stunning simplistic and minimalist design allowing the classic cars to be the focus of attention and transforming the space into more of a gallery than a traditional garage.Troldtekt acoustic panels are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and combine sound absorption with a tactile surface. With an expected life cycle of at least 50 years and resistance to humidity and impact, they are available in various sizes and four grades, from extreme fine to coarse. The panels can be left untreated or painted in almost any RAL colour. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively. Founded on the Cradle-to-Cradle design concept and having attained Gold certification, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels are manufactured using wood from certified forests (PEFC™ and FSC®C115450) and can contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB or LEED points. 

Project: Design and manufacture of 2 reception desks and browser in GRC cast and sprayed concrete with brass finishes for ROMO GROUP. Materials used: Hand cast and sprayed GRFC concrete in Silk Mist finished with brass detailing. For Romo’s flagship store in London’s Chelsea Design Centre, the Living Concrete team were faced with the challenge of converting complicated geometrical designs into two precast reception desks and a browser. The single casts were made offsite, with each being over four meters long. They were treated and sealed to make them stain proof.

The Assembly Rooms is a new office block development on a site of a former 1870’s cinema situated on Werter Road, just off Putney High Street.Living Concrete team used an innovative concrete application technique to create ultra-sleek custom-built reception desk for Morgan Cox at Assembly Rooms. A special mix of spray concrete in Mist colour was applied onsite to MDF frame, seamlessly achieving a very complex and detailed design.In addition two large planter units with sitting benches were constructed and finished in the same style.

Project: Bespoke concrete-cladded reception desk for a workspace in South London. Client: K2 SPACE / Glenstone Materials: Large BTX Concrete 3D panels (overlays) in Mist colour and Smooth finish. The panels were cladded over a hard wood carcass. To create an impressive raw industrial look, we used special large format BTX concrete precast 3D panels that were made to K2 Space’s specific design and carefully assembled and finished by our team on site. The results speak for themselves in this stylish modern office space where this stunning 6m long and 1.2 m tall reception desk takes centre stage.

The project comprised of a large scale installation of Square GRC concrete floor tiles in two contrasting colours. Large Hazelnut tiles with Anti-slip Sandblast finish were laid around the main reception are. The remaining floor areas we resurfaced with Silver and Hazelnut tiles in Silk finish to emphasise the predominantly neutral colour palette of the interiors and the existing concrete structures which were left exposed.The tiles were manufactured using our special GRC BTX concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. We used our unique eco concrete mix technology with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption and staining. The challenges for this project were working with such large tiles that were pre-cut and only allowed for minor adjustments on site but the project was completed to a high spec for the client.

Project: Manufacture and installation of bespoke concrete cladding in a high-tech media room. The design comprised of floating 3D concrete seat wrapped around the fire place and individually sized concrete panels for chimney breast, wall, floor and ceiling. All panels were fitted using mechanical and chemical fixings.Client: Tigg & Coll Architects  Materials used: Large format Plain and GAP GRC panels in Rough Mist finish and sealed with hydrophobic agent and clear sealant.On this challenging project we worked closely with Tigg & Coll Architects to manufacture and supply bespoke concrete cladding for new multipurpose media room.The large format bespoke Plain and GAP concrete panels were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The panels were cut to fit around the fireplace, floor, walls and ceiling and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof.The finished effect is a modern, industrial look that complements client’s design style and creates a truly unique and highly relaxing space.

Spanning 5,195 sq ft over two floors, the newly opened Kiwa Sushi & Grill offers a taste of the western-eastern fusion within modern East Asian dining setting in the heart of London’s Chinatown.The Living Concrete team were tasked with manufacture and installation of 120m2 of Fairfaced concrete wall panels which were seamlessly cladded over large internal walls. The panels were manufactured using GRC concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete and finished in Mist Grey to enhance natural weathered look.The finished effect is a modern, industrial look that complements client’s design style and creates a truly unique and trendy space.

The recently refurbished reception of 25 Copthall Avenue by QOB Interiors and John Robertson Architects for developer Helix, includes new floor to ceiling glass, contemporary signage, virtual daylight luminaries and a stunning 120m2 curved Armourcoat 'KonCrete' polished plaster wall to create a striking entrance.The hand-applied polished plaster wall leads through into the transformed reception area, with a design feature that incorporates a custom stencil of the office address. The full height atrium floods light into the heart of the building creating a bright, spacious environment with a business lounge and in-house café.Armourcoat ‘KonCrete’ is an urban range of polished plaster colours and finishes designed for contemporary projects. The range offers a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive modern look, including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings. Photography: © Photobanks

Klaudia and Michal purchased a brand-new property in Staffordshire in November 2021, built by David Wilson Homes. The couple’s chic, minimalistic design aesthetic soon gained a following on Instagram with clean lines, sleek finishes, and a focus on simplicity. @ThePolishedGosford has become a popular account with other new-build homeowners with similar proportions and layout.In their quest to enhance their interior design aesthetic, the couple sought out an artistic addition that would perfectly complement their existing décor. They received a recommendation from a friend suggesting KEIM Colourwash, and they eagerly embarked on a project to create captivating feature walls in both their kitchen and master bedroom.Klaudia and Michal desired to incorporate a concrete effect, a task that is often challenging and time-consuming when using conventional materials. Seeking advice, Amie Paxton, Creative Finishes Designer at KEIM, provided personalised colour choices combining KEIM Innostar & KEIM Colourwash to achieve the desired outcome.Available in over 200 colours, KEIM Innostar is an innovative interior paint, requiring just a single coat application to achieve full coverage and a luxuriously fully matt finish. Klaudia commented: “The paint was really easy to use, and the application was better than other brands we’d used in the past.”KEIM Colourwash offers a convenient and hassle-free solution for achieving a beautiful limewash effect. Unlike traditional limewash, which can be time-consuming and potentially hazardous, KEIM Colourwash provides a safe and easy alternative. When used in combination with KEIM Innostar, a trendy “perfectly imperfect” aesthetic can be applied to both bare and previously painted walls and ceilings.Using a KEIM Oval Brush, the couple applied KEIM Colourwash to their selected feature walls, transforming the plain surfaces in a remarkably short time frame of less than 20 minutes per wall. Michal commented: “We originally wanted a concrete effect on our kitchen wall, which seemed very complex to do, unlike using KEIM.”

Large scale Aquacrete lining installation to an underground swimming pool in a private house in London.120m2 of Aquacrete cement and quartz waterproof lining in Misty White colour was hand applied and then polished over existing mosaic tiles.

Large scale Fluid Concrete installation to all floors, window sills and stairs in Cement Grey colour. Oxicrete finish application to bathroom walls in Brown and Terracotta Red finish.Manufacture and installation of bespoke Gap panels in Rough Mist finish to shower walls.Materials used: Large format Gap GRC wall panels in Rough Mist finish, sealed with hydrophobic agent and clear sealant. Cement Grey Fluid Concrete floor coating and Oxicrete wall coating in Brown and Terracotta Red finish.

Goat Yard, formerly a Victorian Warehouse building named Albion House, underwent comprehensive refurbishment to offer grade A office accommodation, totalling 30,484 sq ft. Refurbished by West 1, a leading high-end office fit-out Contractors, the building boasts a newly reconfigured reception area. The Living Concrete team were commissioned to cast and install a custom-build concrete reception desk.Spanning 3m long, the single cast was made offsite, without any joints and finished in Mist Pitted finish to resemble a real, cast in-situ concrete. Laminated grey joinery and black Forbo rubber-lined worktop completed the look.

The Living Concrete team were commissioned to design and create large format, precast GRC floating garden steps at a private residence in Oxted. Working closely with the client, we constructed a cascade of floating steps to create seamless access on what was quite a difficult tiered site. Having assessed all the practical and logistical issues, we worked out a tight 10 week schedule of measuring, landscaping, pre-cast and on-site installation of all the elements.This project had many challenges in its design and execution and covered a large external area on different levels incorporating very heavy concrete elements – creating this stunning feature.

Grain House was a complex, heritage-led refurbishment unifying and extending four historic buildings in Covent Garden with a rich history typical of this iconic location. Our team manufactured and installed a concrete reception desk for a new reception area. The results speak for themselves in this stylish modern office space where this stunning 4.6m long reception desk takes centre stage.The concrete worktop was designed to incorporate the client’s logo and we used our unique eco concrete mix technology which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. This helps to give the finished products the durability and performance they need. Despite the complex and detailed casting and installation required for this project, everything was completed to a high spec for the client.

The design comprised of a three-storey-high, bespoke GRC concrete staircase with floating precast steps and landings, all in Rustic Grey finish.For the floors and landings we used Microconcrete coating in Lead Grey colour to create a contrasting effect with the lighter coloured walls and the imposing ceiling suspended fireplace surround was hand coated with Microconcrete in Metallic Bronze finish.

Mrs Ballard has recently undertaken an extensive refurbishment and extension project at her traditional 1890s Hertfordshire farmhouse.Replacing the original windows at the front of the home as well as specifying new timber sash windows for the new extension, a stunning new front door was also included as part of the project. Mrs Ballard chose a stunning ‘Lydford’ timber front door from the Dale Joinery range, finished in the shade of ‘Chrome Green’.To complete the look at the front of her home, PVD Stainless Polished Brass door hardware from the Coastal range were specified, including the DKB192 Doctor’s Front Door Knocker, REG090 Regent Lever Door Handle and LP400 Sleeved Letter Plate. The PVD Polished Brass finish was the perfect, complementary choice to the dark green finish of the door, and suits the traditional façade.The new front door really is a statement piece, and has added an extra level of beauty to this stunning countryside property.

Whites Concrete has supplied a pre-cast concrete chamber for an 11-tonne Archimedean screw turbine installed on the banks of the River Esk in Whitby, North Yorkshire by national engineering and construction company JN Bentley. The Whites Concrete chamber has been constructed using robust Groundwall L-shaped units, to house the 2.9m diameter screw turbine. The latter will operate with up to 4 cumec with a rated capacity of 51.6KW as it generates electricity for Esk Energy (Yorkshire). Esk Energy secured funding towards the cost of the project through a community share issue.

Precast concrete Groundwall panels, designed and manufactured by Whites Concrete with a special rock face finish to blend in with existing surroundings, have replaced an integral part of a cemetery wall structure in Wigan. The 2.35m high (1m wide) concrete panels, which were formed with a bespoke liner, were installed on time and within budget by Parklands Services, a leading construction provider in the North West. Shaun Edwards, Managing Director of Parklands Services, commented: “We were very impressed with the turnaround, quality and detail of the precast panels from Whites Concrete".

Pre-cast concrete panels were used in an unusual project to carry out the ‘re- meandering' of a historically straightened section of Swindale Beck in the Lake District. Whites Concrete supplied its precast Rockwall and Groundwall panels so that Coffey Construction could quickly and efficiently form a new Coanda screen, fish pass walls and a Crump Weir to Swindale Beck, which is an upstream sub-catchment of Cumbria’s River Eden.

Pre-cast concrete panels were used in an unusual project to carry out the ‘re- meandering' of a historically straightened section of Swindale Beck in the Lake District. Whites Concrete supplied its precast Rockwall and Groundwall panels so that Coffey Construction could quickly and efficiently form a new Coanda screen, fish pass walls and a Crump Weir to Swindale Beck, which is an upstream sub-catchment of Cumbria’s River Eden.

Project: Supply and installation of 7000 m2  of internal and external GRC cladding panels using hidden fixings system at three newly build metro stations.Location:  Warsaw, PolandClient: Astaldi S.p.A.Materials used:  PLAIN, ENGRAVED and GAP GRC large format concrete panels with ‘Helping Hand’ invisible aluminium bracket system. Panels were in Rough Mist and Anthracite finish.

Washroom's off-site service allowed the design to be carefully fine-tuned prior to installation on site for this prestigious office refurbishment project. Washroom's full height Alto toilet cubicle doors were specified with a real wood veneer finish, stained to match the solid Douglas fir timber panelling in the reception area. The bespoke polished cast concrete vanity units feature integral waste bins and Tego hinged mirror units above. For the new staff shower and changing room area Washroom's full height Alto FENIX shower cubicles were installed along with Z style Forza SGL lockers.

Whites Concrete has supplied a pre-cast concrete chamber for an 11-tonne Archimedean screw turbine installed on the banks of the River Esk in Whitby, North Yorkshire by national engineering and construction company JN Bentley. The Whites Concrete chamber has been constructed using robust Groundwall L-shaped units, to house the 2.9m diameter screw turbine. The latter will operate with up to 4 cumec with a rated capacity of 51.6KW as it generates electricity for Esk Energy (Yorkshire). Esk Energy secured funding towards the cost of the project through a community share issue.

Lend Lease bagged the £70m contract to build an emergency care hospital in East Cramlington. The hospital will be the first in the county to have specialists working around the clock to ensure seriously ill or injured patients get treatment quicker. Alongside the major A&E department, the hospital includes a short-stay paediatric facility and consultant-led maternity unit. Its innovative design includes wards arranged around a central nurses' station, to enable staff to keep a closer eye on patients. Naylor Concrete supplied Hi-Spec R8 and R6 concrete lintels to Specialist Brickwork Contractor P James throughout the construction.

Client: EncircLocation: Chester, UKYear: 2023Project size: 450 m²Vebro systems: vebroscreed Industrial, vebroflex Decorative UV Plus, vebroflex Comfort UVAs part of its goal to decarbonise by 2025 by using hydrogen in its furnaces, a Chester, UK glass manufacturer has recently undergone an expansion, requiring durable, attractive flooring throughout.Encirc is a leading UK manufacturer of glass containers. Founded in 1998, the company has since grown to become one of the largest and most advanced manufacturers of its kind in Europe.Part of the Vidrala Group, Encirc is based across three sites in Northern Ireland, Italy and Chester, UK. Each year they produce more than 4 billion glass containers for leading global brands, filling many of them for retail across the UK and Europe.As part of the upgrade to the Chester facility, an extension was added that required a new flooring solution to help join the old and new areas of the facility seamlessly.A durable, practical and aesthetically pleasing floor coating solution was required to meet the needs of this modern production facility.Vebro Polymers supplied a package of polyurethane flooring materials as well as a heavy-duty industrial screed for substrate levelling.vebroscreed Industrial, applied at a nominal 10.0 mm across the 450 m2 floor area, is a deep-fill, rapid-setting and hardening, high strength, single-part, cementitious smoothing underlayment screed, that provides a durable sub-floor prior to the installation of resin finishes.vebroflex Decorative UV Plus in Charcoal Grey was chosen for the main area and entrance walkway, and vebroflex Comfort UV in RAL 7037 Dusty Grey was applied in the staff changing area and locker rooms.Both are polyurethane comfort systems, also known as liquid vinyl, are made up from multiple layers of flexible polyurethane resin installed onto a primed substrate or rubber underlay to provide a cushioned effect underfoot.Not only for these systems boast high performance, they also help to enhance the working environment. vebroflex Decorative UV Plus includes tiny polymer beads for a subtle yet attractive finish, while vebroflex Comfort UV features a soft matte finish for a contemporary aesthetic.Quest Industrial Flooring offers a wide range of industrial flooring solutions to suit the huge variety of service conditions required by the demanding industrial industry.Based in Warrington, Cheshire, the team at Quest deliver screeds, high build epoxy coatings and line-marking as well as polishing and grinding of terrazzo and polished concrete flooring.The company’s vast experience in the industrial flooring sector means they are able to offer customers expert advice on the concrete and resin flooring options available, as well as consistently install high quality floor systems on time and on budget.Their attention to detail combined with their aim to provide unrivalled customer service, means customers are supported through their projects from specification through to installation and beyond.

This innovative, smartphone accessories company chose Milliken's Comfortable Concrete for its newly refurbished offices in the heart of Cork's business district. While offering the perfect aesthetic for the building's raw industrial heritage, the product also offered luxurious underfoot comfort due to its Comfort Plus cushion backing. The cushion backing also provides this environment with great acoustic performance.

Cann Hall Skate Park in Waltham Forest, East London had been closed after the steel frame and plywood structure had fallen into disrepair. A refurbishment proposal was put together with funding from the Council’s Greenspace department, government funding secured by the Council’s youth service team and a donation from the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team. The designer chose TOPTINT coloured concrete as part of a high contrast design that would emphasise the bold geometric shapes used. Available in a wide range of colours, TOPTINT would deliver the smooth, durable finish required for the skate park surface in the bright, contrasting colours that the designer was looking for.TOPTINT coloured concretes use liquid colour pigment which is UV stable meaning that the colour will not degrade over time from natural sunlight. Also, because this liquid pigment is evenly mixed throughout the concrete, the colour resists surface wear, even in busy locations like skate parks.Read the full story at: https://tarmac.com/case-studies/coloured-concrete-for-london-skate-park/

Naylor Concrete Ltd supplied Hi-Spec, Fire Spec and Fairfaced Lintels to the 500,000 sq ft Trinity Walk project in Wakefield. Trinity Walk shopping centre opened its doors in Wakefield in May 2011. Wakefield Council described it as “the most important City Centre development for more than 20 years” Trinity Walk is a partially enclosed shopping centre with 63 stores and 1000 parking spaces. The centre contains some major anchor stores including a Sainsburys, Debenhams, Next and Asda Living.

Project: Large scale MicroConcrete installation to all the internal walls, bathroom sinks & shower and furniture in a private house Client: Private Client Materials: Ivory colour MicroConcrete coating was hand trowelled in layers to a final thickness between 2 and 3mm and wax polished to achieve a satin finish This large scale, special project showcased innovative ways MicroConcrete can be applied to interior walls, bathroom sinks & shower and furniture without a need for joins or breaks. Its smooth finish makes it ideal for a modern, minimalist design that can be easily combined with materials like wood and ceramic.

Vtec Texture Panels were specified in the room designs for the first flagship Treehouse Hotel in Marylebone, London. The existing concrete slab didn’t have a high quality finish, so Vtec’s rough concrete panels were included as part of the design. They are very light so can be used to create stunning ceilings. Following sign-off of a trial room, Vtec’s Rough Concrete Horizontal panels in Light Grey, fire resistant grade, were installed in all 95 hotel bedrooms. The team worked closely with the contractor throughout this phased project to help them deliver stunning results.

This major Eastern European construction company is located in Romania's tallest building, Sky Tower. For RPHI's clean, sharp office space, Laid Bare and Urban Drama from Milliken's iconic Comfortable Concrete 2.0 design collection has been installed to stunning effect. The installation also underfoot comfort and acoustic benefits of the product's Comfort Plus cushion backing. Photography: Andrei Tudoran

Naylor Concrete supplied Hi-Spec, Fire Spec and Stainless Steel L-Strip Lintels to the Sun Lane Leisure project in Wakefield. Sun Lane Leisure is an inspirational venue for the district built on the site of the old Sun Lane Baths and will allow Wakefield district residents to swim, get fit and stay active in a purpose built and modern facility that includes: • Six lane 25m pool with adjustable depth • 13m x 7m studio pool with adjustable depth • 100 station fitness suite • Multi-use activity studio • Health suite with steam room and sauna • 130 capacity spectator viewing area

A private landowner wanted to develop a large multi-purpose agricultural facility for both arable and potential livestock use at their farm in Leicestershire. Part of the requirement was external surfacing, which would need to be hard wearing and deliver long lasting durability in this demanding environment, including regular use by heavy agricultural vehicles. After discussions with the contractor, the solution proposed was Tarmac’s TOPFORCE fibre reinforced concrete with a combination of synthetic macro and micro fibres. TOPFORCE is a fibre reinforced, high performance concrete, that eliminates the need for some traditional reinforcement. Quicker and easier to place than traditional steel mesh reinforced concrete, TOPFORCE concrete offers excellent long-term durability and performance. This makes it ideal for heavy duty flooring or hardstanding applications. This solution would deliver a saving in both labour and material costs and avoid the budget impact of the rising cost of steel. As well as improving the durability off the finished concrete, the use of macro fibres would also improve sustainability significantly by reducing embodied carbon compared to traditional steel reinforcement.