Concrete Characteristics
Educe Design has created a high-performance concrete mix by combining cutting-edge ingredients with the finest natural materials. Our concrete stands out from what you typically encounter, boasting remarkable compression and flexural strength. This “liquid stone” enables us to explore innovative design possibilities, resulting in lightweight and delicate forms. Since our products are crafted from natural materials, each piece is unique, featuring distinct visual patinas, color variations, surface textures, and air pockets. These characteristics are inherent to the material and its handcrafted process; they do not compromise the product’s structural integrity and are not considered defects. Every Educe product is one-of-a-kind, exuding beauty and gaining character over time.
Please note: Some of these characteristics are dependent on moulding and casting processes that vary between products and custom projects, feel free to enquire for more information.
Colour Variation and Patina: During the casting process, colour and cement particles may settle in unexpected ways, resulting in unique surface colour variations. As a result, no two products are identical, and it is uncommon for concrete to appear as a solid block of colour.
Bug Holes: As the concrete is mixed and poured, air can become trapped in the mixture, leading to “bug holes” on the surface. While all internal bug holes are repaired to avoid cleaning problems, most occur on the exterior of the piece. These exterior bug holes are regarded as a natural characteristic of our products.
Bleed: Bleed refers to the movement of water as the concrete settles in the mold. As excess water rises from the mixture, it creates a spider web-like texture on the surface. This water can carry finer particles, such as pigments, resulting in color variations. This phenomenon occurs only on the exterior of the product.
Flow Lines and Swirls: As the concrete is hand-poured into our moulds, it can create swirls and lines due to its fluid nature. These variations often result in a subtle surface texture, which is a natural characteristic of the material.
Marbling: Marbling occurs as the concrete settles into the mold. It results from the fluid movement of higher and lower density particles settling into distinctive patterns, creating variations in color and texture. This effect is present only on the exterior of the product.
Mould Seam Lines: Depending on the design of our moulds, some of our products may display seam line marks where the mould sections are joined together. While these seams are polished away, they can still result in variations in surface appearance and texture.