Introducing: Solus Outdoor
This spring, Solus is pleased to launch a new line of planters, vessels and site furnishings under the banner "Solus Outdoor." The line is highlighted by the Grate Bench, a 2007 selection for New York's Haute Green, "the best in sustainable design for the contemporary home"; and the spectacular new Hemi Firebowl.
Distinctly modern and tastefully restrained, our outdoor designs celebrate simplicity in form and purity in substance - timeless pieces cast in sleek and exceptionally durable high-performance concrete. The spring line-up includes the Hemi Firebowl, Box Planters in two sizes, the multi-use Hemi 36 vessel, and two modern garden benches.
All pieces in the Outdoor line employ post-industrial recycled content which not only helps to reduce the environmental impact of the product, but also enhances the concrete's performance characteristics. Our concrete is designed to withstand tough Canadian winters and age and weather gracefully like an outdoor product should.
Find out more at: www.solusdecor.com/outdoor
Concrete Basics
28 Days Later: The Curing of Handcast Concrete
Concrete is one of the most ubiquitous construction materials on the planet - and for good reason. It is incredibly durable and versatile, and is composed of materials that are readily available and often local. Moreover, the production of concrete is a relatively simple process: the ingredients are mixed together and, through the ensuing chemical reaction, solidify. Most of us have some familiarity with the mixing process, whether it is through seeing concrete trucks traveling to construction sites, or through making concrete at home with a shovel and a wheelbarrow; but what often goes unseen is the vital process that begins when the mixing ends: curing.
Concrete is formed when hydraulic cement reacts chemically with water and binds with a blend of aggregates. This reaction, called hydration, causes the concrete mixture to harden and continues as long as there is free moisture to react with the cement. This hydration stage is called "curing". Curing can continue on a minute level for months, even years, but most concrete substantially cures in 28 days. During this time concrete gains the bulk of its strength and loses most of its moisture content to the chemical reaction and to evaporation.
For aesthetic concrete (where the aesthetic qualities are of equal or greater importance than the structural), the initial 28-day cure is of particular importance as this is when the concrete will undergo a change in appearance - from a darker, wet-looking surface to a lighter, dry one. This is also the time when the concrete's true colour, with all of its nuances, reveals itself. Concrete cured for at least 28 days is not only stronger than younger or "greener" concrete, but it is more aesthetically stable. This means it is much less susceptible to water marking, staining and "shadowing" (a kind of discolouration that can occur when surface moisture is not allowed to escape for a sustained period of time).
Proper curing depends on the application of consistent and appropriate temperature and humidity and is crucial to the performance of the final, hardened product. Handcast concrete is essentially "prefab" concrete, in that it is manufactured completely within the controlled environment of the factory so, unlike concrete poured on site, its curing cycle is not affected by external factors such as the weather. As a result, handcast concrete is generally more consistent in both its performance and colour than its site-cast cousin.
When ordering handcast concrete, it is important to keep in mind that proper cure time is essential to the creation of a quality product and should not be rushed. After all, what is 28 days when compared to the lifetime of function and enjoyment that a handcast concrete fireplace can provide?
The Dirt on Concrete:
Fly ash is an industrial waste product of coal burning power plants that has cement-like properties. When fly ash is used to replace a percentage of the cement in concrete, it results not only in less waste in the landfill, but also higher performance concrete, and less cement used (the production of cement is an energy-intensive process). All Solus High-Performance concrete mixes contain fly ash.
What Our Clients Say:
Rob Chetner - Trasolini Chetner Construction Company:
"Over the years, I have worked together with Solus and their growing range of products, on many different projects ranging from single family homes to multi family residential projects. Each time we complete another successful project together, I become more impressed with their innovative designs, beauty and uniqueness of their products and of course, the quality. It's great to see a company like Solus grow and flourish with products that offer us such creative new designs and ideas. They are most certainly a leading edge, design driven company, which appears to be getting better and better. I wish them continued growth and success and look forward to working with their products for many years to come."
Solus recently had the pleasure of working with Trasolini Chetner and Christina Oberti Interior Design on fireplaces, stair treads and other interior elements for their project: Dwellings on 3rd and the TC office. See the finished project in our Summer Newsletter.