Architectural Precast: Finishes - Colors, Forms, and Textures

When Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa undertook an addition project including a gymnasium, locker rooms, auditorium, a music suite, and classrooms, they turned to precast to achieve their desired aesthetic. A custom form liner was used to achieve the desired look. Mid-States Concrete partnered with Conlon Construction and provided Hollowcore Plank and Precast Wall Panels, including multiple finishes and two custom form liners.

Mid-States Concrete offers a variety of finishes, custom form liners, graphic concrete, thin brick and more. While our standard finishes include light acid wash, light sandblast, medium sandblast, heavy sandblast, light water wash, medium water wash, and heavy water wash, our Preconstruction Team is happy to discuss all finish options available for your upcoming projects.

Precast concrete comes in an (almost) unlimited array of colors, forms, and textures. Commonly used finishing techniques used when the precast concrete will remain exposed as part of the aesthetic finish include:

• As-Cast (i.e. form finish):
  This requires no additional finishing. The surface is left as is, as it comes out of the form.

• Acid-Etched:
  This process uses acid with high pressure water to etch the surface of the concrete. This usually darkens the finish and leaves a sparkle or “sugar-cube” effects.

• Abrasive Blasted (i.e. sandblasted):
  This process uses sand to abrade away the surface. This typically frosts and lightens the surface.

• Exposed Aggregate (i.e. water wash):
  This process uses a chemical surface retarder which is applied onto the forms prior to casting. The chemical retards the set of the cement so that it may be removed (usually by water blasting) the next day. This results in exposure of the aggregate while preserving its natural beauty and texture.

• Form Liner:
  Since precast concrete is cast into forms, a variety of shapes and details can be accomplished in precast concrete. Form liners can also be used, especially when repetitive patterns or unique textures are needed.

• Thin Brick:
  Thin brick can be embedded or cast into precast. Precast offers a faster, more durable, and sustainable method to build with these materials.

• Graphic Finish:
  This technology transfers patterns as a surface retarder via membrane. After concrete is cured and extracted from the form, the retarder is washed away revealing the image.

Mid-States Concrete is a PCI-certified architectural precast concrete producer. Explore examples of our finishes today.

How can we help you?

Scenic Ridge Apartments is an apartment complex in Verona, Wisc. featuring multiple buildings with underground parking. Mid-States Concrete partnered with Encore Commercial to provide Hollowcore Plank, Precast Beams, and Precast Columns for three buildings.

What are you looking forward to in 2021? We’re just two weeks into the new year, which means there are still plenty of opportunities for us to partner with you on 2021 projects.

First, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – 2020. Last year took the entire world by surprise, and the manufacturing and construction industries worked very hard to keep projects moving. With the experience of 2020 behind us, we are well-equipped to navigate 2021.

Like many teams, our team has developed safety protocols that work to keep your team and our team members safe and able to work and provide for our families. And while encouraging our team members to stay home when feeling ill - to protect themselves and other team members - has resulted in some staffing fluctuations, our team has stepped up and is dedicated to keeping production moving.

So, what projects are you working on this year? How can we be of assistance, to help ensure your project is successful?

Since 1946, we have partnered with our Customers to innovate, design and build meaningful buildings in which to live, work, learn, and play. You deserve the best, which is why we focus 99-percent of our energy on you, and only one percent on the competition. We know you could work with any number of precasters and we’re always grateful when you choose to partner with us.

According to organizations we have worked with, a good project partner encompasses a few things, like open communication (whether it is good or bad news), flexibility, reliability, quality, early involvement/upfront coordination/design assistance, problem solving skills, looking out for the best interest of the client, and, of course, fair price.

We strive to be the best partner possible on all your projects. In addition to our Face-to-Face Solution - which includes project assessment and planning, project strategy, single source installation, and completion confirmation - we have also focused on the customer experience we provide to our partners, and have set expectations for what we deliver at every point of contact with you, our customers.