Building a Faux Bois Ferrocement High Performance Concrete Pond Bridge 0001

#concrete #fauxbois #gardenbridge The first part of the building of a faux bois ferrocement bridge made with high performance concrete. This is just the basic structure. No steps, no deck. It is not yet textured to look like wood. It will be finished come spring. This is in northern Illinois and it is getting cold.

[@rodneypardensr5703]

Mr.Perry you are awesome. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning from a great master. You have inspired me to the point that I plan to try my hand at bench making next spring and from there who knows. Thank you for being such a blessing.

[@dperry428]

Thanks, but you give me far too much credit. I'm an amateur hobbyist just showing others how to do some home projects with what I've learned. The concrete mixes are as close to the "secret", "proprietary" mixes that others offer for sale at greatly inflated prices as I can get. Using my background in science, I simply did a lot of research and experimentation to discover what others want to keep secret.

[@JanColdwater]

You are so talented and creative! I so enjoy watching your creations come to life on your videos! Amazing! The chipmunks are adorable!

[@HeritageStoneworks2]

Every time I watch or re-watch your videos I learn something new. You're awesome and your videos are goldmines of valid hard to find, information. Keep it up!!!

[@cdp200442]

Really enjoy your videos. You inspired me to do my chain length fence using your techniques. Thank you from Minnesota

[@mariadoceucalhanas3021]

How wonderful, many congratulations, I was looking for some time an example of these to make a pergola for my garden, thank you for showing, good continuation of work

[@alanaoleanderandfig9078]

This is inspiring work! So beautiful!!!

[@georgemaze7926]

Beautiful garden, thanks

[@doghairdontcarelindaniel7531]

Chipmunks......I love it. U r so kind. No chips here in Houston but I have raised several squirrels. They r awesome to be around.

[@dperry428]

Yes, they can be fun to have around. The one I call One-eye in this video was killed by a cat. I'm now out to remove that cursed killer once-and-for-all. When I catch him, he's going to become a mouser on a farm about 20 miles from here.

[@divalea]

@@dperry428 Oof. Glad you're going to put kitty to work where they'll be appreciated.

[@dperry428]

??? I don't understand.

[@mrcocomarla6010]

Thank you very useful! Best regards from Romania!

[@elliotazus6258]

Again I'm very impressed!

[@fbrox7260]

You are truly inventive I love what you have transformed your backyard into

[@jeanniewinters847]

Can't wait for spring😎😎😎

[@dperry428]

Me, too.

[@westwoodsidestudios7551]

Bravo, Sir. Inspirational.

[@josephrodrick6451]

You are a true Artist . . . Absolutely love your work, and videos . . . Wish I could I lived next door to you, so I could be like your apprentice . . . Maybe you can format a video classroom series . . . That would be Awesome. I would certainly invest . . . Or maybe an online virtual class . . . Nonetheless, thank you for your footage, hreatly appreciated

[@dperry428]

Thank you for the comments, but I'd like to know what I could possibly do in more videos to provide information that I haven't already done. Have you watched my other videos? I pretty much detail everything I have done. What am I missing?

[@josephrodrick6451]

dperry428 I apologize sir, the more I watch your videos, the more i find that I've missed something . . . Something very detailed . . . Please forgive me . . . I am certain I have not yet viewed all your videos but i am anxious to do so, for I am certain that i will find answers there. See the first video of yours that i viewed was not in its sequel order, as I should have viewed it. I jave since followed your channel to find so much more . . . Thank you ever so much

[@dperry428]

No need to apologize. I was curious what I've missed. I'm also always happy to answer questions.

[@nicholaslacovara2381]

Amazing work.

[@ninfasumrall634]

BEAUTIFUL WORK AND TALENT!!!♥️♥️♥️

[@markpalmer9254]

lOVE YOUR WORK PERRY. GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A TUTORIAL ABOUT YOUR MIX FORMULAS VS A BOUGHT PREMIX FOR MAKING FAUX ROCK WALLS AND FOR A WATER FEATURE

[@dperry428]

I'm not sure what you mean by "bought premix"? If you mean the bagged stuff bought at home improvement stores like Menard's, Lowes, or Home Depot, my mix is much stronger, durable and water impervious. The bagged mixes in stores are also a mystery as to their specific contents such as sand/cement ratios, so I can't really do a comparison. If you mean the prepared additives such Kirtbag and other "proprietary" mixes, I simply can't compare them as I have never used them and have no knowledge of what is in them, so I can't compare what I don't know.

[@smallhomegarden1040]

Thank u so much

[@jkthegoldeneagle]

A fascinating series of videos. I was amazed how good a chain link fence turned into a stone wall. Don't let the trolls bother you. They are on every site on the internet unfortunately. These videos are very well done however a wireless microphone clipped on your shirt would be nice.

[@dperry428]

Wireless mics are nice, but they also have to be powered, both sending mic and receiver. I have enough problem just keeping the battery charged on the camera. I don't even know if my cheap video camera has an audio input.

[@CharliR63]

looks awesome... can't wait until your spring... I'm in Australia so we're just coming into winter so I guess I don't have much longer to wait (eagerly I might add) for your fabulous bridge to be finished... bless your creaking bones...

[@dperry428]

After a very cold beginning to spring, we're finally getting warm enough weather to be outside. I'm almost finished cleaning up the yard and should be getting back on the bridge project in about two weeks. We're about a month behind, temperature-wise, from where we should be.

[@bobbilynngibson302]

Thank you for the recipe, the example, and all the tips. So appreciated. I'm so excited to get started on my little projects. Can I clarify the ingredients? . 1 part coarse sand (ie: 4 Cups) 1 part fine sand (ie: 4 Cups) 2 parts Portland cement type 1 (ie: 8 Cups) CSA 1/2 Cup (Used to quicken setting time and add strength) Metakaolin 2 Cups (used to add strength) Xypex about 2 Tablespoons (used for waterproofing) Handful of PVA fiber - recommends 25 microns thick (not glass fiber and maybe eliminate fibers on final layer!!!) . Acrylic mix 3 parts water:1 part acrylic (about 5 and 1/3 Cups of mix) Also can add Silica Fume for strength and will help cement to self heal (not used here because too sticky for underside of project.)

[@dperry428]

Mixes vary according to use. For structural elements, the basic mix is 3 parts sand to 1 part cement. I always like to use 10% metakaolin and 8 to 10% silica fume, percentage being of the cement content. So whatever the amount of cement that is used in the mix, the additives are a percentage of that amount. I may then use 2 parts sand to 1 part cement for additional layers and 1 part sand to 1 part cement for finish layers. I increase the metakaolin to 20% and eliminate silica fume if I have to add the mix on the underneath surfaces where the usual mix would be prone to fall off. The use of different sizes of sand and additives where possible is to increase what is called particle packing, which not only makes the mix stronger, but also water resistant. The acrylic dilution depends on what brand acrylic you are able to obtain. I buy acrylic that is 50% solids and dilute it 3 parts water to 1 part acrylic. If the stuff you buy is only 23% solids, you'd only dilute it 2 parts water to 1 part acrylic. The idea is to have at least 6% to 12% acrylic in the liquid. The most important thing is to watch how much liquid is added. The less liquid, the more it will work like sculpting clay and the stronger it will be.

[@bobbilynngibson302]

@dperry428 😊 thank you. Very helpful. 😊

[@tomkostro5439]

Very nice!!!!!

[@jerichowsm]

I think your a genius, you take cement, rebar, and chicken wire and turn them into a piece of artwork.by the way I've just subscribed, keep up the great work I've learnt a lot.

[@dperry428]

Thank you. It's not genius. Make a good mix and anyone can do it. This technique is used in third world countries to make water storage tanks.

[@sherrie919]

you have the best ideas......wow

[@dalefrank4149]

Your poor prayer bones, I feel for you, also your back, after all my years crawling around and bending over concrete this 75 year old feels it everyday, but, use it or lose it, right? I've really learned alot about concrete mixes from you, more then I ever did from the ready mix outfits!

[@dperry428]

I'll be 75 tomorrow. I hurt a lot worse in winter when I have to sit around fixing clocks. I can't wait for warm weather so I can get back outside and finish that bridge. Thanks for the comments. I've sure learned a lot, too, about concrete over the last few years. Haven't used ready mix since I did my front porch in 1976

[@IngiTheKraken]

Love it!

[@dperry428]

Thank you. Please watch parts 2, 3 and 4 found in the playlist.

[@maconfacesfacepainting8093]

Hi- fascinated w your ferro cement system and ingredients!! Please tell me about differences of using PVA fibers vs fiberglass in mix. I think I bought glass fibers- do I use it same way ? Or better to not use it?

[@dperry428]

I like the PVA fibers because they are not only mechanical reinforcers, but they also form a chemical bond with the mix to make it less likely to pull out. They are also thinner and don't show on the surface like glass fibers can. Other than that, glass fibers will work. You might like to eliminate them in a final coat so they don't show on the surface.

[@edwardmurray2284]

amazing strength

[@dperry428]

Very strong. Mix is modeled after work at University of Michigan.

[@katiekern6570]

Beautiful.

[@rickyjordan5723]

If you can do all that you do, you can certainly pick up welding. I taught myself to weld and come to find out, I'm really good at it.

[@peteraltavista7508]

Fellow concrete artist here. Really enjoy your work and the discussion. After learning about Xypex from you, and checking it out, I am questioning what acrylic offers the mixture. The pozzolans make the mixture dense via the smaller particle size, and they react with calcium hydroxide and unhydrated cement particles. Per the Xypex FAQ's, during the cement hydration process, Xypex’s active chemicals not only react with calcium hydroxide and unhydrated cement particles but also with various metal oxides and mineral salts, regardless of the cement type used. Given that these particles and molecules all need to be in close proximity for these desirable reactions to occur, I now have concerns that acrylic gets in the way and may actually be a hindrance. Just a guess on my part, but acrylic seems unnecessary at best and possibly problematic.

[@dperry428]

When I first started using Xypex, I asked myself the same questions. I was concerned about the acrylic interfering with the Xypex. I read extensively with varied opinions from other sources. Then, I learned that not only Xypex, but other manufacturers of integral waterproofing also offered other products that actually recommend mixing with acrylic. Xypex's product is a little obscure (Megamix I and II). Their acrylic is call Xycrylic. In the end, my reasoning was: Acrylic alone does NOT do the job of waterproofing for objects or pond walls completely in water. Adding Xypex with acrylic DID completely waterproof those same objects. Acrylic is not added just for waterproofing, but also for its other advantages of workability, bonding of one layer to another and, in particular, its eliminating the need for extensive 7-day water curing and prevention of evaporative water loss from the mix. Since incorporating both acrylic and Xypex a number of years ago, I have seen NO adverse effects. For me, the mix works and I won't change it. Others, such as yourself, may think and do otherwise. I certainly don't have a monopoly on the truth. You need to do what is comfortable for you and what works for you. I simply know what works for me.

[@deltasquared7777]

@@dperry428 You might want to look into Kryton admix for waterproofing concrete --it is impressive. A civil engineer bridge designer friend recommended it to me.

[@dperry428]

@@deltasquared7777 Same stuff. There are literally dozens of manufacturers of crystalline waterproofing products. They all contain essentially the same materials but may vary slightly from one manufacturer to another. They all claim to contain "proprietary" ingredients as though they have the magical formula that sets them apart from the others. In fact, there is little difference from one to another.. They all make EXACTLY the same claims. Here are a few manufacturers: XYPEX, PENETRON, KRYTON'S KRYSTOL, VANDEX, CRISTALPROOF, GREENSEAL, INCAP, CONTITE, CEM-COAT CW PLUS, AQUAFIN Check out their literature and you'll see they sell the same stuff.

[@HurstHorns]

@@dperry428 wow so that is the best for waterproofing for a water feature? And are any reasonable in price?

[@dperry428]

@@HurstHorns They're all expensive, but you get what you pay for. Beats heck out of redoing work that deteriorates after 17 years as I'm doing now with the original pond construction done without crystalline waterproofing.

[@grantralston4805]

Another great project of yours to follow. I am in a milder climate and can still apply mortar - sand topping mix + additional PC + 1:3 acrylic applied to metal lath for a pond liner. How is your older acid stain colors holding up? I am hoping to do that in the Spring.

[@dperry428]

The acid stains weather to a subtler color that is less intense and more natural. In areas where there is a lot of traffic, such as the tops of flat rocks where kids stand and on the path the color wears off the surface and remains only in the deeper irregularities. It leads to a lighter, though still natural, look.

[@luisantonioarcanjopereiraa9402]

Adorei essa obra de arte!!!

[@dperry428]

Obrigado

[@relaxingrealsounds2164]

After watching your amazing videos, I was thinking of making my future plastic culvert look like either rock or wood. The outside of the plastic has ridges but it fairly smooth. I don't have any pictures yet because the project is just starting. What would I need to do to apply the concrete to plastic? Thank you for your time.

[@dperry428]

Unfortunately, concrete does not stick to most plastics. You could, however, attach wire mesh with rustproof (e.g. stainless steel) screws and then apply the concrete.

[@relaxingrealsounds2164]

thank you for the guidance

[@ЮрийДаниленко-з9р]

Очень красивый прэкт,молодец дедуля👍👏

[@dperry428]

спасибо, внучка

[@ЮрийДаниленко-з9р]

dperry428 да нет,я сам дедуля,аватарку надо поменять

[@dperry428]

понял

[@ЮрийДаниленко-з9р]

dperry428 вы где живёте?

[@dperry428]

Северный Иллинойс, США

[@ACryin_Shame]

we are trying your method with a couple chairs. any advice for a couple newbies starting to faux bois? I made a stump so far. he turned out really cute

[@dperry428]

Only advice I have is to not cheat on the materials and end up with something that's not safe and durable. Why are you not sharing what you've done on your channel?

[@ACryin_Shame]

@@dperry428 I definitely should try to do that with my next project. we are using an old metal lawn chair that we then covered with the metal wire. Mick, was made with a bucket, the wire and old baby clothes ( how he got his name) dipped in concrete and then 2 layers outside one inside to cover all the wire fencing. I don't want any frogs trapped in there or shredded up. So we decided to add chairs to ol mick and he can be the table. Not attached of course. Playing with concrete is really fun. I made a baby trex and 2 broken eggs for the yard, and it all started with a bird bath. Thank you for your detailed videos. I've been watching many and yours has the best detail. Hubby, thought I really lost it one night when I was looking up how to bend and tie rebar. I don't know how to weld either. 😆😆😆 I changed my profile picture to me. Hopefully, you see him

[@dperry428]

He's cute.

[@cindeebee2934]

Oh my you sound just like me. My husband is very confused till my projects are finished, then I can tell he hadn't listened to my many hours of conversation about my next project.lol. Now I'm researching the welding part...

[@nancyolivera7453]

Fabuloso , que ingenio !!

[@a4eyg32]

I love it you’re so talented and I love the little guys, are they pets? And what are they? Oh I see in the other comments they are squirrels x

[@dperry428]

No, they are not pets. They just know I feed them peanuts. They are called chipmunks.

[@sergioramio]

how much money did you save on your fence by doing it with concrete?

[@dperry428]

As opposed to doing it with what? The fence cost me approximately $1800. It is roughly 73 feet long, 4 feet high or 6 feet high if you include the plastic lattice extension. Use that to compare with the cost of what you would use as an alternative.

[@sergioramio]

@@dperry428 thanks and good work

[@LorraineHutch]

Those squirrels are so cute

[@dperry428]

I'm sorry to say that One-Eye didn't make it through the winter. There's a new one that's moved in to his old habitat. I'll really miss One-Eye; he was my favorite.

[@phoenixtake2]

I wonder if there is a way to make realistic flowers in concrete? I just keep seeing flowers trailing over your bridge.

[@dperry428]

Anything that can be sculpted in clay can be sculpted in concrete. My plan is to finish the bridge in the spring by making the elements look like tree branches and then plant live ivy plant to grow up and on the concrete branches.

[@professorm4171]

I've finished my bog filter to my pond. The inlet is some PVC connections with rubber washers and sealed with polyurethane seal, basically a DIY bulkhead. But it's leaking. I've tried sanding the concrete down so the washers have good contact with the concrete but it doesn't really. Any ideas how to work with the inlet?

[@dperry428]

Are you saying that you have a pvc pipe going through a concrete filter wall? If so, I'd roughen the pvc pipe that penetrates the wall and use a a hydraulic "water-stop" cement to seal it to the concrete wall. That kind of cement expands as it cures. Secondly, underneath each rubber washer, place a plastic or metal washer and adhere it to the concrete using marine epoxy such as this www.amazon.com/dp/B00KH62K50/ref=asc_df_B00KH62K505281544/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00KH62K50&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198115849086&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5365903968633237590&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021517&hvtargid=pla-348703465422. As an alternative to marine epoxy, go to a pet shop and buy some silicone aquarium sealant. All this will be futile if your concrete is not waterproofed. You can waterproof the concrete by using a crystalline waterproofer such as Xypex Concentrate that is applied to the surface of existing concrete.

[@dperry428]

I also might add that you don't say whether your DIY bulkhead had a means to compress the rubber washers.

[@professorm4171]

I had a PVC pipe in the wall but I hammered it out. Yes, the walls are treated with Xypex, in the walls and and a slurry coating. It holds water but is leaking at the inlet. I have a rubber washer again the wall, a zinc washer, and then PVC threaded coupling to compress. The problem is the walls aren't 100% true, hard to do by hand. So the washers aren't 100% against the walls. The filter is a round cylinder btw. I think take it apart and maybe put a a fresh coat of concrete at the inlet and put the bulkhead back in while wet, minus the rubber. That way, I can have a true surface for a good seal.

[@dperry428]

I think by putting hydraulic cement in the gap between the pipe and the concrete and making a "true" surface for the rubber gasket by cementing a zinc washer to the concrete surface with marine epoxy, the rubber gasket will seal very well.

[@professorm4171]

Oh, good idea. The epoxy would work better than concrete.

[@professorm4171]

I'm about to add color to my concrete project. I'm thinking of using an acrylic paint stain over the concrete. I'm avoiding the acid stains because of cost and the colors are too vibrant for me. I know the acrylic paint isn't permanent but would adding cement to the stain make it more permanent? I could use a sealer too I suppose.

[@dperry428]

I don't know. Since acid stain is diluted at least 1 to 1 and a gallon is about $50, that makes it $25 a gallon, about what I'd pay for acrylic paint. You can subdue the acid stain color by diluting it more and it fades over time. If you're going to make a cement coating with coloring in it, why not use the integral colors made for concrete?

[@professorm4171]

Thanks, I'll try the concrete colorants. It's cheap enough. I'm using several colors to make it look natural so buying several acid stain colors isn't very cost efficient.

[@dperry428]

You might like to check out this site where I now buy by acid stain. www.concretecamouflage.com/ They sell in a number of sizes, down to about 8 ounces. They also offer sample kits where you can choose a number of colors in small quantities. If your project isn't extremely big, that might work for you.

[@professorm4171]

Thanks. My project is small so this works.

[@supersans6100]

I am at Genoa elementary school and I came here yesterday

[@dperry428]

I hope you enjoyed the visit and learned some things about ecosystems with your teacher and class. Maybe your class can walk through again during the winter and spring to see how the pond ecosystem changes through the seasons. You are also welcome to come back with your parents to show them what you learned.

[@2012DVSONE]

Art

[@dperry428]

No, my name's Don, but I have a friend whose name is Art.

[@2012DVSONE]

dperry428 lol art you make

[@dperry428]

Thanks for getting my style of humor and for the comment.

[@3dvisiongamer213]

I am making a waterproofing layer and saw some of your posts elsewhere. Do you still use silica fume with xypex and metakaolin? They overlap in action a lot but do have the different particle sizes like you said to reduce pore size. Can you feel the PVA fibers at all?

[@dperry428]

Yes, I use all three, plus, depending on circumstances, add some CSA cement additive (Buzzi Unicem). The metalkaolin and silica fume are chosen for the particle sizes with portland cement, with metalkaolin being 10x smaller than the cement particles and silica fume being 100x smaller. They are also each pozzolans. This makes for a very dense concrete and most people would find the impermeability more than sufficient. I only remove silica fume when I need to apply the mix to the underside of a construction as silica fume makes the mix quite sticky and hard to place in those areas. I add the Xypex, not for its particle size, but for the fact that it produces crystals to block any remaining porosity AND for the fact that it creates a self-healing factor for small cracks, should any develop, by crystallizing across the crack up to 4/10ths of a millimeter. This helps keep small cracks from becoming big cracks. The CSA is added to control set time and to take advantage of its expansive character on setting that compensates for the character of portland cement to shrink on setting. The PVA fibers are only 25 microns thick or about 1/4 that of a human hair, so they cannot be felt.

[@اراكيلتحفة-ح3ز]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@LeoFreemanAUST]

Thank you very much for your detailed video! It's great to see how the "nitty-gritty" details get done; sometimes it's frustrating to see videos showing only the finished product. I was wondering, when it is hard to get cement to stick to the underside of a structure, could you perhaps drape some cement-slurry-soaked cloth to act as a backing-board under the chicken wire, to stop the mortar from fall through?

[@dperry428]

The problem isn't that it falls through the chicken wire, as it is very easy to put it on the top of the wire. The problem is strictly on the underside, where gravity works against the heavy mix staying in place. One solution would be to make a lightweight mix by substituting perlite or vermiculite for some of the sand, but that would compromise finished strength. It is very simple to make a very sticky mix, but it also sticks to rubber gloves and everything else, so it pulls out by sticking to the gloves or trowel. I had to find a balance of what would work and the balance was in reducing or eliminating the silica fume from the mix placed on the undersides and increasing the metakaolin contenet while decreasing the water. I finally got a mix that truly was like working with modeling clay and simple wet gloves kept it from sticking to the gloves. Silica fume makes a very sticky, sometimes nearly unworkable mix, but its extremely small particle size makes for better particle packing and a strong, dense, waterproof finished product. The other problem, of course, is concrete changes in its characteristics with changes in temperature and humidity. What works one day may not work the next if the weather changes. In this video, one day I was working with temperatures at 59 degrees and other days it was in the 90's. So, I'm learning to adjust the mix contents with changes in temperature. Your suggestion of using slurry-saturated cloth (canvas, burlap, etc) is a good one for use in art sculpture work, but would not be a good idea in a structural element such as this bridge where maximum strength is a goal.

[@LeoFreemanAUST]

Thanks for these hints! I really must try using Acrylic additives you mentioned, as I would love to give the cement a more clay-like consistency, and to be self-curing, though I don't know if chemical self-curing is a reality yet (?)

[@dperry428]

I don't know what you mean by "self-curing". If you mean self-healing, in which concrete can heal its own cracks, it most assuredly does with the right additives. There are several approaches, one which has been around since the 1940's and one that is very new. The old one, which I use is the addition of a crystalline waterproofer, of which there are many brands. I personally use Xypex. Look it up. It will self-heal cracks up to 4/10th of a millimeter, keeping small cracks from becoming big cracks. The newer approach is through the addition of a special bacterium, which means the concrete is virtually alive. www.cnn.com/2015/05/14/tech/bioconcrete-delft-jonkers/index.html

[@LeoFreemanAUST]

Thanks for this info! I have heard of the Xypex range. Actually, by "self-curing" I meant "just-place-it-and-forget-it" - ie. no need to keep it wet in order for it to cure. I'm fairly sure this technology isn't quite there yet.

[@dperry428]

Acrylic emulsion in the mix water is a very effective curing agent. The only times i cover my concrete is when the fresh concrete will be in direct sun with high temperatures or very windy conditions. The acrylic in the mix is very effective at retaining the water for hydration. Gone are the days of 7-day wet curing.

[@WildDivaNymph]

What kind of cement mix do you use for faux bois? And which sculpting tools would you recommend?

[@dperry428]

The cement I use is portland cement. I used to use masonry cement in my mixes but, since I started using metakaolin and silica fume, the masonry cement made the mix too sticky, so I now use portland type 1.

[@dperry428]

Sorry, forgot about tools. I use a simple table fork, a piece of broken plastic hair comb, a razor knife, feather wire (tool used in clay sculpture) and a soft bristle brush to soften the harsh marks made by the tools. Of course, there's also a margin trowel and nitrile-gloved hands.

[@sjr7822]

In my 'likes' I was wonder what device was used to bend the rebar

[@dperry428]

The open end pipe of a rebar hickey

[@xtremeflyfishingcom]

Hi! I have watched your videos on my search for a clay-like concrete for building my garden waterfall. I will make gfrc panels that I will join together with a mix that is clay-like. I will try this mix you are using here. One question though, you use Xcypex in this mix. I looked it up, and it looks like it is a milky liquid, but in your video it looks like you are using a powder? Could you please tell me the full name on the product you use? Also is this a necessary additive when using acrylic in the mix you think? Thank you for your work :-)

[@dperry428]

Xypex is a company that makes crystalline waterproofing for concrete. The product I'm using is Xypex Admix C-500. I've also used Xypex Concentrate, a product used to waterproof existing concrete. Both are gray powders. I don't know what you looked up, but the only Xypex product that is a milky white liquid is their acrylic additive called Xypex Xycrylic. Xypex is only one of many companies that manufacture crystalline waterproofing. Others include Penetron, Kryton, Aquafin, Sika, and literally dozens of others. Search for crystalline waterproofing and you'll see what I mean. All these products are made essentially the same and are based on a product that was invented by a Dane in the 1940's called Vandex. I use it in basically everything I make out of concrete now, not only for its waterproofing characteristics, but for its ability to make concrete self-healing. It works by growing insoluble crystals when water contacts it. The crystals plug the pores that make concrete porous, but also grow those same crystals into small cracks that may develop, keeping the small cracks from becoming bigger cracks. Only you can decide how far you want to go in making sure your project is waterproof. Concrete is, by its nature, porous. Making my mix with metakaolin, silica fume and acrylic goes a long, long way to reducing porosity; the crystalline waterproofing admix assures that any remaining porosities are eliminated.

[@dperry428]

Just another thought for you. When you make GFRC panels, you likely will be using a water-reducing agent or superplasticizer. These products reduce the amount of water needed to make you mix and it is excess water that creates the porosity of concrete in the first place. That's why those panels tend to be relatively waterproof. Crystalline waterproofing additive would make them more so.

[@xtremeflyfishingcom]

Thank you for getting back to me. I did not see any silica fume in your mix? Do you think the mix you use here: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6W2iKh4fsiXkMU , will be suitable for panels? Or would you reccomend another mix for this? Is there a substitutt for metakaolin? It is horrebly expencive here in Norway, 170 usd for a 50lbs bag. Regarding the xypex, i know we have the Sika brand here if I cannot get the xypex. Basicly this is where I saw the use of panels, m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ6ThXWAlNimmtk ,and tought it was a good idea in my case, for making a decent waterfall without pouring tons and tons of concrete in my back yard. But they do of course not tell what they put in the concrete to make panels and the Clay-like concrete for patching the panels together. I will spend the coming autumn and winter to make plenty of panels in different sizes and shapes and start building next spring. So I have some time to read up and learn. Any thoughts is welcomed, ss I have no experience with concrete, and this very much a trial and error project😊 sorry for the long post.

[@dperry428]

Regarding silica fume in this video. Silica fume makes the mix very sticky; so much so that it was difficult to place on the underside of the bridge supports. It would stick so well that it also stuck to the nitrile gloves I use and pulled out when I removed my hands. It was difficult to make a clay-like mix as well. So, I used silica fume in the mix on the upper parts of the framework and did not use it in the mix that went on the underside. I increased the metakaolin instead to about 20%. Keep in mind that the purpose of using metakaolin and silica fume is two-fold; to use the particle-size differences of cement, metakaolin and silica fume to create particle-packing, which results in a very dense, impermeable mix and to take advantage of the pozzolanic nature of both metakaolin and silica fume that dramatically increases the strength of the mix. People use other materials to produce the same results. You'll have to research what is available to you to create the same effects. Fly ash, blast furnace slag, marble dust, fine silica sand, diatomaceous earth (DE), powdered pumice and other fine-grained silicates aluminates and carbonates have been used to create the graded series of particulates that create the particle-packing that make for a dense mix. Some are also pozzolanic; others are not. I have no experience in using those other mineral additives -- only what I have read. The panels in the video are produced by using rubber (latex and polyurethane) molds to cast impressions of real stone in GFRC. The process makes for quick construction by a commercial enterprise, but is not as easy as they make it look. I'd suggest you consider an easier, much more flexible approach to making you waterfall. Simply build a framework of reinforcing rods (rebar), tie wire mesh to the framework and fill the mesh with a high-strength mix. You might also consider purchasing a commercial "carving" mix that would already contain the ingredients to give you the strong mix you want. I don't have any idea what you would have available in Norway, but you might like to contact people who make concrete countertops and see what mixes they use, sell or can suggest.

[@xtremeflyfishingcom]

Thank you for your input! I do know we have cheap fly ash, so I´ll try to find out if it shares some of the same properties as metakaolin. What I do like about the panel idea is the dramatic ragged stone features. But I guess you are right. I will try a small scale test this autumn, and see if it works for me. All the best!

[@HurstHorns]

What exactly makes it clay like? Is it the metakaolin?

[@dperry428]

Metakaolin, higher cement content, acrylic admix and lower water content

[@HurstHorns]

The metakaolin is very expensive to order and have shipped, can't find anyone around San Antonio that carries it, if its that vital an ingredient I may have to just bite the bullet on the $50 shipping, really cant afford $90 to have it sent here.

[@dperry428]

Call these people and find the closest distributor to you: www.metakaolin.com/

[@HurstHorns]

@@dperry428 Thanks so much for responding to your watchers lol, do you think this is what those guys like, stonemakers put in their concrete to make it so easy to shape and hold its form so well? Have you watched those guys youtube videos? What those guys do and create with concrete is beyond belief

[@HurstHorns]

I'm very new to concrete mixtures besides the traditional Quikrete I understand from some videos I watch that doing a scratch coat seems like a good idea but then also people use the bonding agent brushed on so when layering, it's kind of confusing which is the best technique as far as that goes, just preferance i suppose.

[@randomstuffaustralia4074]

Must cost a lot tho ?

[@dperry428]

Depends on what you consider a lot. Since I work on multiple projects at a time, I can't give a definitive cost of this particular project. I would wager that its cost is not much more than had I used pressure-treated lumber. If you watched the videos on my fence project, which contains many times the materials content, you'll see that the cost of that project was about $1800. The cost of these projects is not in money, but in time and labor.

[@bartgiles1068]

Do your squirrel friends have names

[@dperry428]

Yes, there's "One-Eye" who is missing his right eye and lives under the stream with an opening under one of the bridge arches, "Red", who has an auburn patch of hair on his rear quarters and lives under the walkway in front of the back gate, "Whitey", who has a patch of white hair behind each ear and lives under the deck, and "Stump", who is missing half his tail and lives under the neighbors front porch. My favorite is "One-Eye" as I've known him for at least 3 years. They are chipmunks or ground squirrels. My wife has a favorite fox squirrel named "Mama", a female who begs for peanuts from her at the front door each morning.

[@bartgiles1068]

Very nice thanks

[@asulliv1954]

Look at that you are being supervised by a chipmunk it's telling you to twist from left to right not that way!There you go again Mr.Perry another job well done you make all ure work look so real the animals can't tell the difference!!100% again

[@J.Cameron.Stuart.Adams.]

No need to work faster. You sound like me taking to all the animals. My spouse and neighbors think I'm nuts. But I enjoy them so long as they stay out of my crawlspace and attic. The only time I get irritated is when they pull up freshly planed flowers and such because I unknowingly planted on top of their stash. It happens a lot in the large planters on my deck. We had falcons move into our developments large tree filled park, behind my house, three years ago. Since then the crows have not come around much. They've also managed to chase away all of the beautiful resident birds within just a few months. It seemed as soon as the young were out of the nest, they all packed their bags and moved out. With the exception of the Blue Jays. For some reason these falcons don't eat the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays have flourished. They were even nesting on the ground in one of our vacant rock planters. Sadly the falcons have occasionally nabbed a squirrel running across the top of the fence. I've only seen this in the spring when they have chicks to feed with no other food options readily available. Peregrine falcons are amazing birds. But if I had to choose, I would rather have the many species of colorful, singing, and active resident birds back. At least they eat the bugs. And sound better than the non-stop sun up to sun down high pitched screams for food. What made me go on about all of that? Ah yes. Talking to the chipmonks, squirrels, and other wildlife in the garden. I think others talk to animals as well. They just don't admit to it. Hope you're back at it enjoying spring. Cheers from Seattle

[@dperry428]

If spring ever really gets here. It's freezing tonight, but going to get warmer for at least a few days. I can't get back to work on the bridge until I get the leaves cleaned up that didn't get done last fall because of wet, cold weather. I'm already a month behind in getting the garden and pond going. We've had the coldest April on record here in northern Illinois. At least the chipmunks remember me. They came right up to me the first time I was out with peanuts.

[@J.Cameron.Stuart.Adams.]

dperry428 That bites. Hopefully the thaw will start real soon for y'all. And for the Chipmunks too. Their food store must be depleted by now. It must be like Christmas each time they see you with a handful of nut. Or when they find a stash of one eye's food he couldn't locate last spring. Haha Are the grandkids old enough to earn a few bucks picking up leaves? Can't beat the affordability of child labor. For others reading this post: I am referring to minor family members only. I would never advocate for child laborers in China or elsewhere.😎. Stay warm professor. Cheers from Seattle. Cameron

[@dperry428]

My 4 year-old granddaughter "helps" grandpa and I love it, but it doesn't make much of a dent. The others are so busy with doing well in school and playing on sports teams, they have virtually no time to do anything else.

[@2talk510]

26:45 is charming..

[@dperry428]

That was One-Eye. He was missing his right eye. He died last year. I miss him. Now, there are 4 others that come to see me.

[@2talk510]

@@dperry428 Oww.. its such an amazing thing when we make friend with this lovely little friend.GBU sir

[@حسينالعربي-ص5ظ]

👍👍👍👍