RockMolds.com Concrete Stamps

Concrete Driveway Has ‘Hawaiian Eye’ Appeal Located in Haiku, on the Hawaiian Island of Maui, this home features a spectacular concrete driveway, entryway and other hardscaping with the look and texture of the natural lava rock indigenous to the area. But this lava did not come from the island’s legendary Haleakala volcano; instead, it came straight out of a concrete mixer. Read about this driveway and view 17 photos of the process: http://www.concretenetwork.com/ugc/top-10-2009.html

9 Steps to naturalistic Wood Veneer using concrete and Rockmolds.com rubber stamps

See the image and download brochure at http://www.rockmolds.com/learn-how/how-to-wood-veneer

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Check Rockmolds.com out on the cover of Concrete Decor magazine, June/July 2009 issue! A recent pool project utilizing Rockmolds.com concrete stamps are showcased in the water feature editorial: www.ConcreteDecor.net

Rockmolds.com feature on the Concrete Network

Life like lava rock, coral, and bamboo made from concrete

Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii! This is the feeling you get when you see concrete stamped with RockMolds.com’s lava pattern. The Hawaiian Islands are covered with lava, creating a very unique landscape; however, lava has a mind of its own, flowing wherever it pleases. David Schwartz of RockMolds.com has figured out a way to recreate the look of lava using concrete stamping.

RockMolds.com produces authentic lava rock stamps molded from the slopes of Haleakala on Maui. Schwartz’s company has perfected the lava rock look using their original stamps and the perfect mix of color. Although recreating lava is their specialty, RockMolds.com does a great deal of decorative concrete work, including vertical applications for which they use the FossilCrete system. The talent of the RockMolds.com crew can be seen in many of their projects.

Vertically stamped concrete wall with lava pattern and native Hawaiian plants.

Da Rush sign complete with lava texturing.

One recent project was Da Rush Maui. Schwartz describes this project as being incredibly fun because they got to use many different decorative concrete techniques, while still keeping a traditional Hawaiian feel. Throughout Da Rush, RockMolds.com created lava, white coral, and surfboards, all out of concrete. Native Hawaiian plants were also incorporated into the design, including tropical types of wood and bamboo.

Schwartz and his crew used concrete to create the lava pattern on the walls of the wave rider. FossilCrete vertical stamping mix with a dark brown integral color was used. Then lava stamps, along with custom native Hawaiian plant stamps, added texture to the walls. To complete the look, acid stain from Brickform was used to create the lava like color without any shine. The colors used were ebony and mahogany. Schwartz says that “the most challenging part of recreating lava with concrete is coloring the recessions and depressions. We have found out that integral color is so important for lava, it’s nearly impossible to spray acid on a vertical surface and catch all these aggressive textures.” However, Schwartz and his crew have had a lot of experience with the lava pattern and are very confident in their work.

Another challenge was creating the Da Rush sign, pictured above. The image started off very small, in fact it came off of a business card. Enlarging it proved to be a lot of work, but in the end it came out wonderfully. Schwartz explains the complicated process by saying that “the image was taken off the business card in a foam shop in CA, reproduced in 3-D form, sent over, attached to the wall with Fossilcrete, sprayed with Fossilcrete out of a hopper sprayer, hand textured to produce the water/wave effect, and hand painted all with Nature’s Palete.”

Throughout Da Rush, RockMolds.com also created benches and decorative accents that mimic weathered wood, bamboo, and coral. FossilCrete stamps and their line of stains, Nature’s Palette, were used for these portions of the project. Schwartz said that “the Nature’s Palette was perfect for the bamboo because it created a natural sheen that was very realistic.” Schwartz also said that “the wood and the bamboo were one of the most exciting parts of the project because they turned out so well…we even had people coming up and knocking on the wood to see if it was real!”

David Schwartz’s career in the decorative concrete industry really took off a few years back when he attended the World of Concrete. That is where he met Greg Price, of FossilCrete, who helped him learn a lot about vertical concrete. Ever since, RockMolds.com has used many of the FossilCrete products, and David Schwartz has become the FossilCrete representative for Hawaii and Guam. The two companies have also worked closely together to create demos at the World of Concrete. Schwartz also said that this year’s demo at the World of Concrete is not to be missed; it will be a lava surfer on which you can see RockMolds.com’s lava pattern at its best.

Rockmolds.com
David Schwartz
Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
david@rockmolds.com

Check out Rockmolds.com featured on Concrete Networks latest outrageous driveway projects! We constructed a lava paver turn around driveway, utilizing our lava stone textures. http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/concrete_driveways/design-ideas/custom-pavers.html

(1) Mix concrete with desired color pigment. Make 3-4” thick pancake. Trowel into the rough finish form of the stone.

(2) Let concrete sit until firm enough to take impression from stamp. Final trowel to smooth surface and sides.

(3) Apply a concrete releasing agent over the carved concrete. Lightly dust the entire surface with the stamping powder.

(4) Firmly press stamp onto surface of concrete, transferring the natural stone texture.  Use multiple stamps to avoid repetition.

(5) Continue stamping, overlapping as necessary and touching up seams between stamps. Stamp the sides of stone also.

(6) Let the stones cure a minimum 24 hours, then hose releasing agent off thoroughly.

(7) Apply color. Acid, alcohol, or water base concrete stains will all work. Check out your local concrete outlet for coloring options.

(8) Apply sealant. Use a natural finish, low sheen, penetrating sealant.

(9) Add plants and stone to complete your landscape.

Architectural Stone & Landscape Design magazine from 12/08 features Rockmolds.com in their concrete vertical stamping editorial. Read about this powerful trend in the stone veneer industry.

www.as-ld.com

Luxery housing trends showcases Rockmolds.com’s stamps in the latest housing landscaping trends!

http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/archive/2007/05/concrete-steppi/

Aloha, my name is David Schwartz, owner of Rockmolds.com.

Upon graduating from Washington State University in 1992 with a BS in
Landscape Architecture, I was randomly offered a free vacation to the
beautiful and exotic, magic of Maui. I am still here.

The powerful elements of rock, water and plant material that naturally
occur here, immediately made a significant impact on who I was as a
designer. Balance, flow, and intricacies of nature became part of the
layers for our creations.

I have now been involved in the design and installation of tropical,
custom landscapes on Maui for over 15 years, on some of the most beautiful
properties in the world.

It is this background that brought us into the world of concrete, and the
exciting potential this medium brought into our designs. Water features,
outdoor showers, stepping stones, patios, columns, walls, benches… for
these elements we started creating our lava stamps, with textures that are
unique with character, blending in naturally with our environment.

Rockmolds.com was created out of this passion to mimic nature as close as
possible, which fuels our excitement to add new lines and sizes of stamps.
This way we hope to meet our customer’s desire to buy outrageous textures
for any of their special projects. We are committed as a company to
provide this service.

As a designer and contractor, I believe it is mandatory to have options in
texture to sell yourself and your project.

I have watched trends in the design industry, and one that I am sure will
be making a big movement is vertical stamping. Personally I am very
excited about the possibilities associated with this technique. Any time
you can turn a plain vertical surface into stone, coral, wood, or bamboo,
with the cost effectiveness, realism, and efficiency of vertical stamping,
notice should be taken. This has become a big part of what we do.

Intention is 90% of everything. Have fun. David