Walls
Jenny Lee
Concrete walls should be covered by a stud wall to allow space for mechanicals, furring strips (which provide air gaps and distance), and vapor barriers for gypsum board, plaster, or paint. Skim-coating is another process of applying a thin layer of material such as cement to even out the surface.
Concrete can come in two ways. Site-formed concrete is fluid and can be mixed on-site. It is useful for creating freeform shapes. Precast concrete is poured, reinforced, and cured in a factory that has increased strength from accelerated curing.
Testing Organizations:
American Concrete Institute - https://www.concrete.org/certification.aspx
Concrete Construction - https://www.concreteconstruction.net/business/producers/concrete-testing-laboratories_o
Relevant standards through ASTM:
C1138M - Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete
C418 - Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete by Sandblasting
C1535 - Standard Practice for Application of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
Use in Interior Setting
1. Pigmented cement the color of the earth cover the interior and exterior surfaces giving a natural feel.
2. This music school is made up of reinforced concreted that is tinted with red porphyry aggregates and adorned with hand-hammered patterns.
3. This concrete "crinkled wall" is a 3-dimensional structure that dangles from the roof to the first floor.
4. Lightweight fiber cement panels clad the exterior and are durable, resistant to temperature, and water-resistant.
5. This house features smooth 3D-printed concrete walls.
Sources
1. Knowles, E. & Miller, K. (2014) "A Comprehensive Guide for Selecting Interior Finishes."
2. https://www.hunker.com/13418441/how-to-skim-coat-concrete-walls
3. https://www.astm.org/Standards/cement-and-concrete-standards.html