Lightweight Concrete Archives

Concrete: A Lightweight Architectural Medium

Our lightweight concrete furnishings and accessories elevate a common building medium to an art form.

Raw Elements

The lightweight concrete used in Seasonal Living collections is made entirely from natural materials. The primary ingredient is Portland cement, which is a powder made from limestone and gypsum. It is combined with clean, natural sands as an aggregate material. When Portland cement is mixed with clean water, it forms a paste that coats each particle of sand. Through a chemical reaction, hydration, the paste hardens and becomes stronger.

Many types of concrete add steel, synthetic, or glass fibers to increase strength and resist fracturing. Seasonal Living lightweight concrete includes only natural ramie as a reinforcement material. A member of the nettle family, ramie has been cultivated for fiber since prehistoric times. Ramie fabric was used in ancient Egypt and in Europe during the Middle Ages. Because of its strength and durability, ramie is used in industrial sewing threads, packing materials, fishing nets, filter cloths, and fabric.

Manufacturing

Artisans in Vietnam blend the concrete mix and pour it into molds, adding ramie fiber as they go. The forms are allowed to cure. Curing is the process of providing adequate moisture, temperature, and time to allow the concrete to achieve the desired properties for its intended use. This usually means maintaining a relative humidity in the concrete of greater than 80 percent, a temperature greater than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and for a time typically ranging from three to 14 days depending on the specific application.

When the forms are cured, artisans hand-apply pigments to their surfaces and then use a multi-step sanding, waxing, and buffing process to create a Venetian-style silky touch with a low-luster finish.

Many factors influence the final patina of lightweight concrete. These can include:

Different batches of raw materials and where they are sourced
Physical handling from craftsman to craftsman
Different amount of hand pressure exerted during pigmentation
Amount of wax applied during buffing stages

Sustainability

The manufacturing process generates nearly zero CO2 emissions
All products are fully recyclable at the end of life cycle.

Notes

Do not climb, sit on, stand on, or jump on or off of lightweight concrete products. This is dangerous.
Concrete is a porous product and is prone to absorption of oils, acids and chemicals
Apply sealer that comes with product immediately to all concrete surfaces
Regularly apply Protection Spray/Liquid—at least 3-4 times per year
Do not allow spills or liquids to remain on the surface of the product
Use professional-grade furniture covers to protect product when not in use
Protect against freezing winter conditions as cautioned in the Product Care Instructions
To clean: ONLY use non-dyed regular dish cleaning soap. Mix soap with cool clean water. Use a soft, clean cloth and apply soapy water to concrete surfaces. Use a soft cloth to remove dried debris from the concrete. Do not use water jets or high-pressured hoses. Rinse concrete table with cool, clean water, and then using a soft, clean cloth, mop up all excess water and dry the concrete off. Allow to dry 5-6 hours on sunny day—longer if necessary. When furniture completely dry, re-apply Seasonal Living protective spray.
Never cook, heat, BBQ or use any form of heat on any concrete product