I was recently in Florida, art directing the placement and finishing of the concrete flatwork, for the latest wing of The Morse Museum… The Daffodil Terrace. The Morse Museum is focused primarily on the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. We were happy to be back, as we had previously produced the concrete floors of the last wing… The Chapel. This gave us a chance to renew old acquaintances and review the performance of our work.
The Tiffany Chapel. Immediately after completion. This was over ten years ago.
The Chapel, April 2010.
Note how our skimmed and stained floor acts as a natural and “grounded” back-drop for Tiffany’s original glass tile. Still performing, ten years plus down-the-road!
This is our topping slab, at The Daffodil Terrace (an indoor “outdoor” space). Three types of reinforcement were utilized to manage the shrinkage cracking of this thin slab, with no jointing… A typical welded wire fabric, a tighter grid of galvanized utility fencing and nylon fibers.
Look closely and you’ll notice the fiber reinforcement, as the mud is charged into the pump.
Natural gray concrete was floated by machine and subsequently troweled by hand, with a sporadic leathery sweat finish. Lyndsey and I are off next week, to joint, sand and stain the slab. We’ve been directed to produce a mid-range warm gray patina, variegated, and with slight erosion… In other words, a lot like my bald-spot, with the appearance of regular sustained use, and somewhat less-than-graceful aging… Think good thoughts for us, and, as was the case with The Chapel, we’ll expect many blessings!
