Installation Guide

Artistic Home & Garden Co., Camas WA
Email: [e-mail]
FAQ’s
1. What type of concrete should I buy?
Any type/brand of basic ready mix concrete
2. My concrete has air bubbles in the surface, why?
Remember — concrete is a natural substance and this is the natural characteristic of concrete.
That said, you can minimize bubbles by:
• Do not use too much lubricant, just a light spray
• Pour concrete just a few inches at a time so you can stop and shake/tap on the mold to bring the majority of air
bubbles to the surface
• If you have surface bubbles/irregularities that you do not like in your finished concrete you can patch them up by
mixing up a bit of the same concrete (omit the aggregate/stones) and patch it, using a damp sponge.
3. My dried concrete piece cracked when I removed it from the mold! What’s wrong with your mold?!
• It’s not the mold! The most common problem is using concrete that has been exposed to dampness. Cement is the
adhesive property in concrete and if a concrete bag has been sitting around for a while, especially with a tear in it,
even just plain humidity can ruin the bag. Use a new bag that does not show any sign if dampness or holes in the
bag.
• Rarely, but it can happen — too much water in your mix. Mix to the consistency of chunky peanut butter, not soup.
4. How many times can I use my mold?
Most molds will be fine for 25uses, and most of our customers (13 years worth of customers) say they get many more.
Tips to take good care of your molds
• Do not leave them sitting out in the sun
• Wash them out afterwards, dish soap and water works well
• Especially — do not rest the mold on the lip when turning over to remove castings — this eventually will break
down the mold prematurely
Other tips:
In cold weather — Plastic gets harder and stiffer in cold weather. If trouble removing from molds, set them out in the sun till
plastic is warm., or use a hair blow dryer, but be careful to not melt the plastic. Do not cast in temperatures close to freezing.
In warm weather — let molds set up in the shade, not in the sun. Let concrete dry slowly and in hot, dry weather cover with
plastic to slow dehydration. In humid weather allow more time, even another day ,to allow the concrete to set up in mold.