GOLDEN TROWEL AWARDS

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W ith the additional influx of decorative concrete projects to the competition using the Hatcrete Colourmix and

Adcolour brands, acquired by PICS earlier in the year, there were more through-coloured concrete installations and additional examples of polished floors and countertop creations than in previous years. Along with the growth of the ‘theming’ sector – whose designers and sculptors use a range of colour surface hardeners, acid stains and cementitious decorative renders – the scope of projects and applications continues to develop.

Wayne Carrington of Southern Driveways in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, was a first-time judge, bringing many years’ design and installation experience to the panel. He reflects, “Having been involved in the pattern-imprinted concrete industry for 25 years, it was a pleasure to be invited as a judge to this years’ competition. There were some excellent examples of pattern-imprinted concrete and I was also very impressed with

all the other types of decorative concrete work undertaken. It was certainly an enjoyable day and an eye-opener to what is possible.”

John Linley, PICS technical manager who has been overseeing the integration of the Hatcrete products, was on hand to answer any technical questions from the judging panel and added background information to the specific issues involved in installing the projects on display, plus current issues relating to decorative concrete in general.

Additional members of the judging panel included Paul Newby, technical systems manager at Hope Construction Materials in Sheffield, and Andy Luxton of KRM Concrete in Portsmouth, who with many years’ experience of the decorative concrete market says, “The standard of work put forward for this year’s Golden Trowel Awards was outstanding in all categories and a testament to the quality of the decorative concrete industry in the UK.

“No longer is imprinted and decorative concrete seen as a domestic product for patios

Decorative concrete ventures into new and exciting art forms

Top left: International category winner – Jeroen Weijmans of Groenkompas in The Netherlands for this outdoor pool.

Above: Decorative Concrete category winner was Darren Beck of Skim Coat, Sheffield, for the diamond-polished concrete floor and worktops at the Flint House.

The 10th Annual Golden Trowel Awards took place at The Concrete Society, where quality images of over 500 examples of decorative concrete and cementitious walling projects installed during 2015 were on show. Graham True, a regular on the judging panel, comments, “Each year the standard, originality and design demonstrated by the entries goes up, but this year the step-up has been significant.” John Grant of PICS reports.

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and drives, it has moved way beyond this. The use of colour, texture and the introduction of grinding and polishing concrete surfaces has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Many of these can be regularly seen on television as their popularity has increased. Concrete really can add colour to your life.”

Paul and Andy both added their current concrete technology knowledge and technical experience to the panel. Discussions ranged from reflective values of plain concrete versus through-coloured concrete for a project protecting bats, to a recent project at the Tate Modern extension to expose a variety of aggregates in a concrete wall to match the River Thames outline, through to current mix designs and colour surface hardener mixes to create dragon scales – a mix of exciting art forms for decorative concrete.

The judging panel looked at four categories of projects: in the UK, Domestic Pattern-Imprinted Concrete (PIC) installations, Commercial PIC installations and Decorative Concrete installations. The fourth category was for International Decorative Concrete installations.

John Linley felt it was, “Yet another year of impressive and inspiring quality decorative concrete work, both on the ground and vertically, and most amazing was the eventual winner of the UK Commercial PIC category, Pedratek, who created the finished dragon at the Magic Garden project at Hampton Court for the Historic Royal Parks. With all the different finishes becoming more commonly used – be it pattern imprinted, textured skin work, exposed aggregate, power-trowelled or polished concrete – together with decorative wall renders and worktops, it really does highlight the potential that decorative concrete has to offer across the board.”

DomesticThe Domestic Pattern-Imprinted Concrete winner was Mark Lockley of Creative Driveways of Lancashire for his photograph of a set of imprinted steps within a front garden, with Martin Lefley of Driveways Northwest (PICS), in Thornton Cleveleys in second place. His photograph of a pattern-imprinted driveway features a two-colour surface hardener combination with a feature

Barry Pimble and the DCS team took both second and third places in the Commercial PIC category – Northgate Garden Terrace roof garden (below left) and the themed rangers hut area at London Zoo’s Land of Lions project (below right).

Second place in the Domestic PIC category went to Martin Lefley of Driveways Northwest.

Mark Lockley of Creative Driveways of Lancashire won the Domestic PIC category.

Yet another year of impressive and inspiring quality decorative concrete work.“

“

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cobble circle. Third place this year went to Barry Pimble of Decorative Concrete Specialists, Swindon for a large ashlar pattern-imprinted driveway incorporating a Windsor stone circle and pinwheel medallion feature design.

Richard Day of The Concrete Society, who has supported the awards since their beginning in 2006, provided the facilities and helped as a judge yet again. In his view, the 2016 awards showcased the variety of skills needed to be successful in creating decorative environments, whether commercial or domestic.

CommercialIn the Commercial PIC category, the winner was Andre Tyrell of Pedratek, who was appointed by Frosts Landscapes Construction, for the aforementioned dragon creation at Hampton Court. Barry Pimble and the DCS team took both second and third places, with the Northgate Garden Terrace roof garden project in St Johns Wood, London and the themed rangers hut area at London Zoo’s Land of Lions project. This is a tremendous effort to achieve three placings in one year’s competition, so congratulations to Barry and the DCS team.

DecorativeThe category for Decorative Concrete installations covers the range of concrete finishes, including power-trowelled and polished, countertops, exposed aggregate and themed walling and rock work. The overall winner was Darren Beck of Skim Coat, in Sheffield, with a photograph of the diamond-polished concrete floor and worktops he undertook at the Flint House at Waddesdon Manor, the home of the Rothschild family. This project was also awarded the RIBA ‘House of the Year’ and featured on Grand Designs, so Darren’s work was certainly put under plenty of scrutiny.

Second place was awarded to Sam McIlroy of RTU, from Newtownabbey in County Antrim, for his photograph of an exposed-aggregate driveway. Third place went to Alan Bishop Themeworks, for a hand-carved tree using specialist cementitious material, one of many examples of the range of theming work being installed at zoos, theme parks, museums and schools across the UK and elsewhere.

InternationalThis year, the International Decorative Concrete installations category featured a

Commercial PIC category winner – Andre Tyrell of Pedratek for the dragon at the Magic Garden project at Hampton Court.

Other, notable projects – left: Dinosaur work by Rob Heap of RBH Productions; Middle: Garden steps by Barry Pimble of Decorative Concrete Specialists; and right: Concrete fireplace by Luke Rogers of The Concrete Flooring Contractors.

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range of pattern-imprinted and acid-stained concrete floors from the Czech Republic and rock work theming and imprinted concrete work from The Netherlands.

The winner of the International award went to Jeroen Weijmans of Groenkompas in The Netherlands for his photograph of an outdoor pool using textured-imprinted concrete and rock work. Second place was awarded to Radomil Dolnìček of Condecor Construction in the Czech Republic for his image of a timber-effect imprinted swimming pool surround.

Graham True was pleased with the final decisions and says, “Hopefully other contractors will see what can be achieved and learn from some of these entries. What was once two-dimensional artwork has now become three-dimensional and shows the versatility of imprinted concrete and site-

placed and worked renders. These entries show that with thought and planning, what would otherwise be just a standard installation can be elevated into prime individual artwork delighting both the client and anyone who views the work. This annual event serves to demonstrate the potential of on-site working of these cementitious materials that year on year improves and ventures into new and exciting art forms.”

Our thanks to Richard Day and the team, with a range of interesting photographs at the Golden Trowel Awards, proving that concrete in all its forms continues to evolve. ■

Further information:To enter the 2017 Golden Trowel Awards or for more information about any aspect of decorative concrete design, installation or materials, e-mail: golden.trowel@picsuk.com.

Sam McIlroy of RTU, from Newtownabbey in County Antrim, took second place in the Decorative Concrete category.

Alan Bishop Themeworks was awarded third place, Decorative Concrete category, for a hand-carved tree.

Barry Pimble of Decorative Concrete Specialists was awarded third place in the

Domestic PIC category.

Second place in the International category – Radomil Dolnìček of Condecor

Construction in the Czech Republic.