Task at Hand
Established in 1866, the American University of Beirut is a private, non-sectarian, independent university with a campus of 64 buildings including the AUB Medical Center, four libraries, three museums, and seven dorms.
The campus needed renovation of its existing walkways and floors. The client requested a stamped overlay system offering all the aesthetic benefits of conventional stamped concrete, applied over the existing material — the perfect balance between price and aesthetics in decorative concrete, allowing duplication of the beauty and texture of natural stone or brick.
KingKrete Solution
KingKrete provided a special stamped concrete overlay system comprising five main components:
Added to the concrete mix to improve mechanical and physical properties — increasing tensile, flexural, and adhesive strengths while aiding workability and cohesion.
12 mm monofilament fibers added directly to the mix and blended for 5 minutes before discharge, inhibiting settlement-crack formation and controlling plastic shrinkage. A stainless-steel straight edge was used for levelling.
Spread over the prepared floor before any imprinting tools were applied, facilitating release of the stamping mats. The concrete was stamped in the placement sequence using a reference line; excess release agent was brushed off and the area cleaned with pressurized water.
Applied in two stages once light foot traffic left a 3–6 mm imprint: two-thirds spread first to absorb moisture, the surface floated with a magnesium bull float, then the remaining third applied and floated a final time.
Applied in two coats over the finished area — a durable dust-proof finish that enhances abrasion resistance, enriches the concrete colour, adds sheen, and prevents penetration of oils and liquids.
Products Supplied
| Product | Function |
|---|---|
| KingBond SBR200 | Liquid polymer additive |
| KingFiber PP75 | Monofilament polypropylene fibers |
| KingHard C500 | Dry-shake hardener |
| KingStamp RA100 | Powder release agent |
| KingStamp AC100 | Sealer coat |