Form Liners Give A Boost To Architectural Designs

The monotony of concrete structures with plain surfaces used to be a bane for creative architectural designs. The advent of concrete form liners allow architects to express their creative vision with unrestrained creativity as it is now possible to create the most intricate designs and patterns on concrete structures. The impediments of high material costs and tight budgets can now be overcome by using form liners. Concrete surfaces can now be textured in various forms and even colors can be added to it by utilizing the advantages provided by form liners that have given architects endless freedom in expressing their creativity. The high cost of using natural stones to generate textured surfaces have now been minimized by using colored concrete and form liners that can replicate the rustic appeal of natural stones and look amazingly beautiful.

Different Applications of Form Liners

When you drive along highways you must have noticed decorative walls on the roadsides displaying the architectural splendor of concrete patterns of varying textures that have been created by using concrete form liners. Highway projects utilize the versatile artistic options presented by form liners in a great way. Unit masonry form liners are second in popularity that display rock patterns of varied patterns and textures. The use of textured surfaces generated by using form liners is increasing rapidly as it is being used in bridge construction, retaining walls, sound walls and floodwalls and barrier walls.

Widening the Doors of Creativity

Since its discovery about forty years ago, form liners have been steadily growing in popularity as architects have found it to boost their creativity with unlimited opportunities. It has given them the scope of expanding their vision to become more expressive. As this unique architectural tool approaches the fifth decade of its existence, it has become more detailed and versatile and now it is even possible to add color to concrete. Any project can acquire a special dimension by combining varied textures with suitable colors.

Variety of Form Liners

Form liners can be differentiated according to the textures that can be generated from it, but more importantly it is categorized according to the number of times it can be put to use because of the accompanying cost benefit that has made it so popular. There are concrete form liners that can be used once only and there are some other types that can even be used a hundred times. The selection will depend on the project requirements and the budget as well as the kind of surface appearance that is desired. Plastic, elastomeric urethane rubber, fiberglass and polypropylene foam or polystyrene are the different materials that are used for manufacturing form liners. Each material has different properties that determine the cost and usability level of form liners.

Using stained concrete is the only way to create concrete surfaces that resembles natural stones. The looks are so stunning and unique that the structure can easily stand apart from the surrounding environment only by spending a fraction of what it would have cost for natural stone.