Chargement…
Chargement…
by Dakhla Aménagement Team
Straight answer: decorative concrete is not a different material — it is a standard cement concrete (usually CPJ 45, dosed around 350 kg/m³) whose mix (through-color) or surface (exposed aggregate, stamping, polishing, grinding) gets worked. The cement DAM grinds for structural concrete is the same; what changes is the finishing contractor's know-how. This guide compares the five techniques and clarifies what DAM supplies — and what belongs to the specialist.
Every decorative technique starts from a quality concrete: CPJ 45 (CEM II/A-L 42.5 — 45 MPa, NM 10.1.004 / EN 197-1) for common slabs and terraces, CPJ 55 (55 MPa) when abrasion resistance becomes critical. In decorative work, batch consistency counts double: two different lots can produce visible shade differences on the same slab. Work from a single lot whenever possible — every DAM lot ships with its test certificate — and keep a few bags for touch-ups.
For light shades, the industry rule is white cement — which DAM does not distribute: our article on white cement in Morocco covers this honest framing and the alternatives (light aggregates, dosed pigments). With gray CPJ 45/55 cements, achievable tones range from natural gray to dark earth colors.
| Technique | Principle | Result | Main watch-point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colored (pigmented) | Oxide pigments mixed at batching | Through color, uniform | Stable pigment dosage, single cement lot |
| Exposed aggregate | Surface retarder, then jet washing | Visible aggregates, anti-slip | Aggregate selection, rinse timing |
| Stamped | Mats pressed with colored hardener on fresh concrete | Paver, stone, wood patterns | Pressing window of a few hours |
| Polished | Grit progression to sheen, then densifier | Satin-hard surface | Stain protection, consistent binder |
| Ground | Planer milling | Corrected flatness, closed pores | Compact sublayer, controlled joints |
| Use | Suitable techniques | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Residential terrace | Stamped, exposed aggregate | Decorative look and anti-slip |
| Driveway | Exposed aggregate, colored | Tire abrasion resistance |
| Industrial floor, showroom | Polished, ground | Flatness, maintenance, lasting sheen |
| Pool deck | Exposed aggregate, light color | Barefoot anti-slip — waterproofing by a dedicated system |
| Walls, benches, furniture | Colored, stamped | No abrasion, color leads |
Around a pool, remember that decorative concrete is not a waterproofing layer: waterproofing requires a dedicated system — our pool cement and waterproofing articles cover this point. The concrete brings shape, strength and finish.
Cure decorative concrete like exposed concrete: 7 days of moist protection or curing compound — non-negotiable in Dakhla, where evaporation outruns bleeding once temperatures exceed 30 °C. Keep W/C ≤ 0.50: excess water rises to the surface (bleeding) and concentrates laitance — precisely what polishing or exposing later reveals as light patches. Properly cut shrinkage joints (outdoor slabs: roughly every 20 to 30 m²) keep cracking from crossing your finish.
DAM distributes cement: CPJ 45 and CPJ 55 compliant with NM 10.1.004, in 50 kg bags, 1 T big bags or bulk, with per-lot certificates and 2, 7 and 28-day tests — delivery in Dakhla City, timelines confirmed in your quote. DAM sells no pigments, no surface retarders, no stamping mats, no densifiers: those consumables and the finishing craft belong to specialized decorative-concrete companies. The winning split: the specialist formulates and finishes, DAM guarantees binder consistency — the foundation of any stable color.
To size the cement side of your project (dosage, area, concrete volume), our cement calculator does the math in three minutes. Quote within 24 h, discounts from 10 T: the raw material of your decorative project is the simplest part to secure.
CPJ 45 dosed around 350 kg/m³ (CPJ 55 under heavy abrasion), W/C ≤ 0.50, from a single cement lot for even color.
Through-color, exposed aggregate, stamped, polished or ground: the final use — terrace, driveway, floor, pool — decides.
7-day curing, protection from 30 °C, properly cut joints: a finish only lives on a sound substrate.
DAM bags, big bags or bulk with per-lot certificates; quote within 24 h, Dakhla City delivery included within 48 h.
Pigments, retarders, mats, densifiers and the craft itself belong to a decorative-concrete contractor.
Composition, EN 12004 classification (C1, C2, C2TE, S1/S2), water dosage and coverage: the reference points to choose the right product — DAM does not sell tile adhesive.
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Read articleMasonry joints and tile joints are two different trades. Traditional mortar at 350 kg/m³ of fine sand, formulated grouts for tiling, and the mistakes that let water in.
Read articleOur team responds within 24h. CPJ 45 on request, CPJ 55 on request. Delivery within Dakhla included.