Making decorative concrete balls for landscape design with your own hands

Landscaping is the final, but integral part of the construction process on a suburban area or cottage. A project of such a design, and even more so purchased products for it, is not a cheap pleasure. Much can be spied on and thought up by ourselves. And to do - too. In this part, I propose to find out how you can make concrete balls:

Concrete balls give a unique look to the landscape design. The contrast of the shapes is striking: from rectangular shapes to smooth spherical ones. Such products are rarely found on sale. They are heavy and few people buy them. Next, I'll show you how you can make them hollow.

At first glance, it is difficult to understand how such a hollow ball can be made, and even with a decorative surface. But it's simple.

Need a rubber ball. They are commercially available in various diameters, from small to those with a handle that even an adult can jump on. Children know about them. We wrap them with stretch film (to make it easier to move away from the concrete when removing), cover with concrete and we cover with a plastic reinforcing mesh between layers of concrete (sold in any building store).

Mix the solution in a ratio of 3 to 1 (sand and cement). For slow setting, you can add tile glue, and for the plasticity of the mixture, liquid soap (or better, a plasticizer). The solution should be thick.

We use a bucket or basin as a stand. Finally, rub the surface until it is as flat as possible. Within a week we wet the concrete with water. Otherwise, it will crack and not be durable. It is necessary to leave without concrete the place where the ball valve is located. And through the same hole it must be pulled out after the concrete gains strength. We release air from the ball and carefully take it out. If you need several of these concrete balls, it will come in handy again.

An example process and result is shown in these slides.

The process is also shown in this short video.

Further - a number of techniques and options for making decorative balls:

These options for decorative balls can be done as follows: on a large leaf of a plant or a LEAF of a tree, apply thick concrete and transfer it to the newly poured ball with the other side of the leaf. Remove the sheet and adjust the edges of the concrete, remove the excess and add the missing volume. Repeat the operation until the surface of the ball is completely decorated.

The next option. If you want to get a monolithic concrete ball (forms for this technology are expensive), then you can also use rubber balls as formwork:

Perhaps, following the example in these photos, the formwork ball will become unusable after stripping. I suggest cutting it neatly into 2-3 segments. After that, it will be possible to connect and glue them with tape, wrapping them in diameter in different places.

The next option for making not balls, but forms or flower pots in the form of giant egg shells:

We need a simple balloon. Inflated to the required size, placed on a jar and coated it not over the entire surface to give the appearance of a shell. For reinforcement, you can use not a plastic mesh, but pieces of fabric. After the concrete is cured, we pierce the ball (or untie it), take it out.

Using the same technology, a ball of ropes can be made from a ball, which will be translucent. A good option to make a decorative lamp for landscape design is to put a lamp inside:

Only the rope needs to be impregnated in the concrete mass. The result is an exclusive, lightweight and durable landscape design element.

All these balls can also be painted in any color: monotonous or like a stone. There are even examples of giving them a mirror finish. To do this, the ball needs to be polished and coated, poured over with epoxy, and applied reflective on top.

This technology can be used to manufacture products for sale. Announcements on Avito and in social networks - to help. Little concrete is needed, the process is not difficult, but the view is exclusive. Try it.

Previous articles where I showed simple technologies for obtaining products for your landscape design:

• Manufacturing technology of concrete vases and flower pots for giving from improvised forms
• Earnings on your site. Manufacturing technology of concrete flowerpots without forms

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Photos are taken from open sources, from Yandex. Pictures

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