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Szolyd Development

Ultra high performance concrete news.
uhpc_ornate_mold

Ductal handrails and posts for residential project

Szolyd’s most recent installation includes UHPC balustrades,  ornate caps, handrails and a water feature for a residential home in Sydney, BC. West Coast weather can be relentless and maintenance is a serious issue. Wood needs to be constantly sanded and painted, even powder coated steel only lasts so long. Ductal concrete is the perfect medium to replicate ornate detail, while requiring very little, if any maintenance.

Click here for Ductal specifications.

THE MOLDING PROCESS. 

The wood positive was fabricated by the contractor, Keith Hayton, and brought to the mold fabrication division of Szolyd Development. The positive acts both a mockup for the client, and model from which the mold is taken from. It was assembled with mdf, fir crown moldings and an ornate one piece cap, that could not be conceived of without ductal concrete. The team then sealed the wood and filled any undercuts, or areas where the urethane could leak or snag on. After multiple coats of sealer, the balustrade was released with wax, all four sides were poured separately with urethane rubber.

wood positive arrives at Szolyd shop

wood positive arrives at Szolyd shop

wood positive with rubber mold beside it.

wood positive with rubber mold beside it.

ductal concrete handrail with steel

14ft ductal handrail with embedded steel

The handrail was cast out of urethane rubber and could be bent to any desired radius. Handrails are typically painted and require constant scraping, sanding and priming. This ductal handrail will require virtually no maintenance.

urethane mold for UHPC column

urethane mold for ductal column

tan coloured ductal concrete

warm coloured ductal column casting

ductal concrete columns

warm tan ductal concrete columns

ductal castings

UHPC castings in the Szolyd shop @ Victoria, BC

concrete caps for posts

ductal concrete caps for posts

uhpc mold process

detailed mold for UHPC concrete

The balustrade caps were fabricated out of a four part mixed material mold. A two part rubber inner mold was keyed for registration and re enforced with a fibreglass boot.

curved ornate ductal concrete

curved ductal handrail

ductal landscape

ductal concrete with newel pots, concrete caps and handrails.

maintenance free deck system

no maintenance deck system

installation of UHPC posts, handrails and caps.

installation of UHPC posts, handrails and caps.

concrete posts for deck

Ductal concrete posts, caps, and handrails for Sydney project.

UHPC water feature.

Ductal concrete water feature.

UHPC posts handrails and caps require no maintenance.

UHPC posts handrails and caps require no maintenance.