Fair-faced concrete transforms the raw structure into a prestigious finish. Having become the symbol of Brutalism, today it is a material of high aesthetic engineering that tolerates no site errors: once the formwork is removed, the work is final.
The visual result depends entirely on the formwork and the release agent used. Phenolic panels yield very smooth surfaces; rough boarding transfers grain and knots; single-use elastomeric matrices allow 3D textures to be imprinted. Calibrated application of the release agent prevents tearing and chemical staining. Fundamental rule: never carry out a fair-faced pour without first producing a 1:1 scale sample wall (mock-up).
To avoid defects such as honeycombing (gravel nests) or trapped air bubbles, a reduced maximum aggregate diameter is preferred, along with the use of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC): extremely fluid, it fills the formwork while expelling air without mechanical vibration, perfectly copying the matrix details. In architectural concrete, the cost of the material accounts for only 20-30% of the final result.
Standards
European and international references applicable.
Physical properties
Usage environment
Apply calibrated release agent to prevent tearing and chemical burns. Seal the surface at maturation with silane-siloxane impregnants (transparent, colour-neutral) to make the wall water-repellent against smog, acid rain and graffiti.