Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

PROOF OVER PROMISES: Why You Should Demand Project Samples ⬇️

During the age of AI for the first time we've been told we have to show more progress shots! There are some apparently trying to show AI images as their final work, not just as concepts (which is what I love AI for…)

This is truly an interesting time! Before we used to have individuals take our socials media or website photos and claim the work as their own. Nowadays, people will be offering up midjourney photos.

This brings me to possibly the most important thing I can offer perspective clients and designers.... request samples!! If you have a diverse project with a number of finishes, request (and pay) for many!

Pick your top candidates, talk with them, and then do side by side comparisons, meet the person that created the samples and just as importantly have in the contract that the same artist that created the sample must be on the project, if a new lead artist is now there then the company should provide new samples for approval.

#spa #pool #artificialrock #beforeandafter #landscaping #luxury #concrete #ai

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1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

I would like to know your ideal waterproofing for water features?

In 40 years we've tried them all, and I have two favourites. Either a 45mil epdm liner or spraying liquid rubber.

I've had the integral crystal forming, topical cementious, but the industry seems undecided as every project is spec'd differently. So I'd love to hear what you use and why?

#exhibitbuild #zoohabitat #otters #build #habitat #artificialrock #fauxrock #panels #concretedesign #riverviewparkandzoo

1 month ago | [YT] | 4

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

Why Panels?

Panels set the standard that the rest of the build and artists must meet. They ensure that egos are taken away and the element of realism stays true.

When egos are in play I consider myself to be a high level artist that loves to build cool things, but like any artist I can get lost in the work, I can have bad days, I can forget to pick up my coffee in the morning, and I would never want our piece to suffer because myself or our other artists had a bad day. The panel sets the standard, these precast pieces are molded from real rock, there is no better representation of rock, not even real rock itself when building up (due to all its limitations)

So after all the Panels are placed with art direction, secured and ready for joints the artist is able to have their reference to either side of their piece, very little need for art direction when the panel is telling the story.

The question we get from other artists that aren't used to carving with such detail is "isnt the extra detail more difficult to mimic?"
Yes and no... with the right tools no it's not because there is no interpretation that you need to come up with, sketching with references is 99% easier than without. BUT since you are matching both texture, cracks, breaks etc. you need stamps that match the texture of the panel otherwise those joints will stand out.

#panels #fauxrocks #artificialrock #pool #build #poolbuild #design #fakerock #epicpool

1 month ago | [YT] | 4

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

Award winning Habitat was almost never built because shotcrete is just too heavy!

The build spec was 6"of shotcrete (70ish lbs per square foot) on these giant columns, the building engineers said that the columns would never hold. So we proposed our alternative methods of a high strength Polypropylene reinforced Concrete mix design that only weighs 10 to 12lbs per sqfoot.

These weight restrictions aren't the only reason why we choose our mix design for facades over shotcrete, more control, higher details, easier to repair/ alter. But the biggest in our mind, and I believe the mind of most is the rebound waste with shotcrete is up to 35%, for us, we estimate no more that 1% and less for our panel system.

Shotcrete will ALWAYS have it's place for structural elements, retaining walls, wall stabilization etc. but for these facades I don't believe it's the ideal way to build functional works of art. Side note for all the insanely talented shotcrete carving artists out there, i believe you will enjoy carving, stamping and shaping high strength mortar even more.

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

Always double check your safety lines!

There is a lesson learned on every project, this one taught me to always double check tie backs and safety lines. the scaffolding was moved and didn't get tied back and I assumed it was done. Big big mistake because everyone assumed the other person did it.

shooting the top of the tree 4 levels of scaffolding up, I felt myself start to tip!While I was spraying concrete! I reached out and grabbed the top of the tree spraying while shouting desperately for my closest friend/ fellow rockscaper to tie me off.

Thankfully nothing bad happened as a guardian angel must've been looking out for me. Guess what I do now? I double check ALL safety equipment and make sure I never assume anything, and even though it's a constant evolution I've been working on communication ever since too.

Sean Mangan was the top artists on this project and did a great job on this tree.

#artificialtree #zoobuild #habitatbuild #design #fauxrocks #rockscapes #ROC #project #beforeandafter #build #fauxtree #animalhabitat

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

All my employees Quit but 1 on this project!

We were brought in for a completely different project, we actually even built a model for that original project! But once this building behind this spa was in place I believe the client realized what a mess it left for visitors to see and he adapted.

This client was a visionary with a team of designers that could back it up. They were surrounded by Rock and they leaned in (which we of course always love)

They built this angular piece and told us we had complete freedom to naturalize it and make it fit into the natural rock surrounding it.

Let me be frank, anytime we have to work nights... life gets hard! We brought a small crew of 3 and every week 1 person quit because working at night in the winter slipping through snow, with no equipment, things felt tough. I was very proud of my right hand man because he and I prevailed completing this and the Side rock spa while 4 others tried and couldn't handle the cold and the nights. The end result was a killer rockspa that 10 to 12 people could enjoy at a time... I just wish they let me create the railing!

#artificialrock #fauxrock #fakerock #rockscapesofcanada #nordikspa #spa #design #building #construction #work #beforeandafter

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

$150,000 dollars wasted on this project!

We were called too late and it cost the client a small fortune. Let me explain, the footing and the preformed concrete was overkill, it was engineered so that it could handle real rock or shotcrete.

Education of what's possible is everything, those that were called initially had no clue what they were building so they wasted 150k by making a 15ft deep footing and a giant concrete structure that only got in the way and restricted our creativity, we even had to cut out chunks of it in order to match the clients vision.

With our panel system or even our rebar armatures we are able to mimic real rock features with a fraction of the weight. Did our faux rock cost more than shotcrete? About the same or a little more expensive, but we could've saved 150k on the engineered footing and concrete walls so the savings would've been incredible.

If you are building something that you've never built, call some people that have done it before.

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

It's was a Disaster. When we arrived dozens of spots just like this, where the difficulty of working right next to/ around real rock was discovered.

There was no ditches able to be dug to burry all the cable and plumbing. So we extended the rock outcrop to cover all the mess, blending where real and artifical met. The crazy part was after we were complete we came back because they cut a hole in the rock?! We repaired it, ensuring no one would need access again...2 months later, another hole!! Anyone that creates knows how upsetting recreating the same area for no reason can be.

At this point even though they assured us no one would need access again we put an access lid in, which is what the final photo here on the right shows. Having this door allowed for them to utilize the space rather then just hide what was there.

#design #artificialrock #concrete #landscapedesign #pool

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

DAY TWO WORLD OF CONCRETE
CARVE COMPETITION -TEXTURE COAT

LIVE NOW: youtube.com/live/ptmzjBjuB-4?si=6R-XpJq7QTz9mwXw

3 months ago | [YT] | 4

Rockscapes of Canada Inc.

Due to technical difficulties we could not stream live today at the World of Concrete.

We will keep you updated if things change and we are able to stream.

We want to apologize to those who were looking forward to tuning in.

3 months ago | [YT] | 5