SBC CONCRETE

BACKSPLASH MANUAL
Provides Cost Saving Formulations & Recipes &
Step-By-Step Applications
by

© Something Better Corporation 1998 -2020

For Additional Instructions on any materials not listed, call our office.

800-747-1677

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BACK SPLASH PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
Material: GFRC CONCRETE
Overall Size: 2’ Wide × 1’ High × ¾” TO 1" Thick
AVERAGE
Coverage: Approx. 4 sq. ft.
Interior Use ONLY PER CONTRACT: Highly
Durable, increases R-value
PSI Per Panel – 2600 to 7000 See Attached Rapid Set Mix
Specification Sheet

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SMALL PRODUCTION
Formulation Recipe In This Manual Is Based On: 6 Fractured Quartz Backsplashes

Perfect For Practice & Small Projects

RECIPE FORMULATION & TOOLS NEEDED

Materials and tools to make sure you have on hand before you make your first batch. You can multiply or
divide these batches to suit your needs and these mixes can also be used to produce backsplashes.

Tools:
• Lots of 5-gallon buckets (at least 10).
• A drill with a four-sided paddle (tile section at Home Depot).
• Three or more large mixing containers. (10-gallon garbage can with smooth bottom)
• Several, 2 ½ quart measuring buckets (paint department of Home Depot).
• A good quality hopper gun (Marshalltown sharpshooter is the one we use. Drywall supply companies or Amazon).
• Air compressor and hose with fittings.
• Sturdy level tables with molds on top.
• Gloves to protect your hands.
• Good water supply with a hose and sprayer.

NOTE THIS REFERENCE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE KEY

INGREDIENTS IN THE SBC FORMULATION FOR THE SBC BACK SPLASHES.

Main Panel Material Mix:

1 PART Portland Cement,

1 PART #30 Silica,

¼ PART Class F Fly ash OR Vitro Minerals

Lightweight Panel Mix:

Portland Cement

¼” Perlite

Masonry Sand

Class F Fly Ash

½” or ¼” CHOPPED AR GLASS FIBERS

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IF you are using SBC Bond Coat & Marble Coat to make your Face Coat:
• 2-25lb Bags of SBC Marble Coat
• 2-25lb Bags of Bond Coat

If you source materials locally to make your Face Coat, Follow The Below Recipe:
BASIC RECIPE:

• 1 part cement,
• 1 part #30 silica sand

• one quarter part fly ash class F (or vitro minerals pozzolan) NOTE: The fly ash and vitro
minerals could be eliminated to save on expenses with acceptable results.
•

MIXING The Face Coat an easy way to mix the parts is to buy 2 ½ quart measuring
buckets from home depot in the paint department. Using these buckets you can make quick
work of most of these formulas. A part can be any size container that you have though just use
the same container for all of the ingredients.
For the face coat you would fill your 2 ½ quart bucket to the top four times with Portland
cement and place in a clean 5 gallon bucket. Next do the same with #30 silica sand. Finally add
one of fly ash or vitro minerals to the bucket. Stir this dry with your drill and you will have your
face coat. Make two of these (you likely need about one and a half of these).

Mixing The Backer Coat use a large mixing container. First fill a five gallon container
to the top with perlite and pour into the large container (use a respirator when dealing with
perlite). Then fill a five gallon bucket (half full) with cement. Add to the large container that
already contains perlite. Lastly add two of the 2 ½ quart buckets (to top) with sand to the
container and mix thoroughly with the drill. Make three of these (you won’t need all three but
it’s better to have it and not need it)

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Polymer mixes:
The formula for face coat is two of the 2 ½ quart containers (full to the top) polymer
concentrate in a 5 gallon bucket. Fill the rest of the five gallon bucket with clean water. Mark
this bucket “face coat” so you only use it for face coat. For backer coat your polymer to water
mix will be one 2 ½ quart container full to the top poured into a five gallon bucket and then
topped off with water. Mark this bucket “backer coat” and use it only for this purpose. You will
need a few of these for your batch. Make three and if you don’t use your polymer put a lid on it
and use on the next batch.

Fill six or seven of the 2 ½ quart containers with .75 pounds of 1/2” AR fiberglass fibers.

Mixing instructions:
*Face coat: Fill five gallon bucket with 240 oz. of your “face coat” pre mixed polymer/water. If using our mixes
use start with one bag of Marble coat and stir with drill (mixing this first will make it easier to add the other bag
without taxing your drill). Next add your Bond Coat and mix completely. You are ready to pour into your
hopper gun and spray onto molds.

*Backer coat: Using your “backer coat” pre mixed polymer/water add the same amount as with your face coat
to a five gallon bucket. Next slowly add your pre mixed dry Backer coat mix while stirring continually. When
your bucket is nearly full start adding one of your buckets of fibers (slowly to prevent clumping). If your mix
gets too thick to mix you can add more of the polymer to make a workable mix. Refer to the videos for a visual
representation of what the mixes should look like.

Ideally you will want to get a 12 cubic foot plaster/mortar mixer for making your backer mix but this should be a
good way to start.

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AVERAGE BACKSPLASH PRICING

Backsplash retail pricing:

• As low as $7.50/ square foot for basic patterns in concrete grey not
installed.
• Up to $25/ square foot for the most high end colored.
• Up to $47/square foot for real copper plated. For installation pricing we
recommend charging a minimum daily rate that makes sense for you on
small jobs. For example if you need to make $250/day that is your
minimum rate.
• You may need to charge $1000/day to make it worthwhile.
• On 1000+ square foot jobs $2.50/square foot is a good starting point.

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RAW MATERIAL LIST FOR BULK PURCHASES
When ordering raw materials from SBC Suppliers, in order to make sure you are charged SBC’S Wholesale Price, make sure you let the sales Rep
know you are an SBC Manufacture and specify your location so they know they are shipping to you and not the SBC Anthem Shop.

POLYMER – PURCHASE THOUGH SBC

Univar – Main Contact: Crystal - SBC Account Manager
602-455-4039 - Warehouses are located World Wide, let the Univar Rep. know where
you are located and she will place the order for you through the closest warehouse
near you.
UNIVAR’S PRODUCT ID NUMBERS:
POLYMER: MC1834P 55 Gallon Drum – Approx. Cost $853.13 + Tax and Freight
ANTI-FOAM: AFE1410 – Approx. Cost $301.00 Anti-foam for a five gallon container. Add
3/4 gallon of antifoam to each 55 gallon drum of polymer concentrate and stir well. For each 5 gallon
pail of antifoam you will have enough for approximately 6.5, 55 gallon drums of polymer concentrate.

RELEASE AGENT- ORDER SPECHSTRIP

(DO NOT SPECSTRIP PLUS!)

AVERAGE PRICING:
5 Gallon Pail $36.75
55 Gallon Drum $310.75

CALL COLIN BUCHANAN TO PLACE ORDER

Distributor Contact: Colin Buchanan – 913-233-9700
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

GLASS FIBERS- Purchase Through SBC

We sell it in 50 pound bags for $132 Per 50lbs
800-324-1719 Ext. 202

PERLITE - PURCHASE THROUGH THERM-O-ROCK, COMMERCIAL GRADE, 3.5 CUBIC

FOOT BAG. NOTE: If your shipping cost is too high, call
us and we will try to get a better shipping quote for you.
Do NOT finalize your order with Therm-O-Rock until you
call us to set up shipping and further instructions on
setting up your shipping through us instead of Therm-O-
Rock.
3.5cf - 30 bags per pallet - $6.65 each
Therm-O-Rock WEST - (520) 796-1000

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PRE-COLORING OF MOLDS TECHNIQUE
Natural Oxide Powder- (BLACK, BLUE & GREEN ARE DIFFERENT PRICING)
25 lbs - #86 – BLACK

25LBS - #34 – FIREBRICK (TERRA COTTA)

25LBS - #6082 – BROWN-MORE OF A TAN COLOR

25LBS - #61 – BRONZE

Process for coloration of molds with natural oxide powders shown above:
1. Spray release agent on all molds to be colored. You will want to use a
generous amount of release agent without allowing standing puddles. If
you do have big puddles just daub them with a towel. You should have
sprayed enough release agent so the molds look wet.
2. Next, place the desired iron oxide powder colors you will be using in
32oz cups. Dip 2” chip brush into the powder and get powder on both
sides of brush. Lift brush out of powder and keep the brush in cup, and
tap brush once on side of brush to get rid of extra powder.
3. Lastly you will use the brush to paint three random stones on each panel. Your first stone will be real
bold. The second stone will be medium in color and the last will be the lightest. Do this systematically
so that you have a balanced blend throughout all of the panels.
4. Repeat with other colors. Some stones will get no color. Black goes on last and is applied sparingly
using the stipple technique. Use a 4” brush for black only. Lightly drag the brush over the tops of all of
the stones. Be careful of the black. You are just hitting the tops which are deepest textures when you
de-mold.
For additional assistance, never hesitate to contact our office to answer your questions~!

HIGH SOLIDS SOLVENT BASED SEALER

PURCHASE THROUGH SBC

5 GALLON PAILS - $275.00 PER 5 GALLON PAIL – COVERS

APPROX. 397sq.ft. PER COAT.

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TOOL LIST:
Mortar mixer: http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=mortar+mixer
This is one example. Use this to mix your dry ingredients for your face coat or lightweight backer mix if you don't have the large
mortar mixer we recommend. A good drill could be used for this but this mixer works well for the high torque mixing of heavy
ingredients.

1/2" Heavy duty drill for mixing your face coat. http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-1-2-in-Spade-Handle-Mud-Mixer-
R7122/100523157 This is just an example. Many brands will work just fine but this is the style you are after.

Four sided mixing paddle

http://www.homedepot.com/p/MD-Building-Products-Deluxe-Mixer-Paddle-49058/205226510
.

10 gallon garbage can with smooth bottom used for mixing dry ingredients. Could also be used to
mix backer coat mix if using a drill or hand held mortar mixer.
http://www.uline.com/Product/ProductDetailRootItem?modelnumber=H-1853

Hopper Gun. Used to spray face coat on molds.

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http://www.all-wall.com/Categories/Drywall-Hopper-Guns/SharpShooter-20-Hopper.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwz-
i3BRDtn53Z5Z7t4PUBEiQA23q2AOaElo0Vv4CpMQlcQn5lGwiaEnawLVUzY9tjm20btJUaAodJ8P8HAQ

Drywall suppliers are a great place to get these (Amazon has them also).

Margin Trowels and putty knifes.

Use these to scrape excess material from molds and clean fingers before cement dries completely.

Wood 2x4s cut to 55" to rod or screed backer coat.

48" Stucco Darby used to make final finish on backer coat.

Bug sprayer to apply release agent. Can be found at Home Depot or nurseries.

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2" chip brushes for applying oxides to molds. 4" chip brush for applying black.

Rubber mallets to hit sides of the table. For popping air bubbles.

Electric blower to blow out molds before new batch.

Air compressor and hose to power hopper gun.

NAIL GUN & NAILS

CONCRETE T-NAILER - http://www.toolorbit.com/m/air-locker/air-locker-cn64a2.html

AIR LOCKER CONCRETE NAILER $99.00 - ITEM NO. CN64A2/ST64

CONCRETE NAILS 1 ½”, 1000PK @5.99 EA - ITEM NO. CN15AL

CONCRETE NAILS 2 ½”, 1000PK @8.50 EA - ITEM NO. CN25AL

CONCRETE MORTAR CAULKING GUN - www.albioneng.com (Bulk or Sausage Guns)

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SPIKE SHOES – MIDWEST RAKE COMPANY, LLC – www.midwestrake.com

GRINDER – HARBOR FREIGHT – MOST USE THE MASONARY BLADE

HANDSAW (SKILL SAW) – HARBOR FREIGHT

TORCH – HARBOR FREIGHT

HDX – GROUT SEALER ROLLER APPLICATOR – HOME DEPOT

CONCRETE SANDING STONE – HOME DEPOT OR HARBOR FREIGHT

TO SEE ALL MATERIALS &

PRODUCTS, LOG INTO YOU
ACCOUNT AT:
WWW.SBCSTORES.COM
FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE,
NEVER HESITATE TO CALL OUR
OFFICE!
800-747-1677

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