Florida Trend - Tabby Concrete
- Jun 8, 2015
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 10, 2025
Tabby Concrete, a mixture of shells, water, lime, and concrete mix, is becoming widely popular throughout Southwest Florida. With a more transitional appearance and affordable price, it is being used on projects of all types and sizes. The use of Tabby Concrete dates back to the 16th century and likely developed from Spanish architecture. This material can be seen throughout Georgia and South Carolina although it is primarily oyster shells, whereas Florida is typically mixed shell.
Tabby Concrete is a great option for both driveways and pool decks! The light color concrete stays relatively cool on hot days, while the shells provide visual interest. Unlike traditional tabby, the shells are mixed in throughout the concrete and then sanded to create an even surface. Photographed above, Tabby Concrete combined with precast borders gives off a fun Florida vibe.
I found this article on Florida trend tabby concrete really interesting especially the part about how the mix of local shell fragments and concrete gives such a unique texture and historical feel It made me think about how construction methods carry a story from the past and influence modern designs I was surprised to learn that this style was used in both practical buildings and decorative features It reminded me of a project I read about where Assignment Help in Australia discussed old building techniques and how they still inspire contemporary architecture I am curious about how sustainable these materials really are and if more builders will start experimenting with them in new projects Overall it was a thoughtful read…