Custom Concrete

Concrete is a renewable resource used to make the most unique and personalized surfaces available, created as site-specific products tailored for the individual client. If you are considering concrete surfaces in your home, make sure that:

• you want a surface that is completely unique and personal
• you want a surface that doesn't look mass produced
• you appreciate a high-quality, hand-finished surface
• you don't want a synthetic counter with a plastic look
  
• you want a color or visual texture that's not available elsewhere

If the above statements describe you, then concrete may be a good fit.

Imperfections and irregularities are part of the appeal of concrete. Hairline cracks often develop due to slight shrinkage in the concrete and are a natural part of wear and tear. These will not affect the structural integrity in any way, and are too fine to trap food or debris. There is usually a preference for the aged appearance that this process bestows, as opposed to the sterile smoothness of manufactured products.

Concrete counters are not mass-produced, and therefore many different processes exist to create them. Some makers reinforce countertops using wire mesh and rebar, while others use fiber reinforcement. Other, similar methods exist as well, but no matter what method is used, hairline cracks still occur to varying degrees. These cracks are not structural and are considered part of the character of each slab.

Precautions

Concrete counters are very durable surfaces that perform comparably to most any other counter surface available. As concrete is a naturally porous product, a sealant is used to keep out moisture and prevent stains. Cutting or chopping on concrete countertops won't hurt the concrete itself, but can damage the surface sealant. As with most countertops, it is recommended that cutting boards be used when chopping or preparing foods, and that a trivet or other insulating pad be used when placing hot pans on them. Alternatively, given the flexibility of the medium, you can simply have built-in trivets made out of any number of materials, including stainless steel, brass, copper, slate, bamboo, etc.