Concrete is an extraordinary material that is practical, expressive, and aesthetic all at once. From a primal and formless slurry, you can transform it into virtually any shape that becomes a solid mass. The possibilities for creative expression are endless. You can grind, polish, stamp, or stain it. You can embed meaningful objects within it.
The biggest advantage of concrete over natural stones like marble or granite is that it is completely customizable; you can sculpt, mold, and texturize it to your desire. It's also a material that the average do-it-yourselfer can easily use — creating something original and meaningful while saving money. If you have a concrete kitchen or bathroom counter made for you, the cost will be based on the complexity of the form, the mold-making process, and the desired finish, rather than the size. Material cost comparisons should be done on a project-by-project basis.
As with marble or granite, we do not recommend cutting directly on a concrete surface; it could result in scratches and gouges in the finish of your countertop as well as harm the blades of your knives.
Concrete is heat-resistant but is subject to thermal shock if a red-hot object is placed directly upon it. Like granite, the exposed area may flake or chip away if too much heat is applied. In addition, the heat could damage the sealer and wax applied to the concrete surface. We recommend using trivets for hot cookware.
Please visit the websites of my two mentors: Ben Ashby at Concrete Encounters and Fu-Tung Cheng at Concrete Exchange. They have additional information on concrete as well as many more images of what can be created with concrete.
We are based out of Baldwin Park, California. We work with homes mostly in Southern California but have worked all over the state of California, including Berkeley and Napa. Our workshop has recently moved to a more spacious location and soon will display a showroom of concrete examples able to be seen in person. We will post when this option become available.