Who would want concrete elements in their home?

Concrete Countertops and elements are the most unique, personal option because they are made from scratch for each client.  Concrete tops or elements might be right for you if:

1. you want something unique and personalized
   

2. you want something that looks natural and has character
   

3. you appreciate high-quality, hand-crafted items
   

4. you think granite is too shiny, too formal, too common
   

5. you think synthetic solid surface materials look and feel like plastic
   

6. you want a color or visual texture that’s not available with other materials
   

7. you strive to be surrounded by unique and personal design of yours and others
   

8. you believe in sustainable consumer practices and green products
   

Where can I use concrete in my home?

1. InConcrete makes concrete tops for kitchens, bathrooms, fireplace mantles & hearths, tables, desks, tub decks, outside bbq’s and anywhere else you could imagine topping or accenting with concrete.  Horizontal tops must be at least 1.5” thick. InConcrete can make thicker countertops as well as fabricate front edge returns up to 6” deep.
   

2. Concrete can be straight, curved, notched, multi-level, etc. Unlike granite, which would drastically increase in cost for curved shapes, creating curved concrete shapes simply involves some extra complexity and labor in forming.
   

3. Concrete can also be used in vertical applications such as backsplashes, shower surrounds and fireplace surrounds.  For vertical applications, concrete is generally 1” thick
   

4. Integral and vessel sinks are possible. See below for more information.
   

5. Concrete countertops can be used both indoors and outdoors.
   

6. InConcrete also specializes in chairs, benches, light fixtures, wine racks, and an array of specialized items for indoors or out.
   

7. Concrete floors are a different application. InConcrete is happy to work with any decorative flooring contractor to match color and design.  We offer custom hand toweled floor overlays.
   

What colors are available?

Any color!   Any color can be produced in a solid, speckled or variegated pattern. And, you can specify embedded or inlayed stone, glass, or other objects. You can specify the color, size and density of inlays. Coupled with the many color choices, you have myriad design options.

What is the process for custom colors?

We can customize existing colors or match the color of an item such as a paint chip or fabric. The process takes about 4 weeks. We produce two or more 6” x 12” samples and submit them for your approval for an additional cost.

What are the advantages and concerns of concrete compared to other countertop materials?

Advantages:

1. Custom: Concrete’s biggest advantage is that it is completely custom. The concrete is unique to you, and highly personalized.  It can be any size, any color, any shape, and/or any texture you can imagine!
   

2. Versatile: Concrete is extremely versatile. It can enhance any style, from French Country to Contemporary. From Arts and Crafts to Industrial. From Traditional to Modern.  The possibilities are endless.
   

3. Environmentally Friendly: In these days of heightened awareness about energy and material costs to our environment, concrete countertops are the most environmentally friendly countertop surface available.  First, all tops are custom made right here in Flagstaff by local artisans.  Furthermore, although a highly specialized form and use - it’s concrete - a simple mixture of readily available materials.  Although some of our ad-mixtures and pigments are shipped to us, by and large all of our materials come from right here in Northern Arizona.  We also have a large array of recycled glass to choose from for your aggregate.  For more about environmental advantages of concrete go to the Environmental Council of Concrete Organizations website at www.ecco.org.
   

4. Practical: Concrete countertops have very similar performance properties as Granite or Marble - materials you are no doubt familiar with.  However, the concrete countertop industry is made up of dedicated artisans who collaborate together and are constantly working to better the properties of concrete.  Through collaborative work with other professionals from throughout the country, we strive to supply you with the latest technologies in casting, sealing and maintenance.
   

5. Professionalism/Ownership:  InConcrete produces highly customized one of a kind pieces of art.  Our livelihood depends on our community of people regarding us as highly professional, extremely communicative, and of course talented artisans.  We spend a lot of time educating you so expectations are realistic, we provide detailed literature to you about proper use and care of our products.
   

6. Non-uniformity: Just like fine silk, fine woods, or any other high-end natural product, no two concrete pours are alike.  Client A and Client B will never have the exact same countertop.  Concrete countertops are hand made and hand finished. Since concrete is a heterogeneous mixture of many different ingredients, subtle variations in color, shade, texture and overall appearance are part of it’s beauty.
   

Concerns:

1. Staining: Concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite in this regard. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Just as in granite, a highly patterned ground concrete finish will SEEM to resist stains more readily than a polished non-patterned flat colored concrete top. Food, acids and oil will not stain your countertop if wiped up immediately, and if left on for a longer period of time, they will cause only a light spot whose appearance can be minimized.  There are a number of sealers we recommend depending on usage and look.  Click on www.concretecountertops.org for more information on sealers.
   

2. Scratching:  It is not the concrete that scratches readily, but the sealer.  Furthermore, concrete will dull knives, so as with any top material - it is recommended that cutting boards are used.  UNLIKE other countertop materials, we can pre-cast integral cutting surfaces that are either permanent or removable.
   

3. All concrete is susceptible to harmless hairline cracks. They will sometimes appear months or years after installation, and are generally a result of seasonal movement of the cabinets and the house itself and not the countertops. These should be considered part of the aesthetic charm of concrete, and not a defect. Concrete exhibits natural beauty rather than plastic perfection.  The hairline cracks can be “fixed” for aesthetic purposes.
   

4. Lead time: Concrete countertops are a long lead time item. They take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to fabricate on a clear schedule. See the section on lead time for more details.
   

How much color variation can occur?

Concrete is a natural, handmade material. Many factors such as humidity, sand lot and cement lot can affect the final appearance of the concrete. All of our color formulas record the type of sand, type of cement, and exact measurements of pigments to 1/10th of a gram, and our pigment specialist uses specially developed software to calculate mix design. However, colors can still vary because of the aforementioned factors.

Another factor that contributes to perceived variation is simply the size of samples. A 6”x12” sample, will look different than a whole countertop simply because the small sample does not capture all of the natural, random variations that will occur over a large surface. The color in a sample may appear completely uniform, but a whole countertop in that exact same color will not appear as uniform. The same situation occurs with other natural materials such as granite. If you are looking for perfect uniformity, solid surface might be a better countertop option for you.

What edges are available?

For concrete, edging is formed and cast or it can be cut or ground like granite or solid surface. Therefore, integral edge choices depend on the availability of appropriate trim moulding. For example, InConcrete can do pencil, beveled, concave and reverse cove edging, and other custom edges may be available. Edging may be placed on top or bottom of the countertop. Ground edges are 1/4 round, 1/2 round, and beveled.  Both processes have very different looks and affects - we’ll work with you during the design phase on edge choices.

What kind of sinks can be used with concrete countertops?

InConcrete concrete countertops can accommodate all types of sinks including drop-in, undermount and apron front. The minimum lip of concrete around all sides of sinks is 3”. Concrete can also accommodate drop-in cook-tops. The minimum lip of concrete in the front of a cook-top is 3”; we recommend 3” for the back also, but 2” will suffice.

InConcrete can make integral concrete sinks of almost any shape. Bathroom vanities are an excellent application of integral concrete sinks. We do not recommend integral concrete kitchen sinks for engineering reasons done in our standard manufacturing process. Kitchen sinks are deep and have angles that would put large stresses on the concrete and have high potential for cracking. Also, the size of kitchen sinks generally dictates a very thick concrete bottom that would be a problem with standard plumbing and cabinetry.

However, we also use a process called GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) that lends itself much better to kitchen sinks.  If you are set on wanting an integral kitchen sink, we will be happy to work with you on this.

Concrete vessel sinks are also a great option as well as farmsinks and concrete’s versatility means that the sink can be any color and shape.

What about backsplashes?

Backsplashes are cast and finished separately and deck mounted after the countertops are installed. Backsplashes are nominally 1 inch thick and can be from 3 inches high to full height. Outlet openings are cast in, not cut on site.

How are your concrete countertops made?

All of the slabs are precast in our shop and fully finished and sealed prior to installation.

When it comes to concrete countertops, there are two basic processes: cast-in-place and precast.  Cast-in-place involves building forms and pouring concrete in place, directly on the cabinets.  While this avoids the hassles of transporting heavy slabs, it does tie up the site for many days (or weeks), and it involves a messy process. In addition, cast (or pour) in place provides fewer options and less control over the finished product. Generally the only finish available is a trowelled surface, which is either acid stained or colored with pigments. The quality of the concrete, the finished appearance and ultimate performance of the countertop are all hampered by the fact that it’s all being done on site under a rushed time schedule.

Precast concrete countertops, on the other hand, move all of the processes off site into a controlled environment. In the structural engineering community, it is well known that precast concrete is superior to cast in place concrete, mainly because tighter quality control can be exercised. Curing, which is a critical step that is commonly misunderstood, can be closely monitored. Moving the process to a shop allows greater flexibility in terms of the look of the concrete. Glass, stone and other objects can now be embedded; these require extensive wet grinding with diamond power tools to reveal the embedded objects and hone and smooth the resulting surface. 

What is the lead time?

Although countertops are one of the last items to be installed, concrete countertops should be selected as early as possible. Here is an outline of the process:

1. 1. 
      

   2. Color Selection & Design
      

   1. InConcrete often performs custom color matching and submits samples for client approval. Allow about 3-4 weeks for this process. See the section on custom colors for more information.
      

   2. The design process often includes several meetings with us and multiple samples being poured.  Allow a minimum of 4 weeks for optimal results.
      

   3. Templating
      

   1. Templating is done from finished and installed cabinetry only, and it takes less than one day.
      

   4. Fabrication
      

   1. The typical time required to fabricate most concrete countertops, depending on their size and complexity, is 3-5 weeks (50 square feet or less, larger jobs are done in batches and will require additional time). Note that the fabrication process may not start immediately after templating depending on how full our production schedule is. A good guideline is to contact InConcrete at the beginning of the project, or at the latest one month before cabinetry is scheduled to be installed, both to allow time for custom color samples and to secure a spot on InConcrete’ production schedule.
      

   2. In the case of a residential project such as a complete kitchen remodel, homeowners are usually willing to wait longer for their custom-made, handcrafted concrete countertops. However, temporary countertops can be a way to minimize inconvenience. Temporary plywood countertops are one possible solution. Or, the contractor can preserve parts of the old countertop to provide some work surfaces.
      

   5. Installation
      

   1. Because InConcrete concrete countertops are precast and pre-finished, installation generally takes less than one day depending on the size and number of pieces.
      

2. 
   

How are templates made?

Concrete countertops are templated just like granite. Templating is done after any existing countertops are removed, or after new cabinets are fully installed. The contractor needs to arrange for existing countertop removal. Almost all concrete countertops require physical templates from the finished and installed  cabinetry.   In some cases, such as small or freestanding pieces, we can fabricate from CADD drawings instead of physical templates. We will advise on templating requirements for your project.  All fixtures that penetrate the concrete, such as sinks and faucets, must be available at templating time.

How are the countertops installed?

Concrete countertops are handled and installed just like granite. Seams are caulked with a color-matched acrylic caulk. Contractors need to arrange for plumbing and electrical hookup no earlier than 24 hours after the countertop installation.

Are there any special structural considerations?

A square foot of 1.5” thick concrete weighs about 17 lbs; a square foot of 3 cm granite weighs about 16.5 lbs. Typically, no special considerations are necessary for standard kitchen or bathroom vanity countertops.  Some lower-end pre-fab cabinet boxes may need extra support.  We will advise if necessary.  Cantilevered slabs, bartops on kneewalls and similar situations sometimes require brackets or other structural supports for the countertops.  InConcrete can advise on support requirements.

How much do they cost?

Every design concept is priced individually based on of form, finish, and installation.  Factors are complexity of form, inlays, pigment choice , and installation considerations- as well as perceived design time and number of samples required.  Even though size is a factor, we do not price or value our work by its size.  View entering into a project with us as you would a commissioned artist, understanding that you are not getting the price on a commodity like granite, but for a one of a kind piece of commissioned art.  That being said, we find our work to price comparably to high-end granite and solid surface.  Please contact Lynda Apple at 928-773-4326 or inconcrete@mac.com for more information and a detailed proposal for your project.

Do you offer a warranty?

Yes. InConcrete warrantees the structural integrity of the concrete for one year after installation. The countertops will of course last a lot longer than a year, but if any problems were to occur, they would occur in the first year. We subject the concrete to much larger stresses while handling it than clients ever could once it is installed. In addition, InConcrete provides each client with an Owner’s Guide and a direct phone number for support from Lynda Apple and Michael Whalen - owners of InConcrete.

Whom can I contact with questions or to discuss a project?

Contact your designer or Lynda Apple, at 928-773-4326 or inconcrete@mac.com.