Concrete has a very natural look and feel. It is much similar to true stones such as granite and marble than it is to synthetic products such as Corian or laminates.
Although concrete has this very organic look, feel and overall aesthetic it is often forgot that it starts off in a liquid state. Its liquidity yields extraordinary shapes that other stones simply cannot match. Other optical feats such as deceptively large mass and elements of transparency can be accomplished and concrete’s ability to achieve three-dimensional shapes is unparalleled. Concrete’s liquidity also makes it possible to create many different textures and patterns.
Concrete can be an environmentally friendly product. By choosing mixtures that utilize recycled glass you can achieve a product that is not only beautiful but is made with 75-80% recycled materials. A wonderful, sustainable and eco-friendly option if you are trying to build green.
Other recycled glass solid surfaces such as, IceStone®and Vetrazzo®, lose some of these benefits because they are pre-produced in sheets and then shipped to a local fabricator to be fabricated to fit your project---similar to granite, where cutting, routing and laminating are the techniques used to shape and adjust. This process severely limits these products' possibilities and generally increases their cost.
Adding color to concrete is one of the first steps to an exciting recipe and virtually any color and combination of colors can be achieved. Other simple ingriedents are shells, recycled metals and artistic inlays.
Here are two color charts:
The colors shown in the charts are obtained using gray cement at a particular ratio. Change the ratio and you get varying shades of that color. Use white cement and you get much more vibrant colors. These are integral pigments, which are dry powders added to the mix. Concrete can also be acid-stained, which yields a more variant coloring. Remember, the colors on the chart are just a few examples.
There are so many ways to customize concrete that creating a list would be simply exhausting and always far from complete. I am constanty creating and discovering new techniques. At this point I don’t see an end in sight.
If you appreciate custom, handcrafted work then ConCreations is for you. Hopefully, the work I have created so far will give you a glimpse of what is possible with concrete. The next step is to work together in designing your custom piece, so please contact me with your ideas-- I’m confident we can achieve them.
