Concrete has a very natural look and feel. It is much similar to organic stones than synthetic solid surface materials and certainly has an unmistakable aesthetic that is truly all its own.
It's often forgot that this dense, earthy material starts off in a liquid state before hardening to become the stout, structural material we all know. This initial state of liquidity can yield extraordinary shapes that other stones simply cannot match. Visual feats, such as deceptively large mass and elements of transparency can be more efficiently 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.
Most solid surface materials lack this high level of pliabilty and customization. Organic stones like granite and marble as well as engineered stones like slab quartz lack such customization and are first pre-produced in standard sized slabs. Later these slabs are shipped to a distributor and finally to a local fabricator who does the ultimate sizing and customizing for your project. This approach requires many more exchanges and yields a fabrication reality that severely limits these products' design possibilities. It can ultimately increase their overall cost, as well, especially in comparison to the level of choice, uniqueness and customization you can get from concrete.
On top of being the most customizable solid surface material, concrete can be an environmentally conscious product, as well. By choosing mixtures that utilize recycled glass you can achieve a product that is not only beautiful but one that has a 70-80% recycled composition. A wonderful, sustainable and concious option if you are trying to live and build Green.
We always try to locally source our materials and patronize fellow local businesses. On average, 70% of the materials in our countertops are produced in Washington state.
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.
Here are two color charts:
Solomon Colors
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 dyed and stained, which yields a more variant coloring. Remember, the colors on the chart are just a few examples.
Using recycled glass is not only eco-friendly it is a beautiful material to make your counter unique and specific to your home's ambiance. The base colors for recycled glass are those common to bottles and other consumer containers: clear, brown, green and blue. However, we can crush and size recycled sheet glass from industrial waste, as well, providing a wonderful palette of colors to accent the standard base colors. We can also crush and size small amounts of specific personal glass that you may want to add to your project like a mirror, window, plates, special bottles, etc.
A few examples of recycled industrial glass:
There are so many ways to customize concrete that creating a list would be simply exhausting and always far from complete. I am constantly creating and discovering new techniques. At this point I don’t see an end in sight.
If you desire custom, uniquie, handcrafted work from start to finish that reflects your personal style and supports your local community then our concrete countertops are a great choice for you. Hopefully, the work we 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 creation. Bring me your ideas and designs--- I know we will achieve them.