SureCrete Design has worked diligently over the last 3 years, bringing in house, the largest supplies for precast and pour-in-place concrete countertops, GFRC wall panels, integral concrete sink molds, concrete edge details and much more. SureCrete has also put together the most comprehensive concrete countertop fabrication training courses in the industry today.

Many concrete countertop training courses that are available, teach  the history behind concrete and the artisan side of custom design. While all of these points have a place, and can be very exciting, it does not ensure that the student/applicator can make a living of this training.  SureCrete’s concrete countertop training is designed to enlighten the applicator to concrete countertop mix designs, latest application techniques, simple and creative mold designs and efficient installation procedures.

Why is this knowledge essential? Once you go through the 3 or 5 day course, the applicator is in position to make a business against concrete countertops and be able to compete with weekly fabrication and installation as can be seen in other mainstream countertop materials such as;solid surface and natural stone. Lets look at what you can expect out of the two available concrete countertop courses by SureCrete.

Advancements in Concrete Countertop Mix – Xtreme Series Product Line

How does one choose the right concrete countertop mix?

Well there are many reputable companies out there that take great pride in their concrete countertop mix designs. Outside of cost, what can be some deciding factors to help narrow the choices?

1. First off your concrete countertop mix should match your intended design and profile thickness. Example;  if you need to pour a concrete countertop 1″ thick can it be done with ease? If so what kind of reinforcement is needed?
2. Next, are you looking to pour it in place or precast your concrete countertops? This is a very important choice. Certain mix designs can handle both preferences. Be cautious about demold and cure times. Compressive and flexural strengths vary in concrete countertop mixes.
3. Most concrete countertop mixes can achieve multiple textures, looks and designs. The only caution can be the size of the aggregates in the concrete countertop mix. If you are looking to polish the concrete countertop, cut it in place or do any mechanical manipulation,  this can expose aggregates that may not be part of the intended look. This should be taken into consideration when choosing the right concrete countertop mix.

With those three factors in mind, we looked at many of the more popular manufacturers of concrete countertop mixes. One that stood out was the Xtreme Countertop mix from SureCrete Design products. Lets take a look at what made this product the smartest choice in concrete countertop mix design.

Xtreme Countertop is a dual component concrete countertop mix. It combines the most advanced chemical technology with modern fiber advancements, to create an unparalleled concrete countertop mix design. This technology binds the raw materials of cement and sand with other ingredients into a stronger, denser cementitious composite than ever before possible.

How is this an advantage? The advancements in the Xtreme Series concrete countertop mix greatly reduces the amount of materials and labor required to construct a traditional concrete countertop. It addition to that, the concrete countertop mix does not have any polymers or acrylics. This opens the door for larger temperature swings during mixing and pouring along with little to no shrinkage issues after the fact. With the wide range of color selection and aggregate loading, design considerations are nearly limitless.

Xtreme Concrete Countertop Mix Features:

• Pre Blended Bag mix design with (1) gallon of XCTOP Modifier
• Pour as thin as 1/2″ with No rebar or steel
• Extreme PVA Fiber load
• Compressive Strength – 10,500 PSI
• Flexural Strength – 1,500 PSI
• 30-45 minute pot life of self consolidation
• 4-6 hour cure to demold time (design and texture can alter time)
• Begin tooling or polishing after 8 hours
• Bend into designs!

Here is a video that show’s you how creative one can get with the right concrete countertop mix. The product was demolded 6 hours after pouring. At 18 hours old, it could hold 3 adults at 5/8″ thick, standing on its own legs.

So you have seen Concrete Countertops shown on the DIY Network or HGTV.

Whether you are a “Do It Yourself” owner or you love the art and functionality of concrete, you now want to start your own concrete countertop project or business. The question is how do I get started in the concrete countertop business with the right material and tools?

1. First, you need to figure out if you prefer to pour-in-place your concrete countertops or precast the concrete countertops. There are pr’s and cons to both, but as you look at which concrete countertop bag mix or formula you choose, it will generally lend itself to a particular  pouring style. There are many qualified manufacturers of concrete countertop bag  mixes and formulas. So you need to look at the positive and negative aspects of each material and match that up against what tools, tables, and space you will need in order to work with them.
2. Next you need to choose a casting deck surface and forming system. Typically, many applicators of concrete countertops choose products such as expanded PVC, melamine, glass, wood or polished steel for their casting deck. As for the form rails we tell each person to find a material they can work quickly and simply with. A lot of time can be wasted by using certain materials, therefore the upfront smaller cost on materials can easily become more expensive due to the taxing amount of time needed to complete the task.
3. Lastly, you need to think of finishing materials that will transform your concrete countertop into a functional masterpiece. These items can include concrete integral color, concrete stains, concrete sealers, concrete edge details and sink molds and other small tools.

One of the biggest issues one can have when starting up a concrete countertop business, is dealing with multiple vendors for materials. This can be taxing and difficult to manage the availability of materials needed for a project along with the extra time spent ordering and waiting. Thats why we  were happy to find SureCrete Design. The took the time not only to invest in the latest concrete countertop technology for mix designs, but also brought in house some of the best choices for countertop forming systems, Eco-friendly concrete stains,  reusable concrete edge details, concrete sink molds and a variety of concrete countertop sealers, which can ensure the beauty and stain resistance of your artwork.  Everything you need for your concrete countertop business under one roof!

Because of the simplicity that SureCrete brings to the  ”Do It Yourself” owner or the contractor looking to start their own concrete countertop business. They have been featured on networks such as DIY Network and HGTV.  Below are some links to that information:

Xtreme Countertop used on DIY Network’s “Yard Crashers”

Custom Concrete Leaf Outdoor Kitchen Countertop - Click Here

Custom wood and concrete outdoor table - Click Here

Xtreme Countertop featured on the DIY Network - Click Here

Although learning on your own can be fun and exciting, it can also take time to become proficient. You may want to consider taking a concrete countertop training course or seminar. While many companies offer classes, choose one that will help you understand the aspects of the business not just designs, colors and textures. This knowledge will help you reproduce your projects with quality and consistency, which will help drive profit margins and customer satisfaction. We suggest looking at the Xtreme Series Precast Countertop Fabrication courses. You can find more about that in another article. Click here

Remember, when you know how to do something correctly it becomes a lot more fun. And what better job to have, than one you can have fun with and let your inner child come out.

Enjoy your startup into concrete countertops!

Location: New Jersey

Project: Remodeling a Master bathroom with Spa

Installation by: J&M Lifestyles

Material Supplier: SureCrete Design

Total Sq Ft: 80 sq ft

Products Used: Xtreme GFRC Face Mix, Xtreme GFRC Backer, Xtreme Slurry, ARS 400, custom shower drain, blum drawer slides

So put yourself in this homeowner’s shoes. You have gutted your master bathroom with the intention of creating a European style oasis. Your search begins for the right look, color and design for your countertops, sinks and bath surround. As you exhaust yourself looking at  granite   and other natural stone you realize nothing is matching the look in your mind.

Six months have passed and well, tensions are rising over getting this project finished. And thats when they found the perfect medium to custom create the design in their minds. The solution was GFRC, glass fiber reinforced concrete. Immediately they fell in love with the diversity of designs, colors and could now create a functional master bath with clean lines and useful applications. Let’s t take a look at how this project unfolded.

The team at J&M Lifestyles, in New Jersey, had the task of integrating the stand-up shower, tub surround and match that with the countertop and other surfaces in the room. After templating each area, they realized that they were in need of material that could help in making this design come to life by reducing the amount of seams that would be visible. J&M Lifestyles choose the Xtreme Series GFRC mix design.

They began the process by creating their mold and casting surface. Incorporating a custom color blend from SureCrete with the Xtreme Series GFRC Face mix, they sprayed the cream coat on to all the surfaces. After letting that setup for about 10 minutes they followed behind the candy shell surface with the same custom color mixed in the Xtreme Series Backer mix. This material provides  the structural and flexural strength to the ultra smooth, pinhole free surface of the GFRC face coat.

With each piece finally casted and made, it was allowed to sit and cure. The Xtreme Series GFRC is the ideal mix design for Glass fiber reinforced concrete users, as it allows for a faster cure and demold time, as little as 6 hours. And delivers the ability to begin the next stage of design, secondary coloring or sealing within 8-10 hours after pouring. Additional positive attributes of Xtreme GFRC is it’s ability to save time and labor on each project by allowing you to maximize the tables you cast on and increasing the down time between the next station or stage.

The next important step was to apply the appropriate sealer. With many quality choices out there, the team at J&M Lifestyles chose ARS 400. A break through in nano-technology sealers, ARS 400 is an excellent GFRC sealer, and has the ability to penetrate and bond to the almost 11,000 PSI surface of the Xtreme GFRC.

The installation of the precast GFRC panels and GFRC countertop vanity was down with  multiple products. The vanity was installed with standard wall mount bracket. The GFRC wall panels for the tub surround were installed with an acrylic mastic.