FAQS

Why choose concrete?

When making design decisions for our Barry Street Project in Melbourne, we decided that concrete was the way forward, due in part to the kitchen featuring a 4.5 metre long island bench and a 5.4 metre long back bench! We wanted to create a statement bench-top that had no join in the middle (as opposed to stone which would have needed to be bookmarked) and that we could control. Thus started our journey learning everything we could about concrete including the best processes, sealers and finishes.

We also love the raw, speckled, perfectly-imperfect nature of concrete that can only come from something that is hand-made - and we believe this is part of the timeless appeal that this material has. Second to this is how functional and robust concrete is. It is easily able to with-stand the general wear-and tear of life, and our tip-top sealing process ensures you don't need to be constantly worrying about spills and stains as opposed to marble and stone.

Not only are concrete bench-tops aesthetically pleasing, but they are also a great choice environmentally over other un-renewable or unsustainable sources such as stone, granite and timber. Read below for more info on this topic.

Is concrete sustainable?

Because of its low impact on the environment, concrete is one of the greenest countertop materials you can use and in addition to their versatility and distinctive beauty, concrete countertops have another virtue that appeals to many people, especially the ecologically aware: They are more environmentally friendly, or "greener," than most other types of countertops.

"Solid surface materials are made of plastic, engineered quartz materials contain a synthetic resin binder, and granite and marble are nonrenewable mined resources. Concrete contains mostly just good old sand, rock and cement,"
Jeff Girard, president of The Concrete Countertop Institute and one of the Concrete Network's technical experts.

We are continually mindful of our environmental footprint, and we are proactive about looking into better products and practices.

Still unsure?
Here's a good read on the topic:  http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/countertops/sustainable/

Our sealer also meets the Green Building Council of Australia Green Start IEQ-11 and IEQ-12 requirements for Architectural Sealants. It has a low VOC rating of 25g/L (before dilution).

Maintenance

Concrete bench-tops are robust and relatively easy to maintain thanks to our sealing process. We recommend Lithofen Easy-Clean for easy every day cleaning - contact us to purchase. However, as with other bench-tops, your countertop is an investment and to err on the side of caution, we always recommend trivets, coasters, food mats, and wiping any residue from food or drinks as soon as possible to eliminate the possibility of marking. This not only helps to product our bench-top, but also extends the longevity of our bench-tops. You may need to re-seal your bench-top from 7-10 years.

Heat + Stain Resistance.

Our concrete is heat resistant to 149C whilst Caesar Stone can typically only withstand 100 C. To be safe, always use a trivet as you would for any other bench top to help protect the sealer. The sealing product we use is one of the best available and it is completely food-safe for residential and commercial usage. It is a penetrating water-based polyurethane coating, which is UV stable and has an outstanding balance of strength, flexibility, chemical & scratch resistance

Strength & Structural Guarantee.

We guarantee the structural integrity of our concrete bench tops for 5 years providing that they are suitably supported and cared for as recommended.
Our product reaches a minimum of 90MPa in an average of 14 days, with over 12% flexural strength. This is extremely strong comparing to your typical concrete which stands at around 40 MPa. As we do not design our benchtops for unnecessary additional weight, we do not recommend standing or sitting on your benchtops. 

Weight.

Unlike traditional concrete, there is rarely steel in our bench-tops providing a much more lightweight product. We use a relatively new product in Australia called GFRC (Glass Fibre Re-inforced Concrete) which is a concrete bonded with fibre glass making it much lighter than traditional concrete. Our bench-tops can even weigh less than typical stone or granite as we have more flexibility in the way we can design and create them.

Installation & Supports.

Our wall hung vanities and any bench-tops with cantilevers or overhangs must have sufficient supports underneath if they are not supported by cabinetry (ie drawers). Speak with your builder or carpenter and make sure that appropriate allowances are made during your renovation to allow for our vanities to be supported by the wall it is installed on. We are happy to work with your builder, carpenter or cabinet-maker to advise and make sure the correct measures are being taken, just get in touch. Alternatively, if you would like your vanity to be installed by our skilled team of tradesmen, please get in touch for a quote. We currently service Melbourne Metro, South Gippsland and Bass Coast regions.

Customising concrete.

The list is endless as to how we can customise concrete, which is another reason why it is so exciting to work with! We can create bench-tops as thin as 20mm, integrate sinks using our moulds, create curves, inset dish drainers and metal, add pigment and create 'waterfall' and cantilevered ends for island benches. We look forward to hearing what your ideas might be!

Finishes, Texture + Pigments

We offer a matte/raw finish as well as a high-gloss finish depending on what kind of look and feel you are after. Contact us to order a sample for the colours you may be interested in. The final outcome may vary slightly from the sample tile.

Can concrete crack?

Although we guarantee the structural integrity of our product, over time, concrete is a handmade, natural product which can expand and contract as the concrete cures and buildings shift over time. This may produce tiny hairline cracks around certain points of the bench-top. Although it is rare, we cannot 100% guarantee against it. It is part of what we personally love about concrete, the perfect-imperfect nature of it. This may however, not be your piece of cake! Please consider whether you will be ok with this before choosing concrete!