Products
Concrete countertops have many uses:
> Kitchen countertops
> Bathroom countertops
> Sinks (bar, vanity)
> Tub surrounds
> Tabletops (dining room, coffee tables, end tables, restaurant, etc.)
> Fireplace components (mantles, hearths, and surrounds)
> Retail countertops
> Reception desks
> Bars
Concrete countertops are warm, inviting and versatile. It can enhance any style, from French Country to Contemporary. From Arts and Crafts to Industrial. From Traditional to Modern. Concrete is the only countertop material that's made completely from scratch just for you!
Properly engineered concrete countertops are strong, stain-resistant and low maintenance. You can be confident that your countertops will remain beautiful for years to come.
Process
Visualization
If you are considering concrete for a project, contact your local fabricator! They can help you visualize the project and make your ideas a reality. First your fabricator should discuss your needs - the look you're going for, the performance you expect from your countertops, any special requirements you might have.
Budgeting
The next step is to look at your budget. Your fabricator can help you with options and choices that will work with your budget. Most fabricators provide free estimates based on a sketch or drawing.
Color Selection
Then, if concrete is right for you, the fun part begins - color selection! Any color is possible, and there are dozens of recipes, many of which you can see on this website. Your fabricator may have a showroom or arrange to meet with you to show you color samples. See the FAQ section for more information on colors.
Templating
For precast concrete countertops, your fabricator will make detailed templates so that your countertops fit just right.
Fabrication
Your countertops will be hand-made from scratch to exactly your specifications. The fabrication process is fascinating! See the FAQ section for information about how concrete countertops are made.
Installation
Concrete countertops are templated and installed just like granite countertops, so you can be confident that your local contractor can do the job.
Performance
Your fabricator will let you know how your countertops will perform in terms of staining, scratching, heat and any required maintenance.
Company
Jeff Girard founded FormWorks in 1999. Jeff is a licensed professional engineer with a Master's degree in civil engineering and over a decade of experience. Previously, he conducted innovative engineering research at the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. People often ask Jeff how he got started. Here's what he says:
"I'm a craftsman at heart, and I've always enjoyed challenging, detailed-oriented tasks. I enjoy hobbies such as fine woodworking, high-end speaker design and freshwater tropical aquatic gardening. One day in 1999, I saw an article in Fine Homebuilding about making concrete countertops. I immediately saw ways the process could be improved, based on my technical background, years of experience and eye for quality. I made concrete countertops for my own kitchen, and my wife loved them. I put up a website, and a business was born!
The early days, crowded in my garage, seem like a long time ago. I moved from my garage to a shop larger than my whole house. Then I doubled that space and hired shop employees. My wife Lane has joined the business full-time in sales and marketing, and I now have a production manager, Brad, to manage the shop. And we've since doubled our space again. Demand for concrete countertops has grown tremendously over the past few years as people realize that custom concrete countertops are a beautiful, high-performance option for their kitchens and bathrooms.
My goal is to raise the standard for concrete countertops. I want concrete countertops to be one of the standard choices for countertops, not just a fad. And the way to do that is to offer clients throughout the country a high-quality product. To that end, I started The Concrete Countertop Institute in 2004, and I know train contractors across the country to do an excellent job on concrete countertops."
