Common questions about concrete countertops, sinks and other cast pieces.
1. What is possible using Mojo Concrete's precast concrete?
2. Why should I choose concrete for my countertop or sink?
3. How much do concrete countertops cost?
4. How are they made?
5. How long do they take to make?
6. How thick are the countertops?
7. What kind of edge profiles can be made?
8. How heavy are they?
9. How big of a piece can be made without seams?
10. Will my existing cabinets support a concrete countertop?
11. Do your countertops have a sealer applied?
12. Is routine maintenance required?
13. Do concrete countertops stain?
14. Do concrete countertops crack and chip?
15. Is the surface of a concrete countertop rough to the touch?
16. What colors can concrete be made?
17. How much color variation can be expected?
18. What kind of sinks can be used with concrete countertops?
19. What kind of faucets can be used with concrete countertops and sinks?
20. What is the procedure for having color samples made?
21. Where can I find out additional information about concrete countertops?
Q. What is possible using Mojo Concrete's precast concrete?
A. Cast concrete pieces can be used as slabs in both horizontal and vertical applications. Three dimensional pieces can also be cast which do not fit neatly into either of the above catagories. Horizontal applications can include countertops, tabletops, and fireplace hearths. Vertical applications can include backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and architectural details such as island backs and partition walls. Three dimensional applications can include include countertops with integrated sinks, stand alone sinks and other custom applications. With concrete, there are few limitations on the use of form as a design feature.
Q. Why should I choose concrete for my countertop or sink?
A. Concrete allows the freedom to express design ideas using form, color and texture. No other medium has concrete's creative potential . Concrete has an earthy and organic quality that can provide a comforting counterpoint to the synthetic and mass produced products we encounter daily. Each piece is hand crafted to your specifications, and each piece is unique.
Q. How much do concrete countertops cost?
A. Countertops start at around one hundred dollars per square foot for basic slabs and standard colors. Because each piece is made to custom specifications and each job is unique, there is no standard pricing. Quoted prices will reflect the effort and resources necessary to execute each individual design.
Q. How are they made?
A. Concrete countertops can be either cast in place or pre-cast. Mojo Concrete uses the pre-cast method. A template of the area to receive countertops is made and brought to our shop. A mold is fabricated using the templates as a guide. Concrete is mixed and placed in the molds. After curing, the countertops or sinks are removed from the molds and the surfaces are ground and polished to make them smooth. A sealer is then applied to the surface. After the sealer cures, the countertops are ready for installation.
Q. How long do they take to make?
A. The production process takes about 3 weeks from the time templates are made to the time the counters are ready for installation. This timeframe makes the assumption that any special pigments, aggregates or embedded details are selected and on hand at the time of templating. All sinks and faucets must also be available prior to starting production. The design phase of the project can take much longer than the production phase, depending on the number of color samples produced sequentially, and whether these iterations are for standard or custom colors. Standard color samples can be produced in 7 to 10 days.Custom color samples can take 2-3 weeks. We are a small shop and have a limited production capacity, so please let us know what your shedule is well in advance.
Q. How thick are the countertops?
A. Concrete countertops are a minimum of 1 1/2" thick. Countertops that are thicker than 2" are generally cast 1 1/2" thick and formed to have a thicker apron on visible edges. Concrete pieces that are to be used in vertical applications (backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, ...) can be cast 3/4" to 1" thick depending on the application.
Q. .What kind of edge profiles can be made?
A. The number of edge profiles that can be cast into a piece is unlimited. Square and small radius edges are the most economical to produce an are found on most of the pieces we make.
Q. How heavy are they?
A. A 1 1/2" thick concrete countertop weighs about 18 pounds per square foot. A 2" thick top weighs about 24 pounds per square foot. For comparison purposes, 3 cm granite weighs about 16 - 17 pounds per square foot.
Q. How big of a piece can be made without seams?
A. The maximum size depends on the countertop thickness, the location of sink openings, physical layout of the site and other considerations primarily related to our ability to safely transport and install a particular piece. A site with easy access and plenty of room around the installation area will allow for larger pieces to be used. Difficult site access or large penetrations in the counters will generally necessitate counters with more seams. The longest piece we have made to date was 12 feet long and 2 inches thick. The largest piece we have made to date was 11 1/2 feet long, 34 inches wide and 2 inches thick. This particular piece weighed in the neighborhood of 900 pounds.
Q. Will my existing cabinets support a concrete countertop?
A. Most cabinets will support the weight of 1 1/2" concrete countertops without any additional reinforcement.
Q.Do your countertops have a sealer applied?
A. Yes. Mojo Concrete offers two different sealing systems that have their own distinct advantages and potential drawbacks. More information about the sealing systems used by Mojo Concrete can be found here.
Q. Is routine maintenance required?
A. Other than the good practice of keeping your countertops clean and wiping up spills in a timely manner, there is no regular maintenance required. More information about the care and use of Mojo Concrete's concrete products can be found here.
Q. Do concrete countertops stain?
A. Mojo Concrete offers two different sealing systems that have their own distinct advantages and potential drawbacks. The sealing systems we apply have different levels of stain resistance but are not stain proof. More information about the sealing systems used by Mojo Concrete can be found here.
Q. Do concrete countertops crack and chip?
A. Mojo Concrete warrants their countertops and sinks for one year against structural cracking. It is possible for small hairline cracks to appear many months after installation. These hairline cracks are not a defect, but are part of the organic beauty of the piece.Concrete countertops will behave like natural stone counters with regard to chipping. If you smack the edge of your concrete countertop with a cast iron pan, you are likely to chip the edge.
Q. Is the surface of a concrete countertop rough to the touch?
A. No. Our pre-cast concrete is ground and polished using the same type of tooling used to finish other natural stone surfaces. The resulting surface is smooth as glass to the touch. If you have never seen and felt concrete countertops that have been ground and polished, you will need to overcome the common mental association of concrete with the roughness of concrete driveways and sidewalks.
Q. What colors can concrete be made?
A. Concrete can be made almost any color. Mojo Concrete works with a company that is able to provide pigments for any color in the Benjamin Moore paint color wheel. Very light colors require the use of sand and aggregates that are not locally produced, resulting in greater cost for raw materials and their shipping as well as increased packaging waste.
Q. How much color variation can be expected?
A. Each piece of concrete will have subtle variations of coloration within the piece. In addition, there are many factors that can cause minor differences in shade and tone from one piece to the next, even if they are made with the same mix recipe and the same pigments. We at Mojo Concrete feel these minor variations add to the organic quality of the pieces we make. If you are the type of person that has to have their finished piece look exactly like a particular section of a sample we have made, you are likely to be disappointed, and would probably be happier looking at Corian, Cambria or some other manufactured solid surface material.
Q. What kind of sinks can be used with concrete countertops?
A. Both under-mount and drop-in sinks can be used. In addition, sinks can be made an integral part of the countertop.
Q. What kind of faucets can be used with concrete countertops and sinks?
A. Most faucets can be used. The potential problem with some faucets lies with the maximum countertop thickness that can be accommodated. This is a generally only an issue with certain concrete sinks. Please let us know what kind of faucet you are considering and we can find out if there could be problems with the installation.
Q. What is the procedure for having color samples made?
A.12" x 12" x 3/4" color samples can be ordered so that you can preview the specific colors and finishes you are considering for your project. More information about ordering color samples can be found here.
Q. Where can I find out additional information about concrete countertops?
A.One very good website with many articles available for review as well as a thorough question and answer page that includes information on how to evaluate and select a concrete countertop contractor is: Concrete Connections. Portions of this site can be viewed only by registered trade professionals