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Comparing Granite to Concrete: Cost and Value
February 16, 2010
How does concrete compare to granite? This is a question I often get so I figured it was time to address this in a full article, hopefully alleviating some confusion. The most common comparison that I get when asked about concrete is how does it compare to granite as a counter-top material.
Lets start with price. The short answer is that concrete and granite are very similar in terms of price but like everything they both have a huge ranges. I have seen granite for a low as $50/sqft and upwards of $150. Technically you could do concrete yourself as low as $25/sqft considering all your materials (not your labour) but depending on design details you could also get $150/sqft, a good average we try and stay at is $75/sqft but this can also depend on many variables.
This brings me to my next point, which are the DIY counter-top customers. (While this does not pertain to granite comparisons it needs to be said while discussing price.) For the record I do not discourage DIY. My philosophy is that anyone who would consider doing what I do as a DIY project is not going to pay me to handcraft something for them. So when I get questions regarding a DIY project I am more than happy to answer them. And I am sure with a little action on Google you can come back with any number of articles stating the ease and savings involved with making your own counters. I will say for something very basic and rough it might be easy for some, so is making rudimentary furniture or a bookshelf, or pottery, sculpting, and painting. All of these practices are “easy” to do in practice but not all people will have the same results. Concrete is the same way, I have put in many hours and much trial and error perfecting and honing my skills and it shows in the craftsmanship of my work.
Wear and tear are big concerns with concrete, and they should be. It is also a concern with granite but it gets extremely downplayed by retailers and installers. The majority of granite counters I see are very dark. I think a dark granite counter looks great but it also hides staining, and I think that is a big factor as to why you see so much dark granite. Oil is the biggest staining issue I have see with concrete, no matter how much sealing and waxing you do with a stone surface like concrete, granite or marble, oil seems to find any tiny hairline crack or pour and work it’s way in if left sitting on the surface. The good news is this stain is often quite random and dissipates over time blending with the natural patina. And as a worst case scenario if your counters ever got too stained after say 10 years of heavy use, we can refurbish them and have them looking great again in about a day. To make a long story short granite and concrete of like colours have similar stain resistance, the catch is the majority of concrete you see is light gray, and the majority of granite you see is very dark and close to black.
The biggest strength when comparing granite to concrete is that concrete has a lot of freedom. Because everything we do is unique and tailored to your own situation we can make curves and drain trays that you can never get with granite. We can also vary our grind and patterning in concrete to create a unique surface to your own kitchen. While I have seen some granite that will have natural veining and streaking running through them this is a trait found only in the higher end granites, it is extremely beautiful but it comes with a price. Concrete quite literally has infinite design potential, while this can be daunting for a client it is my job to guide you through this process and help you design something that is a perfect fit for you kitchen, bathroom or piece of furniture.
When you consider concrete as a product for your counter-top there really is no great comparison product as the craftsmanship is much different compared to the other options out there. I can’t reiterate enough that concrete is a handmade product and the charm and uniqueness of being handmade shows through in the subtle intricacies of the finishing. Concrete is not for everyone, neither is granite, marble, corian, stainless steel or any other counter-top surface. I don’t even know how to help you choose which counter-top surface is best for you. I believe you will know it when you see it. All of my customers are after something very specific and have unique designs and details that they want. Usually by the time they get to me their heart is already set on concrete because of it’s beauty and design. Sometimes I feel like I am more a facilitator in that I am not “selling” the client on concrete I am making their ideas become a reality in concrete.
Pelican Case 1120
January 26, 2010
I have a Pelican case. I love my Pelican case. What more can I say? Well a few things. The plastic is rigid on these larger Pelican cases but also impact resistant, it is an extremely robust case designed to keep your gear dry and safe. I bought this case in red I think red looks awesome and is very “search and rescue”, why wouldn’t I get a red one? Also inside the case are little foam cubes you can pinch out in any shape you want, so if you need to fit any size of gear and it’s little accessories you can design your case to fit your exact needs. The case also has a great waterproof seal, two extremely rugged latches and an escape valve that will release air pressure during altitude changes.
So what do I do with mine? Hiking? Sky diving? kayaking? The answer is none of these things. It houses my fledgling watch collection. Basically I have a big red plastic jewelry box… but it’s tough looking.
Concrete Fireplaces - Modernize your room.
December 14, 2009
Concrete Cat has done a pretty steady stream of concrete fireplaces lately. A concrete fireplace, hearth, mantle or whole surround is a quick and seamless way to modernize your room without breaking the bank or tearing out everything to start from square one. Let’s face it Edmonton, Alberta is crazy cold so it makes sense that fireplaces would be a big part of modern homes in Canada. A concrete fireplace can be made in almost any shape you want and is quite a bit cheaper than many comparable natural stone alternatives.
This first client has a beautiful brick fireplace but felt that the tile hearth really dated the whole room and was a bit too busy. We both felt that a concrete hearth was a good solution because we could clean up the lines but still provide a depth of colour and texture in the pieces.
After we replaced the hearth with concrete it really changed the overall feel and look of the room. It the clean lines almost made the room feel a touch bigger without having such a busy look in front of the brick. There already is so much texture and colour from the brick the tile really was a bit of overkill and clash of texture. We went with “stone” which is a darker natural grey but it is also a colour that with the right amount of polishing you really get some amazing colours out of it that I can’t do justice in these photos.
The second fireplace is is one that was in a brand new spec home. The home owners were in a position where they needed a home quickly and so had to buy a spec home where they did not get to choose their furnishings. In my previously lives I have worked for a few different home builders and I am always in close contact with builders so I’ll try and word this next section carefully as not too insult anyone. That being said this fireplaces characterizes what I despise in the new home and renovation market. Many of the new homes and renovations are not built to last. This entire fireplaces is built out of molded mdf!!! Are you kidding me? It’s a fireplace! I Don’t care if if it is a gas box inside that’s creating the fire it’s a complete joke that that this fireplace surround is made of mdf. Fireplaces need to be built to last, as should the rest of the home. A solid surface fireplaces looks better, last longer making it better for the environment and if designed to look timeless it can be a permanent fixture in a home not something that looks dated in 10 years.
In addition to being a fireplace that was made out of pretty shoddy materials it was also a very poor fit for the room. The fireplace was way too ornate and stuck out some what deep in an already crowded space. The concrete fireplace we replaced this with was very clean and gives the room a strong look without taking up to much room in a crowded space.
This last fireplace is just really nice. It fits the room really well and once the rest of the room is finished this will really be a showpiece. I am constantly amazed by the depth of colour that we end up getting out of concrete, it is absolutely beautiful and has so much character.
A concrete fireplace can be made to fit any room and can be designed to also fit the style you want. Installing a concrete fireplace can be done in a day and a half leaving you with very little downtime. Our concrete fireplaces are hand molded and finished making it a piece of sculpted art for your room. Design your home with a timeless elegance out of materials that are built to last, it is easier on your bank account and easier on the environment.
Fort Beaumont 2.0
December 1, 2009
Another winter season is upon us and thus the resurrection for For Beaumont. For the uninitiated Fort Beaumont is my space inside of the space, the inner sanctum of Concrete Cat. Well…. Actually my shop is not heated and in the winter I need to create a heated space out of insulated tarps to regulate the temperature inside of the shop during a pour, it also help maintain good humidity inside the enclosed space which aids in the strength and finish of the concrete.
This year we really thought out our fort before putting it up. I decided on going with a much lower roof so we would have less space to heat, and I actually laid out all my tarps to check their lengths before I wired them all together. So this year (unlike last year) the tarps hit the ground at an equal length all the way around.
Some of the other upgrades are a well thought out door placement and the ability to complete roll up the sides of the tent to move pieces in or out.
The construction of the fort is made up of two framed in end pieces, a type 3 construction ladder that the tarps hang from, 4 insulated tarps, and some wire. Inside the fort we have our pour tables and some tools as well as some heaters. We use propane heat to get the inside of the fort heated up quickly and then switch over to electrical heat to maintain a constant thermostat controlled heat at around 5–6 degrees Celsius (which in my opinion is the perfect temperature for concrete to cure in, because you lose the least amount of water from evaporation at this temperature.
I know what your thinking, “This looks cozy, where can I get one?” Well we do make custom tarp fort for very reasonable prices to fit any space you might have, just send me a quick e-mail and I can let you know when we will have your tarpy tent fort up.
Vanity Top with Fountain + Thoughts on Design in Edmonton
November 18, 2009
I really love to make vanity tops for customers. They are extremely challenging to design and form and give me a lot of opportunity to have some fun and make a feature that is really striking. This recent top I made is on the top of my list for favorite vanity tops. That’s a lot of tops!
The home owner gave me a basic idea and direction for the piece while leaving me with enough freedom to do what I felt suited the room best. In my opinion this is the best way to design. I really love the function of this piece and I always get asked, “What is up with that fountain?”
The home is built in the country and their drinking water comes from a filtration system so the home owners wanted to have a way to have drinking water in this basement bathroom so that they would not have to go upstairs to get a drink. I think that the pieces as a whole is quite strong and really makes the room, I also love the way the fountain drains into the sink. The design of this vanity is really driven by the necessity of function while maintaining beauty.
This vanity is just one of the many things that have been happening recently in my life to inspire me that great design can happen in Edmonton and Alberta. A few days ago I met with a local sculptor to talk about art and design in Edmonton and Alberta. One thing interesting that I brought away from that conversation is that part of what makes our work unique is that we are a bit isolated from the global design and art community and don’t get much respect locally. My own personal response to this is that it is hard to perceive if locally we feel that we are getting the acclaim that we deserve but this doesn’t matter. I do feel that the general public is not interested in counters, vanities, fireplaces and furniture that have been designed and formed by hand. The catch is that this is an assumption I am making and it is really difficult to define if this is perceived or actual. And even if I am wrong in my generalization or assumption about the public it is this feeling of being under appreciated that drives me to do better and more impressive work which I feel overall is a good thing. Design and Art on all fronts is seeing some good growth and awareness in Edmonton and Although I am not coming at it from the same angle and a sculptor or painter I do like to think that in a small way I am artist.
