News
Interior Concrete Step or Riser
July 22, 2010
I made a really nice concrete step or riser, I’m not really sure which it would be.
I am very pleased with the finished results, I did some interesting metal and stone inlays, as well as adding some texturing into a few panels to give some traction as straight polished concrete is quite smooth.
I also did a blend of colours to try and get some marbling through out the piece. The idea was to get a visual texture close to the cork with colours that were complimentary but not quite the same as the cork.
I don’t know what this classifies as. It is structural but also like a piece of furniture and a bit like a sculpture. So I guess if you live in Edmonton or Calgary and are looking for an interesting sculpture made of concrete that also doubles as a step and a low bench to sit on I’m your guy. Hope you liked it!
Floating concrete vanity.... Almost.
June 29, 2010
This piece has quickly become one of my favorite concrete countertop pieces that I have done. The general idea was to create a floating concrete vanity but there are some issues that need to be overcome when floating a vanity or any concrete structure. Weight plays a huge factor in floating a piece and on top of that you are cantilevering it out from the wall which leverages the concretes weight against one fastening point on the wall.
The way to do a proper floating concrete piece is to initial build the wall with the support structure integral to the design. This usually means beefing up the studs and having a custom bracket made that fastens into the studs and is then drywalled over. This whole process is very doable but needs to be well planned out and in most cases I am not contacted for a project until well after framing is complete.
What I did with this piece is fasten the concrete to the back wall studs with a mounting bracket and then support the front weight with chrome legs. There is still an overall airy feel to the pieces that you get with floating but the install was much easier and did not involve any structural changes to the house.
In addition I made a custom barrel sink and mixed multiple grays to achieve this colour. I then hand ground parts of the barrel sink to give it a deeper more tactile feel and also did a very light varied custom grind to the rest of the piece. From a distance these things are difficult to notice and are not over bearing. Many times clients shy away from grinds because they want a monolithic piece. As you can see from the pictures the piece is very monolithic at a distance but once you get close in all the subtle details begins to pop. It is all these little details combined that can make your concrete kitchen counters, vanities and concrete fireplaces really stand out with out stealing the show. I am confident that Concrete Cat is the only interior concrete company in Edmonton or Canada, from what I have seen on other portfolios, that has put the time, effort, and money into researching and developing progressive finishing and colouring techniques. My finishes and colouring styles are two of my strongest suits that makes my work unique and recognizable, this pieces really captures that style.
Cutting Boards with Sinks = Sweet Action!
June 24, 2010
This is a fun kitchen we did recently that had a few challenges but turned out very well and has some great details. The challenges was fitting in quite a large copper sink into a small cabinet with a multitude of fixtures behind it. I also placed the joint behind the sink, with so many fixtures back behind the sink the joint blends in quite unobtrusively. With the sink being apron front it also means the joint gets put right at the very back instead of at the front and back.
The client decided to go with a cutting board notch out that allows their cutting board to slide into the sink. It turned out really well and the clients loved it. I recommended they purchase a few cutting boards of that size while they could to prepare for the future. A question I get from clients is “what if they quit making this cutting board?” I say, stock up, but also I have contacts to have custom cutting boards made as well and you would be surprised at how competitive the pricing can be with them, in most cases it is the same as retail.
As a final detail I made a custom colour and varied the grind up a bit. What I have noticed is doing a full grind can be a bit overwhelming with a counter so I have developed techniques to create varied grinds in specific areas. The overall feel you end up with is a very natural stone surface. It utterly gorgeous and it has quickly become the most popular finish I do. This is yet another trait you can only get with concrete.
As a funny side note this has been the third concrete countertop that I have done in the Beaumont, Alberta area in a row. Sadly it is the end of that streak as the next few concrete countertops and hearths I will be doing are In the Edmonton area as well as one in Sherwood Park.
Making the Perfect Caulking Line Everytime.
June 2, 2010
I have learned that my skills in the crafts that I do translate to many other areas of life and maybe other would be interested in learning some of the finer points to some tricks of the trade that I utilize. I hope this can help someone out and make a prospectively messy and frustrating job a breeze.
Popular belief in home renovations will tell you two ways to make the perfect caulking line when working on a corner, be it in a corner of a shower or along some backsplash in a kitchen. the first way is to just use your finger and make sure it is wet, the issue with this is your finger is not uniform and it will be inconsistent. The second way is to take off your joints with masking tape and then use the first technique of using your finger, this helps with inconsistency a bit but takes forever and still is not perfect.
In my line of work all caulked seams need to look perfect and need to be repeatable. So here is how you do it.
1. apply bead of caulking along the joint you wish to seal.
2. Run rounded end of Sharpie over the bead making sure to push hard enough that the tip is making contact with both the vertical and horizontal surface. You should end up with three caulking racing stripes. (corners are a bit tricky may need to go over a couple of times)
3. Let caulking dry and then remove outside strips of it, should peel right off but you can help it along with a razor blade. Remove excess residue with rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits bu be careful not to rub out your good caulking line.
Using this method you can do different radii of caulking bead by using different sized instruments, just make sure they are round so they can be used at any angle.
Hope this helps. And remember for all your concrete design needs in the Edmonton Alberta area be it furniture, fireplaces, or contertops Concrete Cat is there for you.
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.
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.
Concrete Fireplaces - Made to Fit Any Space
October 9, 2009
Over the last few months there has been a huge increase in the amount of fireplaces that have been commissioned. I have not been able to figure out why there has been such a big influx in fireplaces being designed maybe it’s because it gets so cold here in Edmonton. Fireplaces are one of my favorite things to work on! Fireplaces are great because the fireplace is a central showpiece in a home, if you want to spend money on any design elements in your living room the fireplace is the place to do it. Doing a fireplace surround or hearth in concrete is also very easy to retro fit to an existing gas or wood fireplaces as I do almost all the work off site. And comparing concrete to any other stone work not only gives you the best option for creativity but has a value that is unbeatable compared to other stone work.
For Example this hearth that was put into a home in the neighborhood of Parkview here in Edmonton Alberta, has a few details that are impossible to capture with anything other than concrete. The first and most obvious detail is that the hearth is following a curved corner wall. Rather than have a smaller squared hearth jutting out from the wall below the fireplace we followed the entire curve. Not only does this accentuate the curved wall itself, it creates a great low bench for sitting or setting a glass of wine on while entertaining.
We also did a very interesting form of exposing where we exposed larger stones in wavering pattern running the length of the hearth. This gave the hearth a kind of dry creek bed look, the inspiration for this was that the house itself boarders on a creek.
The depth of the hearth also tapers as we travel from one end of the hearth to the other. There are some very practical reasons for this as we have a window on the far left that constrained our depth. The tapering curved line of the hearth creates interest and draws the eye along the length of the hearth rather than focusing the eye to one fixed position. The lines really help the viewer focus on the sweeping scale of the piece and keep it connected to the room as a whole while giving it a personality of it’s own.
The winters are cold here in Edmonton and they start as early as October, why not upgrade your fireplace so it is place that people will be drawn to in your home.
Mystery Entrance Going Underground
October 5, 2009
I try and make it a habit to document anything interesting made of concrete I find around Edmonton or Calgary or any city I am in for that matter. This is an underground entrance I found at the legislative grounds in Edmonton. I tried the door but it was locked so I don’t really know where this goes.
While I don’t know where this goes what I do know is that there is some really interesting form work done on this entrance. The best part is that the forms were made using rough wood and varying the depth to give the side walls two different thicknesses, as well as some really great wood grain and saw marks. I really like this look and will try and to incorporate it into a residence, maybe a fireplace? I really like the symmetry of the entrance overall. While it may be a bit gratuitous I would have liked to have seen one more light on right of the door so it would be perfectly symmetrical.
If you look at this side wing you will see a very defined colour change, in the first picture you will really notice it on the left wing. I am sure this was a mistake where they ran out of concrete or it was the very end of that truck and they started with a new load. This is a great example where mistakes or oversights can create some really cool traits in a piece. if you look really closely you can see a bit of voiding at this colour change which probably means the bottom had a bit of time to set before the next load was poured on, it is almost like a cold joint in a way.
When you look hard enough you can find beauty even in objects you walk by every day. What was the last interesting piece of concrete you came across?
Can I cut directly on concrete?
September 24, 2009
“Can I cut directly on my concrete counter tops?” This is a question I get quite a bit from clients, and also my mom who I think has asked me this at least seven times so far in various conversations. As an amateur chef and concrete artisan this is also a question that bugs me to no end so here is the definitive answer once and for all.
No!
This picture equals bad.
This picture equals good.
For starters the concrete itself is pretty resilient and you will be hard pressed to damage it, but we have put a sealant over the concrete to reduce staining and increase luster, the sealant is something that should be reapplied every 2–3 years and it is not nearly as strong as the concrete, if you cut on it you will damage the sealant.
The big one for me though is your knives. As an amateur chef I have invested a decent amount of money in some pretty nice knives. About a month ago I was cooking a leg of lamb to eat with a nice Shiraz and I found that the leg would not fit in my roaster. So I decided that I could hack through the bone with my 8” chefs knife. I mean butchers hack through bones why can’t I? Well long story short I did some pretty bad damage to my knife and luckily my knife sharpener was able to salvage the knife and got it back to almost new for me. The moral of the story is to go easy on your knives, they are professional instruments and should be treated as such. If I could do that much damage to my knives with a bone think of the damage concrete will inflict on your knives.
I am a firm believer on cutting on wood, it is soft and will help keep a keen edge on your knives longer. If you don’t believe me have a read of this great article on knife maintenance from http://www.gizmodo.com. It deals with some great tips for knives and cutting and also touches on what you should and shouldn’t cut on. So please people, lets me kind to our
http://gizmodo.com/5348996/youre-doing-it-wrong-how-to-properly-buy-maintain-and-use-a-knife
Concrete Stains, maintenance = repairable
August 21, 2009
The biggest complaint about concrete counter tops and concrete furniture is that they require maintenance. What I want to explain is that this is not a horrible thing, needing maintenance means that the surface is also repairable. With most artificial counter surfaces that are “no maintenance” once your counters are damaged they are toast, we are talking about things like arborite, corian, formica etc. this list goes on and is extensive. This is not the case with concrete. I have never seen damage to concrete that cannot be repaired.
For an example I will use our most delicate finish and the most common source of staining with this finish. Concrete Cat offers a finish that is complete organic, non-toxic and very eco-friendly, and it is something that has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years for finishing wood and leather; it’s beeswax! We are using pure beeswax with no thinners or solvents to make it liquid and through our specially designed process we have come up with a way to make the wax penetrate and seal the concrete leaving a gorgeous and striking patina. All of these features come at a price and these counters do need a bit of extra maintenance. Probably the biggest issue with this finish is that acids can damage it in high traffic areas making the finish look dull. Check out the photo below for an example of what this damage looks like.
With only a few easy steps we prepped this stained area and completely revived the concrete in approximately 3–4 minutes. Take a look for yourself, I think it looks great!
This revitalizing process works on different kinds of staining and each concrete finish we offer also has ways to repair damage in the few cases when it occurs. I will add that this is not some sort of “up-sell” maintenance package we are try to sell you. With every counter and furniture piece we sell, we leave the client with the necessary tools and know-how to maintain their beautiful concrete piece on their own, ensuring the co-existence of concrete and home owner together is a happy one!
Concrete Furniture in Edmonton
May 22, 2009
Concrete Cat is pleased to announce the release of their new line of furniture. The line is comprised of coffee tables as well as some ground vessels that would go well beside a fireplace or beside a couch. All works are being shown at Vivid Concepts Lighting + Design at 11807b – 105 Ave Edmonton, Alberta. Our intention is to create pieces that engage viewers with texture, colour, and shape. How much more can furniture be if it not only looks great in the home but has artistic qualities that evoke emotion and feeling when viewed? The right furniture can change a room in colour tone, proportions as well as emotions evoked by that room. While structurally pieces can be duplicated in form, the voiding and colour variations within each piece are one-of-a-kind. If you have an idea for a unique creation for your home or office don’t hesitate to contact us, we would love to help it be realized in concrete.
The Arashi “Stormy Wind” table is a multi-coloured piece that has a very pleasing mixture of colour on the top. The original design did not have the side wings going past the legs. These wings were added to the design to create a bit more balance for this piece. Structurally Arashi has a very nice balance and flow of colour and weight between the top and the legs. The dark swirling colours of the top almost look painted on; while the exposed aggregate of the edges solidifies the fact that this is a table made of stone, sand, cement and water.
The Konkuri-Koppu “Concrete Vessel” borrows part of Concrete Cat’s sink forms to create a smooth finished void in a block of concrete. There is a very interesting mix of colour in this piece creating a mottled effect in grays and browns. This vessel would look great as an accent beside a fireplace or couch.
The Uranami “Breaker” was originally inspired by the combination of an anvil and a tank. It was an experiment in proportions and how to carry weight through a piece visually while keeping the actual weight of the piece down enough so that the table can still be moved. Like all three pieces in this run the colour has turned out tremendously well and really needs to be seen in person to be appreciated.
We can’t wait for you to come and see this work! And if you want one of these Make Contact!
Conflict generates Interest
March 22, 2009
Dichotomies in design engage the observer. Art is born out of conflict. Conflicting aspects within our designs work against each other, heightening the central qualities of each object. In our work at Concrete Cat we like to play with surface texture both visual and tactile to create these design dichotomies in our work. A highly polished surface combined with an edge surface that has some voiding, exposed rock, and even minor cracking or crazing. These polarities within the design of a piece define the most interesting qualities of concrete through contrast.
Below I will include a few examples of how this is represented in our work.
This first example is an experimental piece that was the beginning phase of the vessels we now offer at Concrete Cat. I especially like how the ground and polished top of the bowl with exposed rock plays against the solid colours of the inside and outside of the bowl. To heighten this contrast in the future, the sides and inside of the bowl will be polished more and the voids will be filled.
This next example is from a vanity top that was installed in a bathroom. This vanity has an integral sink and back splash which allowed for some freedom to try and generate a bit more interest within the piece. The back splash was ground down to expose aggregate and left unfilled. The voiding and exposed stones created an excellent foil within the piece that really accentuates the highly polished surface of the vanity.
