You know the old saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it”? Well, when it comes to concrete countertop mix design, “It’s not what mix you use, it’s how you use it”.
I would go so far as to say “Mix doesn’t matter. Your knowledge and imagination do.” (That’s going a bit too far, of course. Click here for an article about the importance of concrete countertop mix design.)
My point is: Mix does matter, but specialized mixes aren’t necessary for different aesthetics. Here’s a video that illustrates that point. The video shows CCI alumnus Caleb Lawson and me making 6 different looks with the same mix, a from-scratch GFRC mix. It was actually the same batch. We added admixtures, fibers, pigments, etc. as needed and used very different casting techniques to get the 6 looks.
From the beginning, my mission with CCI was to convey the knowledge that will make you successful with concrete. You could use the best concrete countertop mix in the world, but if you don’t follow basic good concreting practices, or you don’t know how to manipulate that mix, you are not going to be able to get the results you want.
If you know what you’re doing, and you are creative, you can make the most amazing concrete creations with the most basic mix. For example, check out these zebra wall panels I made back in 2008 with an old-school aggregate-based mix.
There are times when you might need an ultra high performance mix, or maybe an SCC mix, for specific applications. Your knowledge of concrete will help you choose appropriate mixes and use them well.
Again, it’s your knowledge and your confidence with all aspects of the process that will lead you to success. “Knowledge. Confidence. Success” is the CCI slogan.
My Ultimate Creative Concrete Training is designed to give you that knowledge, with 5 days of hands-on training, extensive reference materials, and lifetime personal support. If you are serious about starting and succeeding in a concrete countertop business, consider the Ultimate training.