Let's face it. 2020 has been a disaster...
…but it can still be the year that you finally make the leap and start making money doing something you love.
You can be successful creating amazing works of art with concrete.
Concrete is a custom material that commands high prices from wealthy clients. Exactly the kind of business you want to grow right now.
You can take back control of your destiny.
If there was ever a year to make big changes and finally take the time to invest in yourself and your future, 2020 is it.
You can salvage 2020.
Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t. You can attend a class, you can start a business, you can be successful, despite 2020. You can free yourself from everything that’s been holding you back.
That’s why we’re calling this class the F*!@ 2020 Freedom Fest.
The name is a joke, of course, but this is serious business. This is The Ultimate Creative Concrete Training. If you want to be free to be successful being creative with concrete, you need to build that creativity on a solid foundation of knowledge and support.
And that’s exactly what CCI training gives you.
Want proof? Look at the amazing creations that our alumni from around the world make. The real proof of a training program is the success of the alumni.
It takes more than showing up for 5 days and playing with concrete with some cool people. The truly hard work starts when you go home, and that’s when CCI’s program really kicks in.
How do we do it? Hear from some alumni:
The CCI Difference – Concrete Countertop Training that really works
First of all, we teach you not just how, but why. You will truly understand, not just follow someone else’s technique blindly.
You get 100% dedicated, lifetime support post-class. The entire CCI staff will be dedicated to supporting you. We are here for your success.
You get extensive documentation and turn-key systems for running your business. You will leave class with hundreds of pages of both technical and business documentation and systems, including exactly how to market and sell creative concrete. You’ll get a contract, sales scripts, pricing worksheet, quality checklists, and much more.
We are here to build your knowledge, your confidence, and your success. Our focus is 100% on our alumni, not on ourselves. It’s all we do, day in and day out, year in and year out. We have the perspective of the entire community of CCI alumni all over the world, and we know exactly what works and what doesn’t, proven over and over.
Check out the amazing concrete creations our alumni make – and you can too:
Held at the Working Shop of a Successful CCI Alumnus
In this class, you will see firsthand the results that CCI training will give you, because this class will be taught by and held at the working shop of CCI Alumnus Brett Carragher of Exclusive Concrete, along with Jeff Girard, founder of The Concrete Countertop Institute.
Brett started in 2013, so you get the added benefit of seeing exactly how Brett took the training from Jeff at CCI and built a successful business.
You will also join the global community of CCI alumni like Brett – the community that cares about you and your success.
Join us, and start your own success story! Why hesitate?
Don’t let 2020 defeat you – let it be the year that everything changed… for the better.
Hear how Brett changed his life with CCI training… then come learn from him and Jeff!
Registration
Tuition: $4995 CAD (approx $3675 USD)
Schedule: Wed October 21 – Sun October 25, 2020. Held over a weekend to minimize your time off work.
Where: London, ON at the working shop of Exclusive Concrete.
Registration: Register now in Canadian dollars at the Exclusive Concrete site.
What will I learn?
You will learn:
- Professional templating methods
- Professional forming methods
- Mold making for countertops and integral sinks
- Sink and faucet layout
- How to construct a casting table
- Reinforcing of both simple and complex shapes, including large sink holes, curves, and cantilevers
- Principles of concrete countertop mix design
- Engineered precast mix formula that achieves compressive strengths of over 4000 PSI in 1 day
- The from-scratch formula and calculator for a simple, 100% successful, properly engineered, GFRC mix
- How to use GFRC to create solid, variegated (hand-pressed), and exposed aggregate looks
- How to spray mist coat correctly for the best finish
- How to apply backer coat correctly for the strongest concrete
- When to use scrim for extra strength
- How to foam core GFRC to reduce weight and increase strength even more
- Grinding and polishing GFRC
- How to seal GFRC
- Work with both CSA cement and portland cement
- How to cast and cure, and what concrete is actually doing when it cures
- How to grind, hone and polish
- Grout formula
- Detailed information about sealer chemistries, from acrylic to urethane, and how to apply professional-grade, stain-proof sealer
- How to transport slabs to the job site
- How to achieve the perfect installation, including undermount sinks
- Use the professional-grade materials and tools you really need, in a model concrete countertop shop
- Business topics: The most effective marketing techniques, how to price, systems to increase profitability, how to build a website and use social media, and more. You will receive a complete package of every business form you need, including a contract, brochure, specifications, estimating spreadsheet, quality checklists and more.
You will receive:
- Precast and GFRC from-scratch mix calculators
- Detailed instruction manual on precast concrete countertop manufacturing
- Detailed instruction manual on GFRC concrete countertop manufacturing
- Comprehensive guide to marketing and selling concrete countertops, plus a contract, estimating spreadsheet, brochure, architectural specifications and more
- A project management course that includes quality checklists and procedures for managing multiple projects, resulting in fewer mistakes and higher profits
- Over 400 pages in all of extensive reference materials, plus 2 hours of live action videos on GFRC and almost 8 hours of online seminars
- A diploma
- Lifetime, unlimited support from instructors via phone and email.
- Lifetime membership in our community of creative concrete professionals
Will this really make me successful, with just 5 days of training?
Yes, if you go home and work hard and apply what you learned. And take advantage of our 100% dedicated, lifetime support.
But don’t take our word for it, look at the CCI Alumni Success Stories. When you become a CCI Alumnus, you have far more than training – you have a life-long network of supportive colleagues.
Do I get to take anything home?
Yes! If you drive to class, take home one of the class projects! (We will draw names if we have more drivers than class projects.) We don’t sell our class projects, they become part of YOUR portfolio.
How is this class different?
When you’re considering professional training ask yourself, “Where’s the proof that this training works?”
- Is the instructor a good teacher? Can I see examples of his teaching style? Check out Jeff’s style.
- Am I learning fundamental knowledge that I can build on for years to come? Will I learn not just how, but why?
- What level of reference materials and support will I receive? Can I pick up the phone and call the instructor personally any time, or is he too busy with his own business to care about mine?
- Are alumni running successful businesses? Ours do. If you’re considering any other training program, ask yourself where are the successful alumni of this program? Is this company focused on themselves or on me?
At CCI, we are 100% dedicated to building your knowledge, your confidence, and your success. And we’re really good at it! But don’t take our word for it. Look at the success stories of our alumni. THAT’s the proof that a training program actually works.
And in fact, you will witness this firsthand at class, held at the working shop of a CCI Alumnus!
Why should I take this class rather than some other concrete countertop class?
CCI training is the only program that:
Teaches not just how, but why.
- You will truly understand, not just follow someone else’s technique blindly. There is a difference between truly understanding concrete based on real technical knowledge and merely knowing how to work with concrete based on experience.
Offers 100% dedicated, lifetime support post-class.
- We are not too busy running our own creative concrete business to help you. We focus 100% on helping our alumni, day in and day out. And our alumni help each other too.
Includes extensive documentation and turn-key systems for running your business.
- You will leave class with hundreds of pages of both technical and business documentation and systems, including exactly how to market and sell creative concrete. You’ll get a contract, sales scripts, pricing worksheet, quality checklists, and much more.
Has PROOF that this program works, demonstrated by our successful alumni.
- Our focus is 100% on our alumni, not on ourselves.
We are here to build your knowledge, your confidence, and your success.
It’s all we do, day in and day out, year in and year out. We have the perspective of the entire community of CCI alumni all over the world, and we know exactly what works and what doesn’t, proven over and over.
When you train with CCI, you join a community that cares about YOU and your success.
What are some more reasons to train with CCI?
You will learn fundamental knowledge and a true understanding of not just how, but why.
GFRC is a highly specialized material with decades of research that show it requires certain fundamental ingredients and construction techniques in order to perform as expected. When done right, GFRC is extremely strong, flexible (literally) and durable.
When you understand not just how, but why, you will have 100% confidence in your GFRC made with these techniques – after all, those who construct massive building panels have relied on them for decades.
Engineers make things only as complicated as they need to be so that the building or bridge doesn’t fall down. Be certain your GFRC creations won’t fail by relying on sound engineering principles. The laws of physics don’t change, so that’s why our information doesn’t change with the seasons.
You will make a sound investment of your money.
There are cheap classes out there. There is only one reason a vendor would offer free/cheap hands-on training, and that is to sell product. We prefer to price our training based on its value, making it a sound investment for professionals interested in long-term good business practices.
There are also expensive classes that emphasize fabric forming. The value of learning the fundamentals of GFRC, of truly understanding not just how but why, is far greater than the value of spending a day and a half sanding a fabric formed mold. Fabric forming is just one tool in your toolbox. It won’t make you successful. Fundamental technical understanding will.
But don’t take our word for it. CCI alumni have proved over and over that CCI training WORKS. As Jeff says, “I don’t need to brag about my own accomplishments, when so many of my alumni all over the world have used CCI training to build a foundation that made them successful.” That’s the real proof that training is worthwhile. See the proof here.
Practical considerations of the ease of travel, plus the class experience.
Our London, ON location, at the working shop of CCI Alumnus Brett Carragher of Exclusive Concrete, is convenient to travel to, with a local airport, and has a wide selection of dining and entertainment options.
When, where, and cost?
When and where is this class offered?
The Ultimate Creative Concrete Training class is offered approximately quarterly. See above for the upcoming class dates.
How much does it cost?
The upcoming class in London, ON is $4995 Canadian dollars. Click here to register.
Breakfast, hot lunch and all class materials (textbook, mix calculator, videos and more) are included, plus all the benefits listed above.
What’s the class size?
The Ultimate class is limited to 15 students.
Who should take this class?
This class is for people serious about starting and succeeding in a business creating countertops, sinks, furniture, fire pits and more with concrete. You do not need prior concrete experience, but you do need to be very handy and capable of professional level crafts such as carpentry, tile work, home building, etc. This class is not for do-it-yourselfers. Consider the Level 1 self-study course instead.
How do I sign up?
Click here to register for the next class in London, ON, in Canadian dollars.
Eye Candy
Check out these examples of alumni creations… and start dreaming of your own concrete creations!
Make Every Concrete Countertop Project a Great One
Lights, Concrete, Creativity: Interview with Brent Indenbosch
Know Your Market: A key to success as a creative concrete professional
Onyx Castings: Building a Solid Brand
Rock Solid Concrete Artisans: Reinventing a Skill
HGTV Show Featuring Concrete Countertops
Taking a Chance with Custom Concrete Designs
Building a Concrete Countertop Business by Building Relationships
How Concrete Commander Built a Successful Creative Concrete Business
Caleb Lawson: Alumnus Success Story
