ask big al

Hey JC,
Carrying concrete samples around isn't your kind of workout? The good news is that you can choose a color by going down to your local hardware store and choosing a color from one of the paint chips provided by the paint companies. They are free and you can usually take as many as you want. You can then email or fax the color name and number to your concrete contractor. Concrete that is acid stained or has exposed aggregates are harder to match. You can ask for photos of some of the more exotic samples. The truth is that even a concrete sample will appear slightly different from a finished piece. When I pour a concrete countertop, a stanchion wall and a sample from the same batch of concrete, they all look slightly different.

Oh the wonder and mystery of concrete! Keeping a consistent color within concrete project is a challenge. There are many factors that that will affect the color of a concrete piece. This can be especially difficult when trying to match a color swatch. Big Al has had some real head scratchers in the past and the guys at Alpha Stone Concrete have put together a standard operating procedure to address this characteristic of concrete.

Try to eliminate as many variables as you can. The weather and temperature of your materials will have an effect on the look of your piece. Use pigments, cements and aggregates from the same batch or lots. Some aggregates may have dust or organic materials in them that will change the color. Take a look at two bags of portland cement that you purchased from the same vendor on the same day an you may find that the country of origin maybe different.

Hi Lisa,

Sorry that I am jut getting back to you now. We have been very busy with two very large jobs that use recycled glass as an aggregate and that means a lot of sourcing, soaking, smashing and sorting. Whew!

Too bad about about our version of ice stone not making the customer happy. I like the look of ice stone too, I understand that she wants the real thing. As far as the house with the cracked concrete countertops, removal and replacement of the countertops is all we can do. The cracks are an indication of poor manufacture. We replace our products if the ever develop cracks that are larger than the surface hairline cracks that sometimes occur naturally in concrete. Here are some likely culprits for the cracks.

Eiko,

An easy way to get started is to choose a color from a color fan at your local hardware store. Concrete can be pigmented almost any color. Email the name, number and vendor of the paint.A sample for your approval can be mailed to you for your approval.There is often variation between samples and countertops, so consider that there will be concentrations of pigment as well as light and darker areas.

Yours,
Big Al

Good One Richard,

Here is some good information that you can pass on to your customers courtisy of Big Al. Concrete as a countertop material is just now becoming familiar to many homeowners. It has been around since the seventies and has been a favorite with modern designers and architects. Acceptance with the general public however has sometimes been a bumpy road. Concrete countertop materials and manufacturing processes have continued to evolve from a couple of guys in a garage using basic concrete and masonry supplies to state of the art facilities that employ products and techniques specific to the concrete countertop industry. As a result of this, there are many things that you should be aware of when you are considering concrete for your renovation or new construction project. A visit to a concrete countertop studio is a good investment in time that can give you a quick education on the manufacturing process and open the doors to almost endless possibilities.

Easy John
You can relax, chances are that you and your customer are in no danger. We have been getting this question for a while now and when we first heard it we were alarmed. Big Al has done his homework and concluded that most of you out there with granite are in no danger. The problem is that most granite does not contain significant amounts of radiation producing minerals, like uranium. There are some exotic granites that do produce radiation.

There was much excitement when the early show produced a segment on the subject. You can watch it here. As you can guess, the granite and marble folks got pretty upset and saw their customers walking away. There has been a lot of finger pointing going on and some well meaning people putting out some wrong information on both sides of the issue.

Wendy,

You and Jason should make sure that the piece will fit into the new space before the walls are closed up. Also be sure that you have proper support for the weight of the counter. At 2" thick it could weigh as much as 25 lbs. per sq/ft. Any part of the island that is cantilevered more than a foot should have additional support. I've made large concrete counters like this in multiple pieces incorporating varying thicknesses that were aesthetically quite pleasing. Is bigger always better?
Big Al

Dear Allen,
That's a pretty good idea. We've used many decorative additives to our mix over the years but never exactly what you are suggesting. I see no reason why it shouldn't work although I'm sure you are aware that you will have to grind/polish the surface to reveal the material that you add to the mix. By doing this you will also reveal everything else in the mix like sand and stone. Good luck with your project and send me a picture when you're done.
Big Al

Ok Pat,

Big Al is going to assume that you have new concrete countertops. Your care and maintenance instructions are going to depend the type of sealer that your concrete countertop manufacturer used on your project. Because the sealer is designed to repel liquids, you are really cleaning the sealer. Different sealers have specific instructions for the product. There are a few general rules for cleaning concrete.

Rule number one: Don't use any acidic cleaners. These include citrus based cleaners. They can damage many types of sealer and etch the concrete.

Rule number two: Be gentle. Mild soaps and detergents are usually adequate to remove most stains.

Rule number three: Clean up spills before they become stains. The worst case scenario is the morning after the big Cinco de Mayo party, with spilled margaritas and limes left on the countertops from the night before.

an ounce of prevention,

Big Al