While concrete has gained in popularity as a material for countertops, in recent years the need for more structurally sound, lighter weight concrete with greater design flexibility has arisen in the countertop materials market.

Enter glass fiber reinforced concrete (or GFRC). GFRC is essentially an ultra-strong composite made of Portland cement infused with randomly dispersed glass fibers that reinforce the concrete and increase its load-bearing capacity.

One company, Absolute ConcreteWorks of Seattle, is on the front line of pre-cast GFRC technology. It produces an extremely lightweight yet durable material that can be used to create countertops as thin as 3/4 inch that, when cast and finished, require no grinding or polishing. Special edging or other treatments can be cast separately and integrated seamlessly.

A major difference between GFRC and traditional concrete is that GFRC allows for limitless design opportunities. For example, landscape elements from a customer’s property can be incorporated into the design—anything from fern leaves to tree branches to stones. All painted details are done by hand with rollers and sponges, and final touches are applied with intricate brushwork.

This technology goes hand-in-hand with the burgeoning industry focus on and consumer interest in “green building.” When a countertop is created, there is no waste—whatever material is left over is used for another project. And, the materials used to make the countertop are themselves easy on the environment. The glass elements are from reclaimed or recycled materials, and the cement mix includes fly ash, which is the waste produced by industrial smokestacks. The finishes are also eco-friendly; these water-based materials give off no pollutants or toxins during production.

Photography courtesy Absolute ConcreteWorks
www.absoluteconcreteworks.com