Concrete has long been a popular material for countertops. However, in recent years, the need for structurally sounder, lighter-weight concrete with greater design flexibility has arisen in the countertop materials market.

Enter glass-fiber reinforced concrete (or GFRC). Basically, GFRC is 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, Washington, is on the front line of precast 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 completed, require no grinding or polishing.

Special edging or other treatments can be cast separately and integrated seamlessly. These relatively lightweight, strong countertops can be shipped anywhere in the United States.

A major difference between GFRC and traditional concrete is that GFRC allows for limitless creative and design opportunities.

In some cases, landscape elements from the customer's property are incorporated into the design--from actual fern leaves and tree branches to stones and miniature rivers. All painted details are done by hand, with rollers and sponges to intricate brushwork for the final touches.

This technology is friendly on the environment and goes hand-in-hand with the current "green building" push. When a project is created, every bit of concrete is used. None goes to waste, and any left over is used for the following project.

As well as this aspect, the materials used 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 ecologically friendly water-based materials that give off no pollutants or toxins when produced.

See More about: Other Countertop Materials

Story by Gabriel Vandervort
Photography courtesy Absolute ConcreteWorks