Fluid Form Concrete Design Mission

It is the Mission of Fluid Form Concrete Design to design and make high quality, custom, precast concrete for commercial and residential interiors, exteriors, and the general building industry.  We work hand in hand with builders, designers, architects and individual clients to meet their vision and budget while keeping a low environmental footprint. Integrity, paired with friendly, knowledgeable, and professional customer service, drive all our employees to build positive and lasting relationships with our clients. 

Why concrete?

Concrete is the perfect medium for one of a kind custom creations to please the eye. It promotes space for both the expression of the artist and the personal connection of the client.

How much do countertops cost?

Even though it is a completely custom material, concrete is in line with standard countertop materials. The price is competitive with high end granite, with retail prices starting at $90 per square foot. We are happy to work with you to give you an estimate on your project, and we can help you with options to fit your budget.

What colors are available?

Any color! Concrete can be made in hundreds of colors including every color on the spectrum. Any color can be produced in a solid, speckled or variegated pattern. In addition, you can specify embedded stone, glass, or other objects. You can specify the color, size and density of embedments. Coupled with the many color choices, you have a myriad of design options.

What edges are available?

For concrete, edging is formed and cast rather than cut like granite or solid surface. Therefore, edge choices depend on the availability of appropriate trim molding. For example, Fluid Form can do pencil, beveled, concave, bullnose and reverse cove edging, and other custom edges may be available. Edging may be placed on top or bottom of the countertop.

What kind of sinks can be used with concrete countertops?

Fluid Form can accommodate all types of sinks including drop-in, under-mount and apron front.

Fluid Form can make integral concrete sinks of almost any shape. Bathroom vanity tops are an excellent application of integral concrete sinks. We do not recommend integral concrete kitchen sinks for engineering reasons. Kitchen sinks are deep and have angles that would put large stresses on the concrete and have high potential for cracking. Also, the size of kitchen sinks generally dictates a very thick concrete bottom that would be a problem with standard plumbing and cabinetry.

Concrete vessel sinks are also possible, and concrete’s versatility means that the sink can be any color and shape.

The minimum lip of concrete around all sides of sinks is 2.5 inches. Concrete can also accommodate drop-in cooktops. The minimum lip of concrete in the front of a cooktop is 3 inches. We recommend 3 inches for the back also, but 2.5 inches will suffice.

Will concrete countertops stain?

Virtually all concrete kitchen countertops are sealed to prevent staining; however the degree to which these sealers work varies significantly. Commonly used sealers include wax and penetrating acrylic sealer. Both of these are inexpensive and easy to apply. However, neither offer significant stain or heat resistance, and both require frequent reapplication to prevent the formation of a “patina”. Fluid Form’s sealer is different. We use a high-performance topical sealer that is exceptionally durable and provides excellent resistance to incidental contact with staining agents such as red wine, lemon juice and olive oil.

Will they scratch?

While the sealer is durable, it can scratch if cut with a knife or subjected to heavy, sharp objects dragged across the surface. Cutting on the concrete may compromise the integrity of the sealer and allow stains to permeate the concrete matrix. Cutting on the concrete will also ruin knives, requiring a professional resharpening to reshape the damaged edge. Remember, concrete is made with stone, the same thing used to sharpen knives (and will therefore dull them just as easily). If the client does scratch a countertop, they can be easily repaired.

Can I put hot pots on the concrete?

As with almost all types of countertop surfaces, it is best to use trivets. Concrete can micro-crack if exposed to high heat, and the sealer is not elastic enough to “absorb” these micro-cracks. The surface will appear “crazed”. However, a Touch-Up Kit can be used to minimize the appearance of these micro-cracks, just like it can be used to touch up scratches.

How long will it take to design, build and install countertops?

1. Templating

   • Templating is done from finished and installed cabinetry, and it takes less than one day.

2. Fabrication

   • The typical time required to fabricate most concrete countertops, depending on their size and complexity, is 3-4 weeks. Note that the fabrication process may not start immediately after templating depending on how full our production schedule is. A good guideline is to contact Fluid Form at the beginning of the project, or at the latest one month before cabinetry is scheduled to be installed, both to allow time for custom color samples and to secure a spot on Fluid Form’s production schedule.

   • In the case of a residential project such as a complete kitchen remodel, homeowners are usually willing to wait longer for their custom-made, handcrafted concrete countertops. However, temporary plywood countertops can be a way to minimize inconvenience. Or, the contractor can preserve parts of the old countertops to provide some work surfaces.

3. Installation

   • Because Fluid Form countertops are precast and prefinished, installation generally takes less than one day.

Are there any seams?

Often concrete countertops can be designed without seams. Seams may be located around sinks and cooktops, or wherever required for structural reasons. Or, seams may be necessary due to the logistics of getting the slabs into the house if stairs or corners are involved. Fluid Form will work with you to design seam placement that is both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing.

Seams are typically 1/6″ wide, similar to tile grout lines. However, it is important to realize that concrete countertops are handmade and hand processed; they are not machine cut, so tolerances for seams are more generous than with quartz or granite. Seam appearance is minimized by using color-matched acrylic caulk.

Are there any special structural considerations?

No. Standard precast concrete weighs about the same as quartz or granite of the same thickness., and glass fiber reinforced concrete weighs half as much. Typically, no special considerations are necessary for standard kitchen or bathroom vanity tops. Cantilevered slabs, bartops on kneewalls and similar situations sometimes require brackets or other structural supports. Fluid Form can advise on support requirements.

Do you offer a warranty?

Yes. Fluid Form’s warranty covers the structural integrity of the concrete for one year after installation. Concrete will last a lot longer than a year, but if any problems were to occur, they would occur in the first year. We subject the concrete to much larger stresses while handling it than clients ever could once it is installed. In addition, Fluid Form provides each client with an Owner’s Guide and a direct phone number for support from Harvest Leasure.

Still have questions?