Concrete Counter tops, Embedding and Imprinting Objects

Many people's first experience with concrete art is the surreptitious addition of a handprint or some initials to a neighborhood project. But the urge to leave such a message to the future is not confined to adolescents. Whether it's sentimental knick-knacks or corporate logos, embedding or imprinting objects into concrete gives clients an unmistakably one-of-a-kind addition to their home or business. Here are some tips on how to add this finishing touch to an interior or exterior project.

A good impression "A lot of contractors are limited by what they can buy in the store, but you have to think out of the box," says Lee Levig of Concrete Works in Fairfield, Calif.

At customers' request, he has made imprints of leaves and branches, but he also uses more exotic things, such as embossed wallpaper. "Just before the final trowel, when it's still pliable, trowel the wallpaper border face down." He doesn't use a release agent; he just leaves the wallpaper there until the concrete has set, then peels it up.

At customers' request, he has made imprints of leaves and branches, but he also uses more exotic things, such as embossed wallpaper. "Just before the final trowel, when it's still pliable, trowel the wallpaper border face down." He doesn't use a release agent; he just leaves the wallpaper there until the concrete has set, then peels it up. One of Levig's signature techniques is imprinting custom stencils, which he cuts out of heavy waxed paper used for packing produce and discarded behind supermarkets. For the home of a violinist, Levig cut out two bars of music to adorn the entrance to a music room. "It takes a lot of work to do the cutting," Levig admitted, so he generally uses this technique as an accent in a highly visible area such as a front porch or entrance. You needn't cut your own stencils for popular designs such as flowers and foliage. Try a craft store, such as Michaels, which sells paper and plastic stencils from Plaid.