The world's foremost magazine on decorative concrete
With the new social distancing protocol in full swing and people choosing to stay home rather than going out, backyard living areas are all the rage in New Orleans and beyond. And now, edge forms are taking backyard living above and beyond. “Outdoor living is really hot,” says Dan Lynch, […]
Although rocker Huey Lewis made headlines singing how it was “Hip to be Square,” artisan Ben Ashby couldn’t quite jibe with that mantra when it came to concrete countertops. Back in the early ’90s, others in the fledgling decorative concrete business — like FuTung Cheng and Buddy Rhodes, he remembers — were perfectly fine with square-edged countertops but Ashby wanted more for his creations.
When it comes to forming the edges of countertops, pool coping and steps, a good form liner or mold is an indispensable tool that can help you get the job done quicker and easier — no more hand chiseling or finagling a texture mat to give you a detailed edge.
The DIY Network is taking the lead in producing TV show episodes about decorative concrete.
Concrete Countertop Solutions, the company that markets the Z Counterform forms as part of a patented system for cast-in-pace concrete countertops, held a photo contest earlier this fall to showcase the work of their professional and DIY customers. The company awarded cash and store credit to five winners.
For the past three years, decorative concrete artisan Jeff Kudrick has been developing his own sink and countertop molds and decorative concrete tools under the brand name Infinicrete, using them regularly in high-profile projects and distributing them through manufacturing companies Cheng Concrete and SureCrete Design Products.
If you’re using a 21st century form product, such as plastic, then it probably makes sense to use a 21st century form-release system, as well.
Concrete Countertop Solutions has developed an alternative countertop form that will help create cast-in-place countertops with a variety of edge styles. Z-Counterform reduces labor time and doesn’t require any double-sided tape or drilling into kitchen cabinets.
An overview of some of the different forms on the market and which might be the best options for your project.
Many concrete countertops are plain slabs with square corners. This solid farmhouse look is simple to achieve by pouring a concrete countertop mix into a simple form. Wood forms lend themselves to shaping square corners, but it is difficult to use wood to achieve rounded corners and curved edges.
