Frequently Asked Questions

When people ask me “why would I want to use concrete on my countertops?”  I say, “why would you use any other product?”  Concrete is natural, durable and versatile.  It’s handcrafted and it blends architectural elements, artistic interpretation and creativity together.  Concrete can be formed into virtually any shape and at ACS we have over 24,000 color choices and 100’s of textures to choose from.  With the help of our design shop your ideas can be fashioned into a unique fixture for your home or commercial project.  Whether you prefer “Old World” or modern/contemporary styling let rich, earthy and natural concrete be the inspiration for your project.

While I can’t promise you that concrete won’t stain, I will promise that ACS concrete products out-perform most other concrete products on the market.  We start making our products stain resistant at the beginning by adding water conditioners and other additives to our proprietary mix.  These conditioners evenly distribute color throughout our concrete and they coat the cement’s capillaries to form a dense and stain resistant bond.  Next we properly cure our concrete in our factory; where we control the environment for a perfect result. When the product is properly cured we grind and polish it to create a smooth finish using a diamond blade. Finally, we use a 3-tier sealing system.  It includes a penetrating sealer, a topical sealer and wax.  The end result is a durable and natural finish that is naturally stain resistant, but it will develop a fine patina over time.  Follow our care instructions for the best results.  Concrete by its nature stains, it breathes and it is a natural stone-like product.  To enrich its beauty most people prefer the light sealer combination that ACS uses. There are a number of heavy sealers that may be used to prevent staining, but these sealers mask the inherent beauty that concrete is known for.  Give me a call for more details.

Yes most concrete does crack, but I guarantee that ACS concrete counters will not crack.  If an ACS countertop develops a structural crack (hairline cracks are not considered flaws) while you own the product, ACS will replace it.  See our Limited Warranty for details and exceptions.

ACS custom made products will cost about the same as high-quality granite or marble.  Making concrete as beautiful as ours is very labor intensive and requires a great deal of hand-work.  The result is a product with a finely-honed finish that lets the product’s inherent imperfections shine-through.  Our “Basic Elements” line was just launched this month and it is very affordable.  Six basic colors and natural, unfinished concrete counters that cost a fraction of the cost of our custom products.

ACS concrete weighs between 10 and 12 pounds per square foot (about ½ the weight of granite).  Safely use our products on lightweight European style cabinets.  Call me for more information.

Care of ACS concrete is simple.  Wipe up spills immediately whenever possible.  Avoid cutting directly on the tops.  Acidic products like lime or lemon juice may penetrate the surface-sealer.  Therefore, it is best to avoid putting these products directly onto countertops.  There are remedies for these and most other problems that you may encounter.  ACS provides excellent maintenance services.  Resurfacing should not be required for several years at the owner’s option.  You may wax your tops with ACS recommended products as desired.  Call me with Questions.

The answer is YES!  I am horrified when I see a recently poured-in-place countertop that is 20 ft. long without a single seam.  The top may be beautiful today, but give it a year or so and it will have unsightly cracks in all directions.  This is caused by cabinets or floors settling and fluctuations in temperature ACS engineers its countertops and strategically locates seams for durability and to enhance the design of your project.Our seams are between 1/8” and 1/4” in size and we can perfectly match one of  our 136 grout colors to your concrete pieces.  Call me for details.

ACS makes fabulous sinks and fixtures; floor tiles in several sizes; tub surrounds; fireplace facings; backsplashes and wall tiles; farm sinks; integral sinks; furniture including — headboards that are built-in or freestanding, tables, benches and more; acid wash products and special finishes are our specialty.  Give us an idea and we will help you bring your dream to life.