When most people hear the word concrete, they immediately think of a grey city sidewalk. It couldn't be further from the truth! In fact, almost every person that walks into our showroom for the first time says "This is concrete?" Concrete countertops are beautifully hand crafted practical pieces of art. Concrete countertops and other concrete products for your home are comparable in strength, if not stronger, than most other stone and solid surfaces available.

Avoid abrasive soaps, cleansers, or scrubbing pads that can wear down the sealer. We recommend using mild, non-abrasive, non-ammonia, non-citric acid, non-vinegar, non-bleach soaps and cleaners.

It is possible. Hairline cracks can form in concrete over time for many reasons and are considered acceptable in the concrete industry. Dreamcrete Studios has a high quality, high strength mix design that greatly reduces the probability of cracks, however we do not guarantee that hairline cracks will not develop. This is especially true for concrete used outdoors in the Northeast and other areas of the country that experience major temperature changes. We recommend covering your concrete products during the winter months to protect it from snow and ice, however this will not necessarily prevent cracking.

Acidic foods and beverages such as lemon juice, mustard, vinegar, wine, soda, tomatoes, bananas, pumpkins/gourds, etc., perfumes, colognes, and cleaners that contain vinegar or citric acids, and other harsh chemicals or solvents such as ammonia, acetone, hydrogen peroxide, etc. should be avoided or cleaned off of your concrete surface as soon as possible.  These substances may “eat” through the sealer, leaving a light hazing, and could possibly expose or stain your concrete.  There are of course other items and products that may damage your sealer.  We have tested against the most typical, but please use standard precautions to keep your concrete protected.

As with any countertop surface, you should never cut directly on your concrete surface.  It won't damage the concrete, but it might damage the sealer, which protects the concrete.  It may also ruin your knife!  Always use a cutting board when cutting and preparing foods.

Yes, you can scratch the sealer that is on top of your concrete.  Avoid dragging sharp, hard objects across the concrete surface to prevent scratching. Minor white scratches should be expected throughout the piece from use over time.  Applying Pledge every now and then can fill in minor scratches and give your pieces a nice sheen.  The reason we like our sealer is that it is spot repairable and can be serviced if need be.  Based on use, your concrete pieces may need to be re-sealed every few years.  This is a process that would be done by our company for a minimal charge to cover time, travel, and materials.  Depending on the scope of the work and the extent of the wear, this process may take anywhere from 1 to 3 trips to complete.

As with any other kitchen countertop surface, we recommend always using a hot pad or trivet for pots and pans coming from the oven or stove.  Concrete is very heat resistant, but again, the concern is damaging or discoloring the sealer.

Since we use a high strength, light weight concrete mix, at 1" thick, one square foot of our concrete weighs approximately 10 pounds.  This is lighter than most other stones and solid surfaces at this thickness.  A standard cabinet should support the countertop weight without any concerns.

Any sink will work with concrete applications. Dreamcrete Studios will install all sink types at installation with the exception of farm sinks, vessel sinks and drop in sinks.  Farm sinks must be installed prior to template to ensure an accurate fit.  For all sinks, a licensed plumber will be needed to make the water supply and faucet connections.  Please note - Dreamcrete Studios requires that all faucets and all undermount, drop in and vessel sinks be present at template to take back to our facility.  Having these items ensures an exact fit at installation, which is when they will be returned to you.

Dreamcrete Studios can make and either install or ship very large pieces, however, there are many factors that play into how large a piece can be.  This includes the weight, shape and thickness of the piece, the support structure, cutouts, and access to the site.  As for cantilevers, a standard countertop can overhang 12” without any support.  Larger overhangs are made possible by using additional supports.

Absolutely! Since each project is made from scratch, the color possibilities are nearly endless.  Dreamcrete Studios can create almost any custom color to meet your design needs.  For a minimal charge, we can create a custom color for you based on a Benjamin Moore paint swatch number that you provide.  Additionally, we have accumulated an extensive library of custom colors over the years, so we may already have a color formula that matches or comes very close to the one that you need.  Although we do not have these samples available for purchase, the majority can be viewed at our New Jersey showroom or can be re-created for a minimal charge.  For more information or to speak with a Dreamcrete Studios representative please contact us.