I was born into a strong tradition of building, as a fourth generation craftsman. Dating back to my great grandfather the habits and quality, integrity and attention to detail have always been of the utmost importance. From a very young age I can remember going to the job site with my dad and "banging nails". He would give me a piece of wood with a bunch of nails set in it and I would hammer them all in. He probably knew back then that building/creating was what I would do, I was just having fun smacking nails with a hammer. Years later I am still that little kid banging away in my shop, although maybe a little bigger and slightly better with a hammer!

After many years in all aspects/phases of construction including rough framing, tile and finish work I was becoming bored with the limitations of standard materials. There is only so many ways to tile a wall or trim a window. What I found was concrete, with its limitless colors and shapes it was a breath of fresh air in a crowded room. What is possible with concrete? That is what was constantly going through my head. After suppressing the urge to pursue concrete further, I could take it no longer. I enrolled in classes with Renowned San francisco concretist Buddy Rhodes, learning the ways of his signature "pressed" technique. Now this is what I was talking about, concrete was now in my blood. Crafting counters, sinks and tables soon followed. After a about a year I was turned on to Brandon Gore through Buddy Rhodes, his style was completely different. Using fabric to craft one of kind sinks and furniture using a different style of concrete. GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) makes it possible to cast thinner stronger pieces of concrete, As well as advanced 3d moulds. After attending Brandon's classes in Phoenix, it was immediately known that this is what I was going to do for the rest of my life.

After honing my skills on my own studio creating kitchen counters with an integral sink and drainboard, bathroom sink, shower pan and walls, tables, shelves, window sill, and a floating headboard the "concrete mini mansion" was born. Peoples reaction was always positive and typically intrigued at the possibilities of the material.

But Creating counters in my backyard and wet polishing my pieces on the lawn was short lived. Soon after attending Brandon's class it was apparent that a larger space was required. After moving into a dedicated shop the concrete craftsman was created/born. My projects became larger and more elaborate, or more fun is how I look at it!

I draw from my many years of experience in construction on a daily basis in crafting one of a kind concrete pieces. From building moulds and fabricating one of a kind sinks to transport and handling of slabs. Not to mention having most of the necessary tools already in hand!

Concrete and cement are often confused. Concrete is made up of mainly sand, cement, and aggregate (various loose particulate materials, such as crushed stone, slag, gravel, pebbles, etc). Since sand and aggregate do not bond to each other cement is added as a binding agent, you can think of it as the glue. Concrete draws upon some of the earth.s most common and plentiful minerals for its raw materials. For example, the predominant raw material in cement is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth which is readily available right here in North America.

Taking the Cradle-to-Grave Perspective

Concrete is an extremely durable material, if properly cared for a concrete piece can outlive its owner. Virtually unaffected by heat and cold, UV rays and moisture, concrete.s durability goes a long way towards waste reduction. The longevity of concrete means less maintenance and replacement when compared to other building materials.

Concrete can also be easily cleaned with organic, non-toxic substances. The best products to maintain concrete are a mild dish soap, warm water, and beeswax. Harsh cleaning chemicals are unnecessary in the maintenance of concrete, and could actually compromise the piece.s sealer. For more information on maintenance please refer to our Maintenance page

From conception to installation, we seek to reduce waste and capitalize on concretes inherent longevity. We mix our concrete individually for each project resulting in little to no wasted material. Concrete also has the unique ability to be refinished. Scratches and chips from normal wear and tear can be sanded and patched; some people opt to have their piece refinished after years of use to return it to its original lustre.

Using recycled materials within concrete

Sources of aggregates are diverse and plentiful. These include sand, gravel, crushed stone, and an ever-increasing array of consumer and industrial waste products including fly ash from coal burning electric power plants, and blast furnace slag from steel mills. Crushed concrete from demolition sites is often used as aggregate for concrete. Concrete.s nearly inert matrix of materials makes it an ideal medium for recycling materials while having no effect on the piece.s strength or performance.