Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this the same as the concrete in a sidewalk? Kind of, but not really. Both share the key ingredient - Portland Cement. That's about as far as the similarity goes. Most concrete is reinforced with steel bar, Liquid Quarry concrete has thousands of glass strands and basalt rods that do the job equally as well. This allows thinner concrete that is very strong. Liquid Quarry concrete often has up to 14 ingredients.
- Can anyone do it? After a decade of making fine concrete we are still learning about this material. Read reviews!
- Is it too heavy for my cabinets? Concrete weighs about the same as granite or marble.
- How much does it cost? Concrete costs about the same as better granite or marble. If you are looking for a cheap alternative, this isn't it!
- Does it stain? Concrete is about the same as granite or marble. If it is used and cared for in the same way, it will last the same way!
- Why would I buy concrete instead of another material? Because it is molded, concrete can take on any shape. It is perfect in its imperfection. Tiny cracks, colourations and moldmarks give concrete a character that can not be duplicated by machines. Chic handmade concrete can become the focal point of your patio or room. Marble and Granite have become commonplace, while the most reliable building material on earth - concrete, is just catching on for fine surfaces.
- What about our environment? If you believe in sustainability, concrete is for you. Granite and Marble are finite resources, and not recyclable at all. At Liquid Quarry we try to reuse as many materials as possible.
- Can it be repaired? Most of the time we can repair damage, but concrete is very tough, so we don't get to repair it very often.
- Is concrete the same as cement? Just as flour is to cake, cement is to concrete. Cement is one of the many ingredients in concrete.
How is Liquid Quarry Concrete Made?
Your new concrete pieces are handmade. The process begins with your call or email, and then our visit to the place you want to make beautiful with concrete. If we are building a countertop or vanity we make a template from your existing cabinets. If we are starting from scratch to make you a freestanding piece or furniture - we start with detailed drawings.
Once we agree on a design, colour and textures, we make molds from all kinds of materials. Styrofoam, steel, fabric, wood, clay and plastic are the materials we usually use, always opting for the reusable. Cement, and the many other ingredients are measured and mixed. Then we hand pack or spray the mold with our concrete reinforced inside with glass strands. Once cured, the concrete is polished to a similar smoothness as glass. The concrete is then treated to resist stains or coated to make it impervious to almost everything. Your idea or ours, we can make just about anything.
What is (and what isn’t) Liquid Quarry Concrete
Liquid Quarry concrete is handmade by us in our studio west of Toronto. We can make the concrete to a dimension supplied to us, but we mostly make it from templates we create on the surface the concrete will cover. We make concrete that weighs about the same as other stone products averaging about 10 pounds per square foot. Even though it can appear to be any thickness, the surface is typically less than an inch thick.
People buy our concrete because they find it beautiful and because it can be made to almost any shape. Concrete is an organic and very imperfect material which we strive to make as perfect as is desired. These imperfections are what makes the concrete perfect to those that have seen it and know it is for them. If the only concrete that you have seen is in a magazine picture shot from 10 feet you may be in for a surprise when you see concrete up close. The surface is anything but plain and consistent. Although it can be made to feel as smooth as glass, tiny differences in coloration, microscopic cracks in the surface (sealed of course), sand revealed in polishing and mold marks make concrete a very interesting surface to look at. Upon close examination, no two pieces of concrete, even if made from the same mix, are exactly the same.
Concrete takes time to make. We can turn out concrete in a matter of days, but if the concrete is delivered before it is ready, the surface may not be at it’s maximum strength and may not have reached full stain resistance. From the time we can template, complicated pieces may take up to four weeks or more to deliver. Because concrete made by us is practically as dense as marble or granite, we offer similar stain resistance as we use almost the same sealers. With the same care you’d afford any natural stone product, you can expect the same result. Acidic substances such as lime juice or hot sauce should be removed as quickly as is practical. Most other agents should pose no problem unless left for days. Although we don’t have to do it very often in spite of the huge amount of concrete we make, concrete can be repaired and resealed.
After building thousands of square feet of concrete, we tend to agree with the designers we work with often when we recommend that concrete should look like concrete We are sometimes asked to make concrete that looks like marble, or in bright colours. We will always take our clients direction, as long as we can be sure that our product can match their expectation.
Once we agree on a design, colour and textures, we make molds from all kinds of materials. Styrofoam, steel, fabric, wood, clay and plastic are the materials we usually use, always opting for the reusable. Cement, and the many other ingredients are measured and mixed. Then we hand pack or spray the mold with our concrete reinforced inside with glass strands. Once cured, the concrete is polished to a similar smoothness as glass. The concrete is then treated to resist stains or coated to make it impervious to almost everything. Your idea or ours, we can make just about anything.
What is (and what isn’t) Liquid Quarry Concrete
Liquid Quarry concrete is handmade by us in our studio west of Toronto. We can make the concrete to a dimension supplied to us, but we mostly make it from templates we create on the surface the concrete will cover. We make concrete that weighs about the same as other stone products averaging about 10 pounds per square foot. Even though it can appear to be any thickness, the surface is typically less than an inch thick.
People buy our concrete because they find it beautiful and because it can be made to almost any shape. Concrete is an organic and very imperfect material which we strive to make as perfect as is desired. These imperfections are what makes the concrete perfect to those that have seen it and know it is for them. If the only concrete that you have seen is in a magazine picture shot from 10 feet you may be in for a surprise when you see concrete up close. The surface is anything but plain and consistent. Although it can be made to feel as smooth as glass, tiny differences in coloration, microscopic cracks in the surface (sealed of course), sand revealed in polishing and mold marks make concrete a very interesting surface to look at. Upon close examination, no two pieces of concrete, even if made from the same mix, are exactly the same.
Concrete takes time to make. We can turn out concrete in a matter of days, but if the concrete is delivered before it is ready, the surface may not be at it’s maximum strength and may not have reached full stain resistance. From the time we can template, complicated pieces may take up to four weeks or more to deliver. Because concrete made by us is practically as dense as marble or granite, we offer similar stain resistance as we use almost the same sealers. With the same care you’d afford any natural stone product, you can expect the same result. Acidic substances such as lime juice or hot sauce should be removed as quickly as is practical. Most other agents should pose no problem unless left for days. Although we don’t have to do it very often in spite of the huge amount of concrete we make, concrete can be repaired and resealed.
After building thousands of square feet of concrete, we tend to agree with the designers we work with often when we recommend that concrete should look like concrete We are sometimes asked to make concrete that looks like marble, or in bright colours. We will always take our clients direction, as long as we can be sure that our product can match their expectation.
About The Founder
Lorne Woods was on a residential construction site in Vancouver many years ago when he saw his first concrete countertop. Growing up, he spent as much time as he could in his late uncle's sculpture studio.
"I was lucky enough to have Jack Harman, the famous Canadian sculptor, to watch and learn from. Making molds and the process of creating something from common materials was something I always wanted to do, and when I found myself looking for a new challenge after selling my technology company, Liquid Quarry was born. Our pieces are the result."
Lorne studied under Fu-Tung Cheng, Jeff Girard, Ben Ashby and Tommy Cook, each a master of the various methodologies of use with this age old material. He travels yearly to share with peers at Plan B collaborative, a group that includes the original counter maker, Buddy Rhodes, all dedicated to evolving this craft.
Lorne lives on the Cave Spring Vineyard in the Benchlands of the Niagara Peninsula with his wife Karen (and four daughters when their schedules permit). Making concrete countertops is a far cry from his former life as CEO of a tech installation company.
Here are his thoughts about the craft he enjoys:
https://www.liquidquarry.com/blog
"I was lucky enough to have Jack Harman, the famous Canadian sculptor, to watch and learn from. Making molds and the process of creating something from common materials was something I always wanted to do, and when I found myself looking for a new challenge after selling my technology company, Liquid Quarry was born. Our pieces are the result."
Lorne studied under Fu-Tung Cheng, Jeff Girard, Ben Ashby and Tommy Cook, each a master of the various methodologies of use with this age old material. He travels yearly to share with peers at Plan B collaborative, a group that includes the original counter maker, Buddy Rhodes, all dedicated to evolving this craft.
Lorne lives on the Cave Spring Vineyard in the Benchlands of the Niagara Peninsula with his wife Karen (and four daughters when their schedules permit). Making concrete countertops is a far cry from his former life as CEO of a tech installation company.
Here are his thoughts about the craft he enjoys:
https://www.liquidquarry.com/blog
