Frequently Asked Questions

Wood

• Pre-catalyed lacquer ($) - standard finish for residential projects and for cabinets/vertical surfaces

• Post-catalysed lacquer ($$) - standard finish for commercial projects and for horizontal surfaces

• 2K Polyurethane ($$$) - our most durable finish; comes in an ultra matte finish

• Custom hand-applied finish ($$$$) - this is typically an oil finish requiring the most coats and longest drying time

That depends on the finish. In general, clean with a diluted solution of white vinegar in water or other non-abrasive cleaners.

Yes, for a fee.

Our CNC router is a 5-axis machine with a 5’x10’ bed. Our Laser cutter is also a 5‘x10’ bed.

concrete

GFRC stands for glass fiber reinforced concrete. The glass fibers are the structural component eliminating the need for any rebar and ensuring an extremely durable product.

Costs start at $130 per s.f. And vary depending on color, texture and complexity.

• Raw Creative makes concrete kitchen countertops, backsplashes, bathroom vanity tops, concrete sinks, showers, fireplaces, firepits, tables, desks and more. 

• Concrete countertops can be straight, curved, notched, multi-level, etc. Unlike granite and quartz, which would drastically increase in cost for curved shapes, creating curved concrete shapes simply involves some extra complexity and labor in forming. 

• Concrete can also be used in vertical applications such as backsplashes, shower surrounds and fireplace surrounds. 

• Integral and vessel sinks are possible. 

• Concrete can be used both indoors and outdoors. 

• Concrete floors are a different application. Raw Creative can recommend companies who specialize in various types of concrete floors. 

Concrete is the most unique, personal surface option because it is made from scratch for each client. To determine whether concrete is right for you, think about whether you believe that: 

•  you want something unique and personalized 

• you want something that looks natural and has character 

• you appreciate high-quality, hand-crafted items 

• you think granite and quartz are too shiny, too formal, too common 

• you think synthetic solid surface materials look and feel like plastic 

• you need a color or visual texture that’s not available with other materials 

If so, concrete countertops may be right for you.

We can either template or build to design dimensions depending on the situation. 

No, all concrete is pre-fabricated and installed. The dirty work happens in our shop.

Yes, these will be called out in the approval drawings

Concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite in this regard. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains. Food, acids and oil will not stain your countertop if wiped up immediately, and if left on for a longer period of time, they will cause light spotting.

Although countertops are one of the last items to be installed, concrete countertops should be selected as early as possible. The short answer is usually 8-12 weeks but it depends.

• Estimate process - Send us any sort of informational material you have (drawings, sketches, pictures, etc.,) and we will give you an estimate for the work. 

• Custom Color selection (only if required) - Raw Creative often performs custom color matching and submits samples for your approval. Allow about 3 weeks for this process. We also have a list of standard colors that we keep in house for faster turnaround. 

• Templating - Templating is done from finished and installed cabinetry, and it takes less than one day. We can also prefabricate concrete items to design dimensions if you have dimensioned drawings (or for larger commercial jobs)

• Fabrication - The typical time required to fabricate most concrete countertops, depending on their size and complexity, is 4-10 weeks. Note that the fabrication process may not start immediately after templating depending on how full our production schedule is. A good guideline is to contact Raw Creative at the beginning of the project, or at the latest one month before cabinetry is scheduled to be installed, both to allow time for custom color samples and to secure a spot on Raw Creative’s production schedule. In the case of a residential project such as a complete kitchen remodel, homeowners are usually willing to wait longer for their custom-made, handcrafted concrete countertops. However, temporary countertops can be a way to minimize inconvenience. Temporary plywood countertops are one possible solution. Or, the contractor can preserve parts of the old countertops to provide some work surfaces.

Yes. Raw Creative warrantees the structural integrity of the concrete for one year after installation. Concrete will of course last a lot longer than a year, but if any problems were to occur, they would occur in the first year. We subject the concrete to much larger stresses while handling it than clients ever could once it is installed.

Any color! Concrete can be made in hundreds of colors including every color on the spectrum. Any color can be produced in a solid, speckled or variegated pattern. And, you can specify embedded stone, glass, or other objects. You can specify the color, size and density of embedments. Coupled with the many color choices, you have myriad design options. We also have our “standard” colors located here.

Raw Creative specializes in custom color development. We can customize existing colors or match the color of any Sherwin Williams paint swatch. The process takes about 4 weeks. We produce two or more 6” x 6” samples and submit them for your approval.

Yes, our concrete is colored throughout.

Typically no. However, there are scenarios where damage has occurred by misuse and resealing can be done.

We give our clients a care and maintenance guide with every purchase that goes into great detail how to maintain concrete to last for generations. In general we try to avoid abrasive cleaning pads and acidic cleaning agents. We typically recommend warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth.

Concrete is extremely durable, similar to other stone products. It is susceptible to chipping and cracking if not supported properly similar to granite.

Concrete is a natural, handmade material. Many factors such as humidity, sand lot and cement lot can affect the final appearance of the concrete. All of our color formulas record the type of sand, type of cement, and exact measurements of pigments to 1/10th of a gram, and we use specially developed software to calculate mix design. However, colors can still vary because of the aforementioned factors. Another factor that contributes to perceived variation is simply the size of samples. A 6” x 6” sample will look different than a whole countertop simply because the small sample does not capture all of the natural, random variations that will occur over a large surface. The color in a 6” x 6” sample may appear completely uniform, but a whole countertop in that exact same color will not appear as uniform. The same situation occurs with other natural materials such as granite. If you are looking for perfect uniformity, you might not be right for concrete, and you should choose solid surface instead.

For concrete, edging is formed and cast rather than cut like granite or solid surface. Therefore, edge choices depend on the availability of appropriate trim molding. For example, Raw Creative can do pencil, beveled, concave, bullnose and reverse cove edging, and other custom edges may be available. Edging may be placed on top or bottom of the countertop.

• Raw Creative countertops can accommodate all types of sinks including drop-in, undermount and apron front. The minimum lip of concrete around all sides of sinks is 3”. Concrete can also accommodate drop-in cooktops. The minimum lip of concrete in the front of a cooktop is 3”. We recommend 3” for the back also, but 2” will suffice. 

• Raw Creative can make integral concrete sinks of almost any shape. Bathroom vanity tops are an excellent application of integral concrete sinks. We do not recommend integral concrete kitchen sinks for engineering reasons. Kitchen sinks are deep and have angles that would put large stresses on the concrete and have high potential for cracking. Also, the size of kitchen sinks generally dictates a very thick concrete bottom that would be a problem with standard plumbing and cabinetry. 

• Concrete vessel sinks are also possible, and concrete’s versatility means that the sink can be any color and shape.

digital

• 5’x10’  5 axis CNC machine

  • Materials: wood, composite materials, plastics

• 5’x10’ Laser bed 

  • Materials: wood, composite materials, plastics, etching on metals 

• 5’x10’ 3 axis waterjet machine

  • Steel, aluminum, stainless steel, concrete, stone, plastics, wood.

• 3D Printer

We do outsource our machines on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to us if you are interested in working together!

Installation

• Yes, we are fully licensed and insured to install our pieces. We work with large commercial general contractors as well as residential contractors to help ensure a successful project. Our team will give you installation pricing when submitting estimates.

We have our own team of installers that work as fabricators and installers. They are intimately involved with the project and often catch potential issues early in the project.

We are intimately involved with the project from the initial fabrication drawings all the way through the installation which makes for a much more seamless process.

design assist

As soon as possible, we can work with you at any stage of the design and construction process but early engagement allows us to help with fabrication and installation details.

Anything - sketches, models, digital models (revit, rhino, sketchup), pictures, etc.

Our pricing is based on project size, complexity and material pricing. Reach out to us for an estimate.

Revit, Rhino, Sketchup.

Yes, we typically only work with general contractors and designers

Yes, we can.

Yes, we provide approval drawings for both the designers and the general contractor for review and approval prior to starting work.