LUKE WORKS Concrete Systems       

Concrete?
Yes, Concrete is an ancient material developed by the Greeks and used widely in Ancient Rome. Although many technical advances have improved the strength and workability of concrete, it's main components remain relatively unchanged: cement, sand, aggregate (stone), and water.

It's exceptional compressive strength and moldabilty has made concrete one of the most widely used building materials. Recently, the decorative aspects of concrete have been exploited providing designers and craftspersons new avenues to explore.

LUKE WORKS Concrete Systems pieces are each individually formed and mixed. We use the finest raw materials to create our mix design, as well as steel reinforcing material like rebar and mesh. We also use fiber reinforcement strands, as well as some other secret ingredients to create a beautiful and durable surface.

What is a Concrete System?
Each project or application for concrete is unique. Therefore the design of the form, the ratio and elements in the mix, the framing materials, the reinforcing matrix, polishing, and sealing are unique to each application. That's why we call it Concrete Systems, each application is a system uniquely designed for your application.

What color is the concrete?
Because we start with a fine white portland cement and white sand, the base color of our concrete is a bone white. Starting from that base we can create a myriad of custom colors with the addition of pigments into the mix. The concrete is then colored throughout, it is not a surface stain. Concrete lends itself to natural earth colors like browns, reds, yellows and grays, but we are only limited by our imagination. (Blues, greens, and dark black are more costly because of the expense of the raw pigment and time associated with handling). Here are some sample colors.

What is the surface like?
After casting the concrete we use diamond polishing pads with water-fed polishers to hone the concrete to a very smooth surface. Once policed it is about as smooth as a polished stone surface. Concrete has it's own character that continues to develop over time.

Will it crush my cabinets?
Most cabinets can support the weight of the concrete counter because it is distributed over a wide area. LUKE WORKS can evaluate your cabinets and we can reinforce your cabinets if necessary.

Tell me more...
More answers to frequently asked questions will be added as we continue to grow our website. Please contact us with specific questions or projects.

Interested? Learn more about the order process.