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There are a wide variety of people who like to take on projects. From people who enjoy working on their own homes to contractors, there are many people with an interest in decorative concrete. With the market growing, many people are trying to learn more about the industry. There are places out there that help with the process. When looking for a class to learn the methods, people need to be mindful of certain things.
The experience of the company offering the class is vital. If someone is not experienced, they are not going to be able to teach people. There is a lot that goes into decorative concrete. People must be able to count on the experience of the teacher.
Those who are looking to learn must also consider cost cutting measures the instructor teaches. There are ways to make things cheaper, and those who are familiar with the industry are also familiar with those ways. When looking to take a class, prospective students need to inquire about methods the class teaches for cutting costs and how they can be implemented outside of the classroom.
The setting of the class is also important. As much as a person wants to learn about decorative concrete most people cannot go out of state for a class. In fact, many people are too busy to even go a couple of hours to attend a class in person. There are classes that are available online and through the mail, and busy people may want to take advantage of those classes.
It is also important to see if the company has had an impact on the industry. If no one involved in decorative concrete has ever heard of the company, they might not have done anything good during their time in business. However, if they have had a hand in developing products and methods, that shows they know what they are talking about. In order for a company to effectively teach, they must know what is going on.
The reputation of the company is also important. How many people have they taught? What do their former students think of them? No one wants to be the first person a teacher has ever taught. No one wants to be in a class that has had only bad things said about it either. It is important to select a class that is taught by someone who is respected in the industry.
By becoming a student at Something Better Company your access to information never ends. Your success is our success! We are passionate about helping professionals enhance their skills, as well as working with individuals looking for new and exciting ways to achieve extreme makeovers for their home and landscape. Ever since we started this business we have been focused on being innovators, perfectionist of new concepts, material formulations, talent capabilities and having the highest quality control at all levels.
Better Paths has been involved in the industry for over twenty years. They have developed industry leading methods and techniques that have improved their field. They can teach their students how to save 75% on materials through their formulation techniques. Their classes are both in person and online, so anyone can attend. Visit them online at http://www.betterpaths.com. Read the testimonials of former students and browse through the pictures of their work.
Concrete's use in kitchens and bathrooms may still be considered relatively "modern" design-wise by the standard homeowner. But while concrete can be used to create a modern or minimal look, it's also perfectly adaptable to a more traditional setting — where it was so extensively used in the first place.
Concrete can act as a substitute for more traditional materials. Rather than just using concrete to explicitly re-create something from the past, you can also combine it with other elements to suggest a timeless quality. In my work, I always strive to strike a balance between innovation and emotion, between spare contemporary and warm traditional. Adding mosaic tile along the front edge of a concrete surface, inlaying bits of tile along a backsplash, or even embedding a fossil in a countertop all connect us to the past.
A California cottage we renovated recently moved from "traditional" to "transitional". A large concrete curved wall/counter boldly separates the living room from the kitchen. Meanwhile, a stainless steel integral sink countertop straddles one wall— yet, by inlaying glass tiles into the backsplash and inserting a traditional plate holder in the cabinetry, enough balance is achieved to avoid a conflict of styles.
Let's take a turn-of-century "Craftsman" style kitchen for a hypothetical example. The cabinets would most likely be frame-and-panel with flush inlay doorframes. There would be wood wainscoting in the dining area and perhaps tile around a single porcelain sink. The lighting fixtures might have beveled glass or echoes of Tiffany lamps. What concrete application would be appropriate in this situation? I would look into one or more of the following ideas in combination:
1. Choose an earth tone color or natural gray. No bright colors.
2. Keep the front face, or thickness, of the countertop at a minimum of 2-1/2" up to 5".
3. Inset "panels" into the front face of the countertop to reflect the cabinet doors. These panels would be no deeper than 3/8" and would measure approximately 1/3" to the height of the front face, or
4. Recess the appropriately sized or proportioned ceramic tiles with some embossing on them into the face of the countertop or into a cast backsplash. Allow the recess to be at least 1/4" in depth.
5. Mosaic tiles in groups of four separated by 1/8"-1/4" spacing could be placed on the countertop surface as inlaid "trivets" next to the stove burners. (In the mold, they would be placed face down on the bottom of the form.)
6. Line the drain board into the sink with tile or marble. Now I wouldn't want to use all of the above accents — just enough to carry a complementary flavor to the Craftsman look and feel. The concrete itself is earthy enough to carry that load. It's up to you as a homeowner or designer to add the touch that personalizes and enhances the piece. In some cases, for instance, the overwrought "traditional English manor" kitchen, usually full of elaborate detailing, can use a touch of restraint — the concrete counter with a simple ogee edge detail and a complementary white porcelain farm sink might just be perfect.
As they say, it's all in the details.