Concrete Revolution:

For Allen Miller, perhaps the most satisfying aspect of working with architectural concrete is that he isn't confined by flat boring old slabs; he can create casts that are 3-D — and no special glasses are needed to see the wonderful effects. All that's required is a desire for something artistic and out of the ordinary.

That's the goal at Concrete Revolution, based in Denver, Colorado, where Miller and his crew make every piece by hand. The company specializes in kitchen countertops and sinks, bathroom tub and shower surrounds and vanities, fireplace surrounds, and a range of commercial and specialty projects, including range hoods.

Trained as an architect, Miller quickly found upon entering the discipline that it didn't reflect his true self. He changed his course and ventured into construction, ultimately becoming drawn to the more artistic side of the work.

"I had heard about concrete and finally tried it out about nine years ago," Miller said. "I had a minor in ceramics. I was always interested in sculpting, casts, and molds."

His design/build experience positioned him to take a good, long look at countertop options.

"There was a limited look," Miller said. "You had granite on the high end, and there wasn't much else."

After giving concrete a whirl, he soon found that, as a countertop option, it provided not only an upscale look, but was so versatile that it not only kept his creative juices flowing, but satisfied a deep void in homeowners looking for a unique, durable countertop option.

"Since when did countertops grab so much attention? Miller asks on his web site. "Since they broke out of their traditional, cut and dried, right-angle box. And became individual pieces of art. Functional. Yet with a beauty that stops people in mid-sentence."

Concrete Revolution has created a range of countertops, including a playful gray-background top graced with pieces of random colored glass in bright hues of blue, green, red, yellow, and black; a top that incorporates a wine rack and a column; and countertops and backsplashes that appear to be one.

And when it comes to countertops, Denver homeowners are still warming up to the idea of concrete in the kitchen.

"Compared to California, we're still in our infancy, but it has changed," Miller said. "I've been doing countertops for nine years and it's night and day compared to nine years ago — even two years ago."

Miller says many who opt for concrete countertops don't want a glossy surface; they want something more subtle.

"They want to integrate a sink or cast something into it," he said, saying he has embedded everything from fossils to intricately placed copper tubing to leaf imprints.

A Native American tribe in southwest Colorado wanted some of the native vegetation embedded into pavers. Concrete delivered.

Concrete Revolution has also created myriad pieces of furniture, columns, and other architectural elements for commercial settings.

"It's not just a flat slab ... You have to get beyond that way of thinking — it's a fluid," he said. "You can start getting into shapes."

Miller created an 8-foot-long curved wall, 42 inches tall and 18 inches deep that served as a hospital reception desk. Another favorite is an island countertop in which one side was straight and the other side was flowing.

"You can pour a curved concrete wall," he said. "You can do some really great projects."

Another example of the 3-D quality of concrete is a unique shower he made in which a free-standing column hides the interior plumbing. And yet another attribute of concrete in the bathroom is the ability to cast a bathtub deck and the side of the deck as one piece.

"With 3-D casting you don't have to deal with any flat pieces," he said.

The production process starts with a drawing or a sketch of what the customer has in mind. Most jobs then require a site visit, which allows Concrete Revolution to make a template of the project at hand.

Then all the fabrication work is done in their shop in Denver. The main ingredients of every custom-made piece by Concrete Revolution are sand, cement, and water. They build forms, or molds, to give shape to the liquid concrete as it cures.

Then, if the customer desires, they'll add a unique design element, like colored glass. When the concrete is set, they grind it to expose the stone and glass; they can even apply an acid wash to enhance the color. Then a protective sealer is applied.

Concrete countertops are installed much like granite or marble. The finished slabs are brought to your home or office ready to be placed. Concrete can be adhered directly to the top of the cabinets; no plywood sub tops are required.

The entire process takes about four to six weeks.

Concrete Revolution, which has been featured in theDenver Post, Colorado Homes and Lifestyles,offers more than 39 colors and they can concoct custom colors to match or complement whatever a homeowner has in mind, whether it's a favorite rug, flooring, or furniture.

The color variations are similar to dye-lot differences in the fabric industry — they use the same formula each time they pour the concrete, but the color can vary from batch to batch.

And those variations all add to the charm of concrete.

"But remember, don't fall too deeply in love with anyone else's piece. You can have the exact same design and color as they have, but yours will be yours alone. Because as the mixture of sand, stone, water and cement cures, it captures a moment in time that's unique. The pattern of stone will always be different. The color will always vary slightly. And that's what makes it uniquely yours."

Concrete Revolution
Allen Miller
2690 West Barberry Place
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 893-4814
Send Mail Now - Click Here
www.concreterevolution.com

Michele Dawson writes each week on one of the contractor members of The Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com). She has written about the home building industry for several years and was on the public affairs staff of the California Building Industry Association.