Once we create templates for a project on-site, we bring them back to the studio and translate the measurements, layouts, and notes into a three dimensional form to receive the concrete. The resultant countertop castings will follow the form details exactly – it is a literal translation of positive and negative. The result is completely dependent on the care invested in the preparation. This is a lesson you learn early in your concrete countertop career. Take your time, do it right: you only get one chance. It’s  an iteration of the old-school computing truism – GIGO “Garbage In, Garbage Out”. This is where forethought and planning, not to mention manual dexterity, come into strong play. Will that sink form’s shape release cleanly? Will the faucet handle clear the backsplash when actuated? Are the users right-handed or left-handed?

We do most of our wetcasting on sheets of 3/4 inch melamine coated particle-board. Nesting the required sections on the backer, placing the sink and faucet holes where they need to be – we do everything upside-down and backwards. This is a mind-bending exercise sometimes; there are moments when it is best to step back and take a deep breath, because the effort to re-do a mix-up is considerable at this point. Record-keeping and communication come into play here too: assumptions are a killer. This is why we require that all sinks and hardware be in our physical possession at the time of forming. Manufacturer’s specifications are usually reliable, but cannot be counted at all times. Products are revised, OEM vendors change, industry standards evolve. In the end, everything matters. Don’t Think, Know!