Concrete Worktop Care

Care and Maintenance

Smith & Goat worktops are made using Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) for strength and durability, and are fully sealed with a deep penetrative sealer. They are easy to maintain and will last for many years with the right level of knowledge and care.

To clean, use a non-abrasive cleaner, such as a damp cloth or sponge. Do not use any kind of scouring pads as they can damage the product and sealer.

Use natural non-abrasive cleaning products with low PH levels and rinse and dry after cleaning. Clean up stains immediately and avoid intense scrubbing to ensure the surface and sealer remain intact.

Do not leave wet items on the concrete for long periods of time. Wipe wet areas dry. Use coasters and avoid cups or bottles sitting on the concrete for long periods of time as they can trap moisture which can affect the concrete surface adversely. Regularly expose covered areas to the air to ensure they dry out.

Avoid impact on the surface from heavy or hard objects, especially on the edges  to avoid cracks, chips or breakages. Worktops may develop scratches and marks over time which will add to their character and are a natural progression in a natural material. It should not need to be resealed. In the unlikely event that it does, please get in touch for instructions on how to reseal.

Worktops can be waxed once or twice a month for additional protection and longevity with a product such as Aristowax Original Non Silicone Wood Silk Polish.

Natural progression including staining, grazing and chipping may occur over time and will not be considered a defect by Smith & Goat. Darker colours will naturally age and wear more than lighter colours, so please consider this when making your colour choice. 

The sealer is a plant-based, food sage penetrating sealer that sits into the concrete to seal it. Areas of your worktop may remain wet looking for a period of hours/ days. Markings will fade away.

Taking good care of the worktop in line with these recommendations is the client’s responsibility and will ensure you get the best from your concrete in the long term.

 

What to expect from your concrete worktop

Smith & Goat creates hand-cast, bespoke concrete using a variety of natural materials. Blending aggregate, cement and pigments together is a skill which results in a unique finish.

Variations in colour and surface texture are to be celebrated; these characteristics are what we believe makes concrete such a beautiful material to work with and display in your space.

Please see our Concrete Characteristics Guide for more details and examples.

Worktops are templated on site, and we allow for up to 5mm tolerance to the edges when made which will be filled with sealer. This is due to natural variations in hand cast pieces of concrete as they expand and contract during the manufacture, drying and curing process.

Every item cast by Smith & Goat is unique and will gain character over time.

Colour samples are provided as a point of reference and the finished colour of each product will always vary to a small degree due to natural pigmentation behaviour, the expected differences in each batch of sand used and drying conditions, among other production factors.

All worktops are quality checked by Smith & Goat and deemed to be within tolerance before being installed for the client.

Because of the natural blending of the underlying components, concrete will always include variations in colour, tone and texture throughout the piece. It will never be a single block of colour and the grain of the sand mixed with the cement will likely be visible in the finished piece.

As with any natural product, concrete may fade/ discolour over time when exposed to direct sunlight.

All concrete products may contain air pockets, pin holes, fibre exposure, grazing, flow lines and patination on the finished product which may evolve more over time. These are all common within each of our products and have no effect on the structural integrity of the product nor affect usage. They are not considered defects in the product.

If you have any questions around the care and maintenance of your worktop, please don’t hesitate to contact us.