Why Concrete?
Handcrafted. Durable. Unique.
We know there are different types of fire appliances on the market and you’re probably asking yourself, why choose concrete? In this post we will discuss what makes our concrete products different, how they endure weather elements, and a little bit of the history of concrete.
For our products, we use GFRC, glass fiber reinforced concrete, which was brought from England to the U.S in 1976. GFRC is composed of Portland cement, aggregate, water, alkali-resistant glass fibers, polymers and additives, and is custom engineered depending on the project. Because we use glass fibers for reinforcement instead of the typical steel that you would see in pave ways, we are able to create thinner, lighter weight, more flexible, and stronger products for your needs. Our concrete products typically weigh between 5-25lbs per square foot of product. They also have 3-4 more times the tensile strength than steel reinforced products. This combination is inorganic and poses no health risks. It will also never rust and it’s non-combustible so it will not burn. The nature of concrete acts as a thermal regulator so it protects the materials behind it from heat of flames. Our fire bowls do not get hot to the touch because of this, so you do not need to worry about getting burned when feeling the outside of the bowls.
We were able to gather information from GFRC Cladding and Stromberg GFRC and what we found was GFRC has been tested to withstand typical Northern U.S weather. In a freeze-thaw test, GFRC was able to endure up to 300 freezing-thawing cycles and had either minor flaking or no damage at all. In the same test, unreinforced mortar showed severe deterioration after only 200 cycles. We also found that a GFRC panel was able to withstand Dade County Category 4 hurricane rating for wind blown debris. The test panel absorbed an impact of a 27lb 2x4” stud that was propelled into it at 120 mph, without failure of the GFRC panel.
What is the first thing you think of when you think of concrete? Many people would say a road, sidewalk or driveway. We understand the thought behind that, as that’s been the most popular job for concrete for a long time. By using GFRC, we are able to create a fire appliance, or other concrete product, that is strong and long-lasting. One that is decorative and unique. One that will be durable and you will enjoy for a very long time. Due to the materials and process we use, your product will also be smooth to the touch, instead of rough like pave ways. You don’t have to worry about your concrete product getting hot to the touch, or rusting, like other appliances on the market either. Just sit back and enjoy a nice fire with family or friends. If you have further questions, or an idea you would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We will be back with some more information and updates soon.
Thank You
Sources
http://gfrccladding.com/faq/
https://www.strombergarchitectural.com/images/gfrc_guidebook.pdf