What is glass reinforced concrete, and what makes it great for countertops

GFRC stands for Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (or GRC - Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete). It’s made by embedding a high-strength, alkali-resistant glass fibre into concrete. This creates a strong and flexible material. Considered a huge boon in the decorative concrete industry, it has paved the way for all manner of new and innovative uses for concrete in art and architecture that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

GFRC found a lot of use outside the home, as statues, fountains, planters and more. When it was discovered that the contents of what would normally make up a GFRC mix could all be placed into a “bagged mix” to be more accessible to the public, and not just commercial contractors, GFRC widened its use and versatility with in-home applications such as fireplace surrounds, façade wall panels, crown mouldings, vanity tops and concrete kitchen countertops.

The benefits of GFRC make it great for custom concrete counters in particular. It’s lighter, coming in at half the weight of regular concrete. It has high compressive, flexural and tensile strength, making the concrete more flexible and resistant to cracking. These attributes mean countertops can be cast more thinly and in larger pieces with fewer, or commonly, no seams at all. With a variety of application processes, including the ability to spray into forms, or pour into moulds, the design possibilities are truly endless.

In addition to its great versatility, GFRC projects are quick to make and more affordable than traditional concrete. The next time you’re planning a design, consider using GFRC. You won’t be disappointed.