WHAT TO EXPECT

Care and Maintenance

At Curated Concrete, every piece we create is handcrafted using natural materials and artisan techniques. Because our concrete countertops and furniture are made by hand, each piece is inherently unique.

Concrete undergoes a chemical reaction during curing that can cause variations in color, texture, and voids. These are not flaws—they’re part of what gives concrete its organic beauty and one-of-a-kind character.

Acceptable natural variations

Naturally occurring pin/air holes and hairline cracks including post installation: These happen naturally during the curing process of concrete. We often fill and polish pin holes. Holes filled on surface and edges will have a different shade or tone than the original concrete color.

Variations in color: Concrete goes through many chemical reactions during the curing process.This can cause movement, swirls, shade differences and variations in color. We carefully measure out all ingredients and do our best to control the environment but variations can happen. While our products are designed to last a lifetime, their appearance may change over time due to the natural aging process of concrete, as well as normal wear and tear.

Chipping & Scratching: Concrete is a very durable material, but may chip if struck with another hard object. Scratches may form on your surface if a sharp or rough object is dragged across the concrete. Minor scratches can be filled in with a wax or granite countertop polish. Curated Concrete is not responsible for repairing or replacing any products that are chipped or scratched after delivery is completed. If damages do occur please contact us.

Cracking: Cracks can form in concrete from stress, movement, shrinkage, weather (freeze-thaw), not enough support, movement/settling of cabinets or abuse to the product. Hairline surface cracks may develop and are considered acceptable in the concrete industry since they do NOT effect the structural integrity. Curated Concrete is not responsible for repairing or replacing any products that develop or sustain hairline cracks. Please see Warranty or contact us with any issues.

Sealer and Stains: At Curated Concrete we use a Water-Based, Non-Emitting Penetrating Hybrid Sealer. It has chemical reactive technology that impregnates and molecular alters concrete creating a hardening crystal-like surface. The sealer is food safe, very stain, scratch, and heat resistant. To get the best results of the sealer avoid harsh chemicals, acids, and cutting directly on the concrete. Harsh chemicals and acids may “eat” through the sealer, leaving a light clouding, and could possibly expose or stain your concrete. Staining can also occur if the sealer is compromised (e.g. cutting on it, using abrasive cleaners or scrubbing pads, etc.). Curated Concrete does warranty the sealer for one year. See warranty for complete details. Also, see our cleaning and sealer page for more details.

Color Samples:
Computer monitors can cause variations and poor representation of the true color. We recommend ordering the actual samples. Colors can vary from actual product. To order samples please contact us and visit our color and finishes page for more details.

Cleaning and care

Concrete is a very durable material, but like all countertops materials, it needs to be properly cared for. Many of the care methods are to prolong the life of the sealer (please read about our sealer for more info).

Cleaning:
We recommend using mild cleaners such as soapy water or granite/stone countertop safe to cleaners. Windex with vinegar or a water vinegar solution (2 parts water 1 part vinegar example 8oz water with 4oz vinegar) used as a cleaner occasionally will help rejuvenate the sealer. Occasionally using furniture polish or granite polish helps fill minor scratches and give the surface a nice sheen.

We recommend avoiding these things to protect your sealer and the concrete surface:

Acidic foods and beverages.
Things like lemon juice, vinegar, citric acid, mustard, tomatoes, soda, wine, perfumes, colognes etc. They should be cleaned from your concrete promptly.

Avoid Harsh and acidic cleaners/solvents. Cleaners like bleach, ammonia, acetone, hydrogen peroxide, lacquer thinner etc. will damage the sealer.

Avoid scrubbing with abrasive scrub pads and steel wool. These could damage the sealer. If using a scrub pad is needed to clean the surface we recommend using lots of water and light pressure.

Avoid high heat or placing hot pots and pans on the surface. Concrete is very heat and fire resistant but this could damage the sealer. We recommend using hot pads or trivets. Slow cookers should also be placed on trivets.
Avoid cutting directly on the surface of concrete. This could scratch the sealer and will damage your knives. Always use a cutting board. Furniture and granite polish help with these minor scratches.

Avoid excessive force. Concrete is very durable but blows from tools or pots and pans can cause chips. If chips do happen give us a call and we can schedule a time to come out and repair them or send a repair kit.

We recommend covering outdoor pieces during winter to protect from ice and snow.

About the sealer

For several weeks after applying the sealer, you may notice the concrete darken in areas where water or other substances sit on the surface. This is completely normal and occurs as the cross-linking of the sealer continues during the curing process. Darkening is not a sign that the sealer is failing; rather, it’s a natural reaction that will diminish as curing completes.Reactive sealers are breathable, allowing water vapor to pass through without letting staining agents (like tannins) easily penetrate.

Sealer Highlights:Our sealer is a water-based, non-emitting, penetrating hybrid formula. It uses chemical reactive technology to impregnate and molecularly alter the concrete surface, creating a hardened, crystal-like finish. It is highly resistant to etching from acidic products such as wine or lemon juice, has ultra-low VOC content, and significantly reduces staining. It is also heat-resistant enough to tolerate contact with hot pans. The sealer complies with USDA regulations (9 CFR, Section 416.4) and meets the Food Safety Inspection Service’s sanitation standards.For Material Safety Data Sheets, please email curatedconcreteco@gmail.com.

Sealer Best Practices:
To care for your sealed concrete surface, always wipe up spills promptly using a damp cloth or a natural cleaning solution. Safe cleaning options include soapy water, Clorox Multi-Surface Cleaner, granite countertop–safe cleaners, or Windex with vinegar. For occasional deep cleaning and to help harden the sealer, a vinegar and water solution works well—use two parts water to one part vinegar (for example, 8 oz water mixed with 4 oz vinegar). To maintain surface sheen and minimize the appearance of light scratches, you can also use furniture polish or granite polish from time to time.

Avoid using your concrete surface as a cutting board. Always use a cutting board to protect both the sealer and your knives. Place coasters or felt pads under objects with sharp or rough edges to prevent scratching. Although concrete is highly durable, avoid dragging heavy objects or dropping cookware directly onto the surface, as it could chip.

To prevent heat damage, do not place hot pans, slow cookers, or appliances directly on the surface. Use trivets or heat pads whenever possible. Keep in mind that acidic foods and beverages—like wine, vinegar, citrus, soda, and tomatoes—should be cleaned up quickly to prevent etching if the sealer becomes compromised.

We also recommend reapplying the sealer every five to ten years, depending on the amount of wear and use. No stripping is required—just a simple reseal to keep your concrete looking and performing its best.

For outdoor pieces, cover them during winter months to protect against ice and snow. Following these care guidelines will extend the life of your surface and preserve the artisan finish for years to come.

Warranty for GFRC 

Curated Concrete guarantees that during the first 1 year after installation, they shall repair or replace product if it fails to maintain functional structural integrity for the intended purpose of the product solely due to a defect.

This warranty does not include or cover the following:

1)Hairline cracks as these will not affect the structural integrity of the product.

2) Damage caused by acts of abuse to the products such as scratches, chips, stains, trapped water, physical overloading or other markings/damage.

 3) Damage caused by incorrect or lack of cleaning or care.

 4) Damage caused by altering product such as drilling, cutting, sanding/polishing.

 5) Improper installation done by customer or third party includes improper support or loss of support.

Curated Concrete also guarantees that during the first 1 year after installation, they shall repair or replace sealer if it fails to maintain functional integrity for the intended purpose of the product solely due to a defect. This warranty does not cover damage to the sealer resulting from impacts, cuts, scrapes or damage by harsh chemicals, highly acidic foods, improper cleaning or intense heat.

All claims must be made known to Curated Concrete within 7 days of the incident. Any further damage caused from lack of correction of warranted issue will not be warranted.

Cancellation and Return Policy:

Please contact us with any questions or concerns about your product.

Because all Curated Concrete, LLC products are custom-made to order, cancellations, returns, and exchanges are not permitted.

Curated Concrete does not offer exchanges, replacements, returns, or refunds due to natural characteristics of concrete—including pinholes, patina, grout fill, chips, finish or surface variations—nor for incorrect size selection or personal preference regarding color.If you receive a product you did not order, you must notify us within seven (7) business days of delivery. We will arrange return shipping in the original crate or container at no cost to you and will send the correct product as quickly as possible.

Once production has begun, changes to an order are generally not possible. We will make every effort to accommodate change requests; however, additional charges may apply and Curated Concrete reserves the right to decline changes at its discretion.

For any questions or concerns, please email CuratedConcreteCo@gmail.com