Casting a New Generation of Concrete Countertop Products - Fu-Tung Cheng Launches Complete Line of Concrete Countertop Products

Fu-Tung Cheng, award-winning residential designer and bestselling author of “Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath” has just announced his newest build-your-own concrete countertop product line: CHENG Concrete Countertop Products.

Cheng’s company, Cheng Concrete Exchange (a division of Cheng Design Products), has partnered with Canadian-based Interstar Corporation, a recognized innovator in the manufacture of pigments, admixtures and fibers for the concrete industry.

"We're excited to be working with Zachary Gillman, the president of Interstar, and his highly capable team,” said Cheng. “Together we'll introduce an entire range of products for professionals and do-it-yourselfers (DIYs) to address the increasing demand for concrete countertops.”

In 2003, Cheng, who has been designing with concrete for over 25 years, began teaching workshops in Berkeley, CA, on the design and crafting of concrete countertops.

"Concrete allows for highly sculptural designs in countertops, something not really possible with two-dimensional materials like granite or stone,” said Cheng. ”But there’s a shortage of craftsmen able to design and build them. We hope to address this shortage with our training programs and full line of specialty products.”

IMPROVED PROFESSIONAL PEREFORMANCE

Cheng’s next generation of concrete countertop products has been dramatically improved and re-branded under the CHENG Concrete Countertop Products line (manufactured by Interstar) to provide the industry’s first comprehensive, high-performance line of concrete countertop products that yield consistent, professional results. A few of the marquee products in this line include:

1. CHENG Pro-Formula Mix

CHENG Pro-Formula Mix is designed for precast concrete countertops. This superior formulation combines rich color, strength and workability into an all-in-one concrete countertop mix, ideal for both professionals and do-it-yourselfers. CHENG Pro-Formula Mix is:

- Radically improved with premium-quality pigments that deliver vibrant, stable, long-lasting color, improving the appearance of concrete countertops —including outdoor projects;

- Manufactured with special admixture modifiers that ensure stronger, smoother countertop surfaces;

- Reformulated with water requirements that increase ease of use and yield more consistent results;

- Enhanced with new designer colors that expand creativity and color palette and


2. CHENG Pro-Formula Slurry

Ideal for back-filling voids that appear after grinding or releasing the countertop from the mold, CHENG Pro-Formula Slurry is available in the same CHENG Pro-Formula Mix palette of colors for a seamless, monochromatic look, or various, contrasting colors to create a unique, "veined" effect.”

3. CHENG Sealer

Long-awaited, the high-performance CHENG Sealer provides a streak-free finish and maintains the natural luster of concrete through a proprietary formula unparalleled in the industry. Its non-toxic, non-yellowing, water-based formula provides exceptional adhesion and durability and dramatically improves stain- and abrasion-resistance.

4. CHENG Wax

CHENG Wax has been specially blended for use on concrete countertops to provide a lustrous shine and polish in one or more coats for added protection and depth. Cheng Wax is a water-based (not VOC), food-safe product made from the finest Brazilian yellow carnauba, which helps prevent stains by forming a non-abrasive, durable protective layer.

5. CHENG Polish

The spray-and-wipe CHENG Polish forms an additional protective layer on concrete countertops, helping to prevent stains on the concrete surface. CHENG Polish maintains the beauty and “feel” of concrete countertops, and is easy-to-apply and ideal for homeowners’ use.


ABOUT CHENG CONCRETE EXCHANGE

Cheng Design Products, Inc. was launched in 1998 to embody Cheng’s aesthetic in concrete countertops and unique kitchen hoods. In 2003, Cheng Concrete Exchange, a division of Cheng Design Products, was developed as a comprehensive online resource center for professionals, DIYs, designers, and homeowners interested in designing with concrete. The websites www.concreteexchange.com and www.chengdesign.com offer information about and imagery of Cheng’s design projects as well as concrete countertop products and workshops.