Concrete - there’s more to it than meets the feet

Bart Bjorkman and Alison Miller create concrete countertops and tables that are among the best on the market

Bart Bjorkman and Alison Miller stand with a concrete sink that is destined for a woodwork shop. — Glynis Fediuk photo

If you’re like me, your preconceived ideas of concrete home installations evoke ideas of sterile, ugly grey slabs—not unlike having a sidewalk for a counter top. Fortunately for me, I’ve had my ideas about concrete changed by Bart Bjorkman. Bjorkman has recently opened Legend Rock in Creston, a business that specializes in concrete countertops and tables.

My introduction to concrete furnishings began at Black Bear Books, where several of Legend Rock’s creations were on display. I met Bjorkman and Alison Miller, the owner of Black Bear Books and Bjorkman’s partner. Together, they pointed out some of the concrete pieces—pieces that, at first glance, are not obviously something other than marble or granite.

However, using concrete has several advantages over more traditional materials. Concrete is cast in the specific shape of an area, accounting for irregularities in walls and saving the costs of cutting marble or granite. The edges of one of the book store’s tables, emblazoned with the Black Bear Books logo, was curved and made to look much thicker than the table’s actual width of approximately two centimetres. Far from being a dingy grey colour, these countertops and tables were vibrant blues and mellow tan shades. Bjorkman said that concrete can be coloured in any shade found in the Benjamin Moore paint range.

I then travelled to Bjorkman’s workshop. After taking a template of the area, Bjorkman pours the concrete in his shop, a welcome change from days gone by when concrete was poured in the home. This saves homeowners the messes and hassles that were once standard when installing concrete. The concrete is reinforced with glass fibres, making it stronger and lighter than rebar-enhanced concrete. Because it is mixed with pozzolans, a recycled industry byproduct, Legend Rock’s concrete is Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED)-certified.

While Bjorkman takes on technical duties, Miller, a ceramic artist, dreams up ideas and asks the ‘what if?’ questions. It is then Bjorkman’s duty to come up with ways to make the ideas feasible. He is well schooled in the art of concrete, having attended numerous schools and seminars to learn the latest in concrete design. From the first measurements to the last installations, Bjorkman's projects can take as little as a week to complete.

I'll admit tht when I first accepted an invitation to see concrete products, I was unsure of what I would see, but I assumed it would be a quick stop. My visit took close to two hours, and at the end of my visit, Bjorkman informed me that their products could go head to head with any concrete products on the market. I believe him.