Cast-in-place Concrete Countertops: A Guide for Craftsmen (English and Spanish Edition)

This book is the best. As a general contractor, I now have a good understanding and what to expect in a concrete countertop. Ralston himself is a concrete contractor, and that is what I like most about this book: it is written by a guy that actually does this type of work.

While I'm sure Tom, his dad, legion of friends and well wishers are all grateful to be found in this book, it does very little for me except cause it to weigh more.I force read through this in less than an hour, twice within the same hour. If I want to see photos of countertops, I will find them on the internet. What I was hoping for was some detailed explanations of what to do when X happens or when Y didn't happen like it should. The kind of detail one might expect for 28.00.I want that lost hour of my life back.By the way, there are thousands of amazing YouTube videos of cast in place tops that offer far more insight than this book could ever do even absent its genealogy and social patting on the back.

On TIME! GREAT PRODUCT

Excellent overview with good illustration. I was disappointed in lack of completeness of detail on how the framing is done and particularily if the bottom of the frame is left in place after the cement is pourd or if and how it is removed. I did not find this detail readily availabe. I am sure others would have other questions but this was the one most important for me. I still do not get it.

Tom Ralston is both a passionate artist and a technical master when it comes to custom colored concrete work - and in his book he instructs everyone from the novice to the experienced contractor. And it's a fun read - kind of like a friendly conversation as he takes you on an intimate walk through the homes and gardens of many of his clients for whom he and his eclectic staff of artisans and masons have created art pieces that are as functional as they are beautiful. The book also details planning, preparing, estimating and constructing cast-in-place countertops and bathtub surrounds with lots of photos of the process. If you are a professional contractor or a homeowner designing a new home, remodeling or landscaping a yard, this book will give you lots of ideas that don't need to be expensive to add highly creative pieces to your plan. - Patty Damron

I found this book fairly informative, but it lacked adequate details to be a useful manual for anyone making these to a commercial quality. Most of the information given is familiar to anyone used to working with concrete, but I have made a few concrete tops before reading the book and was looking for something to refine my skills and perfect the finish. Advice on the best ways to screed and trowel to avoid colour variations and undulations that only appear after drying for instance.It would also have been useful if metric conversions to all the weights and measurements were included in brackets.

What I mean by work-book is that you have to work-through-this-book, with patience. Having read the other books on the market by Cheng and Rhodes, and various others (of which I easily devoured) I found myself having to put this book down time and again because i simply felt a bit bored with it. Sure, it has useful information, but the instructional pictures could use a bit of work and the text of the book could have been slimmed down a bit. I am not impressed with the designs in this book either. Aesthetically, form and function do not dance here. If you're angle is the cast-in-place method, not necessarily a waste of time and money.

It's a pleasure to see such craftsmanship and to have it explained step by step. It is equally wonderful when craftsmen are not afraid to share their knowledge with others.