Concrete at Home (Paperback)

by Fu-Tung Cheng (Author) "The Ahwahnee Hotel sits in a meadow at the northeastern end of Yosemite Valley..." (more)
Key Phrases: broadcast stone, color hardener, screed guides, Clark Place, Natoma Street, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Cheng (Concrete Countertops) brings his skill and creativity to the rest of the house, exploring the design and building of floors, walls, patios and fireplaces as well as kitchen counters and sinks—all using concrete. Not one to stick to basics, he offers suggestions for conceptualizing and integrating artful elements—columns, fountains, inlays—into nearly every room. Copious close-up photographs show Cheng and his team at work as they frame, pour, shape and finish concrete-centric projects for various clients. The books breaks down projects into manageable pieces, while detailed instructions and diagrams lead readers from idea through preparation to execution. Finishing touches and whimsical elements are important, and this detailed manual "contains a healthy respect for the discipline of the basics plus a twist of attitude from the artist." Readers possessing both skill and moxie will do best with this volume; since timing, measurements and other considerations are so important when working with concrete, the best approach would surely involve a thorough reading—or two—before deciding which one to undertake. And with a bit of thought and creativity, a wide variety of found objects (bits of coral, even a bowling trophy) can add personality to a piece. Cheng manages to infuse a DIY book on a nontraditional subject with personality, and his dry humor and offbeat approach to home design come through nicely. (Apr.)

Product Description
Fu-Tung Cheng’s surprise bestseller Concrete Countertops paved the way for a fresh look at a familiar surface. His new book moves beyond the kitchen and transforms this commonplace material into an elegant medium that can be used throughout the house. Combining cutting-edge design with helpful how-to information, Concrete at Home offers ingenious ideas for planning and building walls, fireplaces, mantels, hearths, and exterior and interior floors, as well as tips on incorporating architectural elements such as counters, sinks, columns, and water pieces into the project. The construction of forms, footings, and ties is detailed in clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and special attention is given to finishing techniques, including adding color, texture, and inlays.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Taunton; illustrated edition edition (January 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156158682X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561586820
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,765 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Concrete
  #10 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Masonry
  #61 in	Books > Home & Garden > Home Design > Buildings & Construction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected more..., April 6, 2005

By	Scott Knudsen (Air Ronge, Saskatchewan Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I expected a bit more out of this book than I got out of it. It seems to touch on a little bit of each aspect of using concrete for floors, walls, countertops, etc. But really doesn't go into too much depth, which leaves it up to the reader to do lots of their own experimenting. I would like to have seen the book about twice as thick, with a section more devoted to all the different colour variations and textures that the author has come up with.

People tend to buy books like these so they don't have to spend a bunch of money on trial and error testing. And I think this book could have been a whole lot better in that department.

There is some really nice concrete work in this book that will get the imagination fired up. And there is also some pretty corny concrete work, that may turn some people off. Lots of photo's of some of the kitchens the author has done. Not exactly Johnny Grey work, but quite nice.

Even though I only gave it 3 stars, I would still recommend it.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Marketing Deliverable, March 3, 2005

By	Johnny Concrete - See all my reviews

Author Fu-Tung Cheng has opened up the idea that concrete isn't just something you skinned your knee on when you were a kid. His first book "Concrete Countertops" was a great instructional book, aimed obviously at amateurs, on how to use the massive substance and form it into any desired shape. Albeit, it leaves you learning from your own mistakes on a few things left out in the book, but all in all, it introduces the reader to concrete and gets them pointed in the right direction.

With his sophomore release, "Concrete at Home", Cheng has assumingly done it again. However, what appears to be an instructional book on how to take your concrete forming ideas to the "next level", just isn't quite up to par. The book shows off over a 1000 pictures of Cheng's work, and while the work is phenomenal in design, the summarized procedures that go along with them, are hardly enough for the reader to mimic the process. Granted, it is safe to say that Cheng doesn't want to give away all of his secrets, but his procedures skip important areas. For instance, he tells the reader that they inserted rigid foam into their countertop to drastically lighten the weight, but what he fails to mention is how exactly they form rounded angles with it, and how they place it in the mold for the pour. Rigid foam isn't the easiest of materials to manipulate into a rounded shape if you're not familiar with it. Another example is Fu-Tung shows you a rough blue-print for a fireplace surround designed to go around a zero-clearance firebox. However, what he neglects to mention is whether or not you are supposed to strip your walls to the studs, insert bolts into the studs that will protrude out into the surround, and then put up green board before you pour your surround, or if you proceed based on what he shows you, assumingly pouring against your existing textured wall, with nothing to anchor it to the wall. Timber!

"Concrete at Home" is a great photo-filled marketing deliverable for Fu-Tung Cheng's business. He purposely sends the reader in the direction of creating something extravagant, but intentionally leaves out key issues so that the reader will become frustrated and in turn, give up and commission Cheng's services.

If you are a professional in the field of concrete, this book is a great visual addition to add to the rest of your concrete books.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a pity...., May 28, 2005

By	Art for Art's sake (Colorado) - See all my reviews

That people expect to have the years of knowledge and experience Mr Cheng possesses handed to them on a platter in this book. Any true craftsman wouldn't ask for that, and any novice shouldn't expect it (and particularly not for $22!). This book is a wonderful overview of the amazing qualities and possible applications of concrete. It's designed to get your mind working, and the creative juices flowing. Not as a "Concrete for Dummies" (and how flattering are those books to the average intelligence anyway?). Buy this book for inspiration, for some tips and tricks, and prepare yourself to be amazed. If you want further insight into the methodology, buy the first book as well. And despite another reviewers claims, most of Cheng's work is NOT poured on site, but in the shop, and the pictures on the website are gorgeous! Professional jealousy perhaps, but even as 'just' a coffee table piece, this book is really beautiful.