Styles spread like the plague. Once enough people like something, practically every home in America has it.

You would have to be living under a rock not to notice that granite is everywhere. It seems like everybody, either ones or has a granite kind of top and you, luckily, that is not the case.

Just the other day, I got an e-mail asking about concrete counter tops, yes, concrete, and I was so relieved. Now, that is not because I do not love granite, I do. Granite is gorgeous but you know, sometimes, you just need a change and concrete is a great way to mix things up.

When you want to learn about concrete, you go to a concrete contractor, which in my case, meant traveling to sunny California to visit Blade Pensa, the owner of advanced concrete enhancement. Immediately upon arrival, Blade took me on a tour of his facility and I learned quite a few interesting facts about concrete countertops. One, concrete countertops can hold their own against hot pans.

You can put a hot pan on concrete, at some point, if it is hot enough or too hot, you cannot burn the surface.

Just do not push it.

I tell to people the air on the side of caution if you have a hot pan, using hot pan.

Two, concrete countertops are hard, really hard.

And it is relic in the same neighborhood as granite on the hardest scale. Granite is number eight and this is number seven.

Wow. But the most unexpected thing I discovered about this ultra tough material was it is soft. It is incredible how soft it is, I cannot even believe that. Wow, yes, soft. And I do mean really soft, surprisingly soft, babies bottom soft. It is unbelievable how soft that is.

Yes, that is why we call it the rub stone. As much as you start rubbing, you cannot stop.

Yes, it is insane. So soft and smooth I could not stop touching it. Unbelievable how soft this is. And if that is not enough reason to convince you to consider currently counter tops, is having the best feeling counter top on the block does not excite you, then what Blade told me next definitely will.

There is a long list of things that can go wrong with counter, with concrete. Concrete as you know can crack and it can steam. Concrete can warp and twist, so all those things that people say and the terrible things that people comment about, concrete countertops, the truth is they are all true.

And some could be it. No, it is not. In fact, that is enough to make you never want a concrete counter top even if it so that is until you realizes that all of those horror stories can be avoided by finding the right concrete contractor.

So what are the main questions you need to ask an installer before getting a concrete countertop from them?

How long have they been doing the work and who had they done the work for, maybe some previous costumers or testimonials. What are their guarantees? Will they guarantee against cracking and staining and so forth. Those are really key things. Can I come and see the product made. Do you have a show room? Showroom is the key. Showroom really will display what they are capable of doing and the options that they have and they should be able to manage that costumers expectations with the use of a showroom, showroom samples, showroom options and designer options. Ask about what can and cannot be done. So those are very very important things. Do they have a shop, and I think the other thing is, is their door open for you to pop in anytime you want to and see their job in progress. We make a point of that, it is very important for the costumer to be involved, the more they are involve, the better of it is for both artist.

And Blade is not kidding.

Is somebody here?

We had to stop our lesson short so he could meet with costumers who walked in to check the progress of their job.

Hi how are you?

But straight after that, we got right back on tract. And the first thing I wanted to know was, is there anything good about concrete countertops?

So there is a lot of lot of benefits to concrete plus it is sterile, it is easier to clean, easier to maintain. Now, if it is done correctly, it is very functiona