Getting Creative with GFRC: Casting Concrete Against Wood Grain for DIY Worktops
If you’ve ever admired the rich, organic lines of board-formed concrete and thought, “Could I do that on my kitchen island?”, the answer is a resounding yes.
Modern glass-fibre-reinforced concrete (GFRC) mixes make it easy to capture textures like wood grain with stunning detail — right down to the knots and saw marks. And thanks to the self-compacting, self-levelling nature of Concrete Lab’s GFRC Worktop Mix, you don’t need fancy tools or years of experience to pull it off.
🔍 Why Concrete Captures Texture So Well
Concrete has this brilliant characteristic: it takes on the exact shape and texture of whatever you cast it against. That includes every nick, dent, and wood grain line in your mould. In fact, it’s how the concrete industry created the now-iconic “board-formed” look — by pouring against rough-sawn timber.
Concrete Lab’s GFRC Mix is especially good at this because:
- It’s self-compacting — no need to vibrate it into place.
- It’s flowable — it fills even the tightest grooves.
- It sets strong and thin — perfect for worktops, splashbacks, and vertical features.
🧱 Choosing Your Texture: Wood Grain, Plywood, or Something Wild
For a wood grain finish, use unsanded, rough-sawn timber. You can use:
- Old scaffold boards
- Rough pine planks
- OSB for a more industrial texture
- Sandblasted wood for finer grain detail
Want to get weird with it? Try:
- Textured rubber mats
- Brick panels
- Tree bark (!)
Pro tip: Always use a release agent or compatible sealer on your forms to make demoulding easier.
🧪 How to Use Concrete Lab’s GFRC Worktop Mix for Textured Casts
- Prep your mould: Clamp your textured form surface tightly in place — grain side in. Make sure it’s sealed and watertight.
- Apply release agent: This helps preserve your form and makes demoulding much easier.
- Mix your concrete: Use Concrete Lab’s GFRC Worktop Mix with the included superplasticiser, fibres and dye. Everything’s pre-measured to save you the headache.
- Pour and spread: Pour slowly and let the mix self-level. Gently spread it if needed — no vibration necessary.
- Cure and demould: After 24–48 hours, carefully remove the form. You’ll see every detail of the texture transferred beautifully.
🧼 Finish and Seal (Or Don’t!)
Some people love the raw look straight from the mould — especially with a board-formed finish. But if you want to smooth things out:
- Lightly sand the high points
- Apply our Smoothing Paste for any pinholes
- Finish with Concrete Lab Sealer and optional Concrete Wax for added depth
🎯 Why DIYers Are Loving This Technique
This is a big win for creative makers because:
- It looks high-end, but is totally achievable at home
- You can reuse forms again and again
- No special tools required — just a good form and a good mix
And best of all? You’re not limited to flat slabs. Once you nail the technique, you can use textured GFRC for:
- Splashbacks
- Wall panels
- Outdoor kitchen surfaces
- Fireplace surrounds
- Even art pieces
🛒 Ready to Try It?
Concrete Lab’s GFRC Worktop Mix is made for this kind of project. Each kit includes:
- Self-levelling GFRC base mix
- Pre-measured dye, fibres, and plasticiser
- Easy-to-follow instructions
Our GFRC calculator tells you exactly how many packs you need — plus any extras like Smoothing Paste, Sealer, and Reinforcement Bars.
So if you’ve got a textured mould and a bold idea, give it a go. You’ll be amazed what concrete can do when you let the texture take the lead.