GFRC Training Courses - In-person and Online
You will Learn How to Make Lightweight Fibre-Concrete Benchtops and Vanity Tops with Sinks
Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Online Training Course
Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Online Training Course
Concrete is hard.
Learning it shouldn't be.
Whether you want to expand your DIY skills, start your own business, or add new skills to your existing services, Concrete Studio’s Introduction to GFRC Online Course will show you the complete process of making beautiful concrete pieces, from building the form to casting your pigmented mixture, and finally how to detail and seal your pieces.
>> Courses are for anyone who wants to get their hands dirty.
>> Save hours of trawling Youtube to find the right information.
" We don't hold back any information... we teach it as exactly as we make it, day-in-day-out. "
'Introduction to GFRC Online'
(A)
Limited earlybird price - 25 only
AUD$ 360
AUD $
360
- Instant online access to 'Introduction to GFRC Online Course'
- Earlybird price x 25 only. Then reverts to full price.
- All future updates to this course included
- Detailed video and text training modules
- No interruptions, adverts, or Youtube scraping
- Our whole process from start-to-finish
- Impartial instruction.
(We are not here to sell raw materials or tools) - Price is refundable against any in-person course
- Perfect for yourself or as a gift
'All-Access Membership'
(B)
Lifetime access to all future courses (does not expire)
AUD$ 490
AUD $
490
- Everything in column A. 30 places only.
- Lifetime access to every future course
- All future updates to all courses included
- Advance previews of future courses
- Q&A and Webinar support for All-Access Members
- Suggest content for future courses
- Price is refundable against any in-person course
- Limited to 30 at this price
- Perfect for yourself or as a gift
COURSE OUTLINE - WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
'Introduction to GFRC'
Moulding
MODULE 1
- Types of materials used for form works to get the best results
- Molding set up: tricks and techniques that will save you hours later in the process
- Assembling and preparing counter top and table molds. Again, heaps of time saving measure that we have perfected over the years
- How to seal your mold with silicone to give your finished pieces perfect edges
- How to make perfect blockouts for sinks, stoves and faucets
Mixing
MODULE 2
- The exact mix design and method that we use every day
- How to mix the perfect top coats and backer coats
- How to use planar mixers
- How to mix with hand held mixer
Casting
MODULE 3
- Techniques for spraying GFRC. We show you how to avoid common problems like crumbly edges and pinholes.
- Applying reinforcemen
- Creating weight-saving voids on large pieces.
- Spraying face coat
- Spraying backing coats
- Filling, screeding and trowelling
Demoulding
MODULE 4
- Preparing for the demold process so that pieces are undamaged at this critical time.
- Learn the importance of timing: how long to leave a piece in the mold to avoid twisting, warping or curling.
- Tips on lifting.
- Grinding and polishing the underside and removing blockouts and sinks
Sealing and Detailing
MODULE 5
- Preparing your pieces for sealing.
- Pros and cons of different types of sealer (penetrating and topical).
- Laying on your sealer primer.
- Grouting the piece to fill airholes.
- Polishing and cleaning in preparation for final sealer.
- Laying on the top coat of sealer.
- Final inspection and ensuring your project is ready for installation and total satisfaction of the end user.
What is GFRC?
GFRC stands for glass fibre reinforced concrete. It’s a composite material that combines cement, fine aggregates, water, polymers and alkali-resistant glass fibres to create a strong and lightweight concrete product.
GFRC is commonly used in architectural and construction applications due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, durability and versatility. The glass fibres in GFRC provide reinforcement and improve the tensile strength of the concrete, making it less prone to cracking and more resistant to impact and flexural loads. The fibres also help to distribute stress throughout the material, enhancing its overall performance.
At Concrete Studio we mould GFRC into various shapes, textures and finishes, allowing for a wide range of design possibilities. We make architectural cladding, facades, decorative panels, countertops, sinks, furniture and many other architectural elements.
In addition to its structural properties, GFRC offers other advantages such as fire resistance, weather resistance and low maintenance requirements. It can be pigmented or stained to achieve different colors and a skilled maker can form it into intricate designs.
Google Reviews
Taken from our in-person course which covers the same material
Sam P
"Attended the course a few weeks ago. It was an amazing course, well run, informative and very hands on. Thrilled with the new skills I have learnt. Thoroughly enjoyed it, it was well run, extremely easy for any level of experience to keep up with the well structured, step by step course...!"
Paul R
"Really glad I did this course, Phil has an extensive knowledge of concrete and it's properties. Jason and the boys in the workshop know their stuff, all done in a relaxed environment made it an enjoyable experience. Highly recommend this course to anyone."
Emma S
"Completed course and was very impressed with the amount we covered in such a short time and the quality of the products we produced, would highly recommend this course to anyone interested."
Who is this course for?
Architects & Designers: Professionals who want to explore the possibilities of integrating GFRC into their architectural designs, such as facades, cladding, and decorative elements.
Contractors & Builders: Individuals involved in the construction industry who want to expand their skills and offer GFRC as a specialty service. This includes contractors working on both residential and commercial projects.
Artisans & Craftspeople: Those with a passion for creating unique and artistic concrete pieces, such as countertops, furniture, sculptures, and other decorative items using GFRC techniques.
DIY Enthusiasts: Hobbyists and homeowners who enjoy hands-on projects and want to learn GFRC techniques for personal home improvement, DIY furniture, or garden installations.
Construction Students & Educators: Students studying architecture, construction management, or related disciplines who wish to gain practical knowledge of GFRC for their academic or professional growth.
Professionals Seeking Continuing Education: Individuals already working in the construction industry, such as engineers or project managers, who want to expand their knowledge base and stay updated with the latest advancements in GFRC technology and applications.
FAQs
- This is a professionally produced video (mp4) production presented in English and available to stream any time.
- The course is broken down into modules with text and video components.
- The course is self-paced so you can work through the modules at your convenience.
- Access to all material of the course online through the members area on our website.
- Since 2015 we have conducted our acclaimed in-person courses in Australia with national and international students. Due to consistent demand we have created the Introduction to GFRC Online Course, (as well as our in-person course in Spain).
- Structured Curriculum: Our course provides a carefully organized and progressive curriculum, ensuring a solid foundation of knowledge.
- Expert Instruction: Led by our experienced instructor with industry expertise with valuable business insights and guidance.
- Comprehensive Coverage: We cover all essential aspects of GFRC, providing in-depth knowledge through all the course materials not found in fragmented YouTube videos.
- Quality Production: Our professionally produced course ensures clarity and enhances the learning experience.
- We are only here to teach, and not to put you into a raw materials sales funnel. Most of our students live hundreds or thousands of miles from us, so they source their supplies close to them.
- Short answer: Yes.
- This course is taught exactly how we make our pieces in our workshop.
- The course itself is filmed at our manufacturing facilities with the same equipment we use for our pieces.
- The whole process is shown with every tip and technique so that you don’t have to learn the hard way.
- All processes are explained in detail and showing all aspects of the process.
- We want you to feel confident and creative to make high quality concrete furniture on your own.
- Note: our method is not the only method, and there are many great ways to make GFRC, and many great teachers out there. We just teach the processes that we use ourselves and which works for us.
- Introduction to GFRC is presented and taught by Phil Martin: Concrete Studio’s founder and owner.
- Phil started his concrete career in 2005 working in heritage apartment conversions in London. He is an award winning designer and has worked on projects in Australasia, Europe, Asia and North America.
- After a move to Australia in 2010 he set up Concrete Studio to bring GFRC to Australia: the Studio was one of the first GFRC furniture companies in the country.
- Phil has been teaching concrete courses since 2015 and has welcomed students from all over the world.
This depends on how often you want to fabricate, but you will need the following:
- Workshop / Garage
- Strong, flat worktable(s)
- Compressor with an airline
- GFRC spray guns (we show you where to buy them / make them)
- Hand tools for mold making
- A grinder usually comes in handy. But we try to avoid using them as much as possible.
- You may need a polisher depending on the finish you want. Typically we don’t use them
- The course goes into detail on all the equipment
- You can buy a lot more than this of course, but most people who are 'handy' will already have most of what they need.
The spray guns are the most 'specialist' part, but they are easy to find on eBay and elsewhere online.
'Introduction to GFRC Online'
(A)
Limited earlybird price - 25 only
AUD$ 360
AUD $
360
- Instant online access to 'Introduction to GFRC Online Course'
- Earlybird price x 25 only. Then reverts to full price.
- All future updates to this course included
- Detailed video and text training modules
- No interruptions, adverts, or Youtube scraping
- Our whole process from start-to-finish
- Impartial instruction.
(We are not here to sell raw materials or tools) - Price is refundable against any in-person course
- Perfect for yourself or as a gift
'All-Access Membership'
(B)
Lifetime access to all future courses (does not expire)
AUD$ 490
AUD $
490
- Everything in column A. 30 places only.
- Lifetime access to every future course
- All future updates to all courses included
- Advance previews of future courses
- Q&A and Webinar support for All-Access Members
- Suggest content for future courses
- Price is refundable against any in-person course
- Limited to 30 at this price
- Perfect for yourself or as a gift
Lifetime access to all future courses
Future Courses Roadmap
- Casting Foam Core Concrete (even stronger and lighter)
- Pouring, Trowelling and Burnishing Countertops
- Waterfall Ends and Negative Details
- Vessel Basins
- Making Fibreglass Moulds (one piece)
- Making Fibreglass Moulds (two piece)
- One-off foam moulds
- Ongoing Sealer Tests and Updates
- Repairing Chips and Dents
- What do you want to see here?
All-Access is a one-off cost, not a recurring subscription.
The price will increase each time a course is published.
The above list is indicative.
We will produce and release courses during the year, prioritising those that are most requested.
Courses will be available to purchase indvidually.
Each time a new course is published the All-Access price will increase. The sooner you buy the cheaper it is.