We’ve been teaching the worlds finest workshops on advanced concrete fabrication since 2005. We’ve trained well over 1,200 folks serious about learning GFRC, fabric-forming, DustyCrete, rubber mold-making, advanced finishes, upright casting, and the business of running a concrete business. It’s been the pleasure of our careers as professional artisans and educators to conduct 4-5 classes per year on average, but alas our instructors are so busy with client work that we have decided to only conduct 2 monumental classes per year and one Alumni gathering. 

These 6-day training events are the absolute best offered anywhere, at any time past or present, they are true experiences. Our first and foremost focus is the serious business of our unrivaled professional training, you’re paying to learn the most up-to-date and relevant information and we want you to leave with your mind brimming with new techniques and possibilities, but just as importantly we will make time for great food, drink, and camaraderie with our concrete compadres. We limit these affairs to 30 participants to ensure ample opportunities for engagement and participation. 

PINNACLE CONCRETE CAMP / SPRING 2020: FEBRUARY 24-29, 2020

PINNACLE CONCRETE CAMP / FALL 2020: NOVEMBER 2-7, 2020

Attendees of the 6-Day PINNACLE CONCRETE CAMP will take part in the following 3 classes:

DAY 1 & 2

GFRC, POST TENSION, & RUBBER MOLD-MAKING WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: BRANDON GORE

Brandon Gore has been teaching concrete enthusiasts for a long time - nearly 15 years now, and that has resulted in a lot of conversations. This workshop is a result of those discussions. 

WHAT WE’LL FOCUS ON IN THIS WORKSHOP:

Post-Tensioned Concrete: Post-tensioning concrete is a great solution for concrete pieces that will have long unsupported spans - think massive dining tables and modern benches. We will work as a class to build a form for and cast a post-tensioned piece.

Rubber Mold-Making: Being able to create your own rubber molds is the Swiss Army Knife of concrete skills! We are constantly crafting custom rubber components, whether they be for drain or faucet knockouts, integral drainboards and soap-dishes, or custom objects such as planters. This is by far one of the most requested topics from workshop attendees, so if you want to learn how to make rubber molds for concrete applications, this is your class.

GFRC - Mix, Casting, and Finishing: We will share our GFRC mix design, blending protocol, casting processes, and how to properly finish your concrete masterpiece. 15 years of trials and tribulations distilled down to what works - we learned the hard way what not to do, so you don’t have to. 

The Business of Running a Successful Concrete Business: If you do something that isn’t profitable it’s a hobby. You can’t pay your mortgage with a hobby. Knowing how to work with concrete is only half of the battle, we’ll share with you what has worked for us when it comes to selling and marketing high-end concrete. How to approach pricing, what you should do, and most importantly, how to avoid the pitfalls that will cost you money. Through your time at this workshop you will have access to Brandon Gore’s years of concrete fabrication and design experience, and his working knowledge as a professional self-supporting concrete artisan.

DAY 3 & 4

DUSTY-CRETE WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: DUSTY BAKER

Students attending my workshop will gain extensive knowledge turning regular concrete into a beautifully marbleized natural piece of art. We will be demonstrating a casting technique I have developed and perfected over the last 11 years. Our custom look uses the imperfections as part of the details that we call “Dusty-Crete.” During the workshop students will learn in-depth instruction on how to marbleize and vein concrete. Instruction on how to form concrete for unique edgings including carved and tooled. In addition, we will be teaching various finishing techniques such as slurrying, scrubbing, and buffing. Last but not least, our latest uses for color enhancement using water-based stain products and how to properly seal with the QUANTUM sealing system.

With the techniques that are taught by our artisans, students will be able to create a uniquely custom concrete product with a modern or rustic look. If you want something different, unique, and individualized to each piece of concrete, look no further than attending a workshop with the artisans of Stone-Crete. 

DAY 5 & 6

ADVANCED FINISHES + UPRIGHT CASTING WORKSHOP

INSTRUCTOR: JON SCHULER

In today’s modern age of casting most concrete artisans have forgotten, or worse yet, never learned the fundamentals of manipulating concrete using simple hand tools to control the very nature of the material, hereinafter referred to as 'Upright Casting'. Upright Casting plainly explained is the process of crafting and processing concrete goods right-side-up, in it's final state, instead of upside-down against a form. This difference allows an infinite variety of creative options not available with common casting methods. These techniques date back more than 2,000 years and were utilized by the Romans in the creation of their masterpieces. Modern technologies have blinded the current craftsman to the inherent beauty that makes concrete "concrete", the 'soul of the substance' if you will. A simple and subtle shift in finishing techniques can yield drastically different aesthetics ranging from modern to rustic. 

In this workshop Jon Schuler will teach you how to produce multiple finishes, embodying each piece with the mark of it's maker, in the truest sense. You will learn how every aspect of the mix, from design, to casting and curing, impress a signature on the final surface. We will meld ancient tooling and casting techniques with the worlds most technically advanced concrete mix designs. Upright Casting, using the most rudimentary of tools, offers your customers a myriad of finishes that will not only increase the demand for your products, but the value as well. We will demystify the process, simplify the complexities, and teach you how to take command of your medium. 

Workshop Topics will include:

• Form building from an Upright Casting point of view

• Kodiak Pro QUANTUM Reactive Sealer application

• Acid washing concrete

• Use of orbital sanding techniques to achieve and finesse final finishes

• Proper methods of grinding and sanding utilizing dry diamonds

Attendees of this class will craft a minimum of 3 distinctive finishes. The workshop format is exploratory, allowing each individual to find their own design voice - aesthetics that resonate with them and their demographic. The simple hand tools employed include floats, trowels, and even your own hands! The sequence and manipulation of these tools and techniques are the secret sauce needed to boost your confidence, advance your offerings, and expand your earnings. Join us for knowledge, inspiration, and the most fun you can have while mastering a lost art!