Concrete Studio School
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Online Course
Master the art of concrete with our GFRC Online Course
Concrete is hard. Learning it shouldn't be.
Create stunning and durable concrete products from scratch and unlock your creative potential. Whether you want to start your own business, learn about concrete or expand your skills, Concrete Studio’s Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Online Course will show you the complete process of making beautiful concrete pieces, from building the mold to casting your colored mixture, and finally how to detail and seal your pieces.
Our GFRC online course is a professionally produced production using state-of-the-art 4K cameras, broadcasting quality equipment and edited at the highest standards. All the modules delivered in the course are designed to facilitate learning and to spark creativity. The course is directed and presented by owner Philip Martin.
Built upon years of expertise and the success of our in-person program since 2015, this online course will teach you all the secrets of concrete and take you through the whole manufacturing process.
Join now Concrete Studio’s Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) Online Course and make a difference with your own concrete creations.
Pick your plan
The course will be released at the end of November 2023. We have created our Early Bird Offer (limited applications) for those passionate individuals who join the course before Black Friday.
Video Only
4K video series of the course $745
$ 445 Early Bird Offer> Limited applications remaining
- Everything explained at all levels by our experts at the Concrete Studio workshop
- MP4 video downloads at all resolutions including Full HD and 4K
- Premium Support included for free for Early Birds only*
Video & Manual Bundle
4K video series alongside full printed and PDF manual of the course $1195
$ 495 Early Bird Offer> Few applications remaining
- Get all the materials of the course for you to learn at your pace
- MP4 video downloads at all resolutions, high quality printed manual and PDF download
- Premium Support included for free for Early Birds only*
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*Premium Support is a subscription based service offered here for free that includes Q&A, webinars and downloadable resources available while the course is active. It doesn’t include personal or one-on-one assistance
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.
'Introduction to GFRC'
Course outline - What you will learn
Supplies & Tools
Module 01.
- Where and when to use GFRC in a project to get the best results.
- Benefits and challenges of working with GFRC.
- The differences in formwork and casting.
- Essential equipment and what you need to start making. We teach the whole course with items from any well equipped hardware store.
- How and where to source GFRC additives.
- How to find your own additives if commercial GFRC additives aren’t available locally to you.
- How to make and modify GFRC spray guns.
Mould & Form Making
Module 02.
- Types of materials used for form works to get the best results.
- Moulding set up: tricks and techniques that will save you hours later in the process.
- Assembling and preparing bench top and table moulds. Again, heaps of time saving measure that we have perfected over the years.
- How to seal your mould with silicone to give your finished pieces perfect edges.
- How to make perfect blockouts for sinks, stoves and taps.
Mixing & Casting
Module 03.
- The exact mix design and method that we use every day.
- How to mix the perfect face and backer coats.
- Techniques for spraying GFRC. We show you how to avoid common problems like crumbly edges and pinholes.
- Applying reinforcements.
- Creating weight-saving voids on large pieces.
- Making GFRC in different temperature environments, hot, cold, dry and humid. Learn about the chemistry of concrete.
Curing & Demoulding
Module 04.
- Preparing for the demould process so that pieces are undamaged at this critical time.
- Learn the importance of timing: how long to leave a piece in the mould to avoid twisting, warping or curling.
- Tips on lifting, using slings and lifting gear, or just elbow grease.
- Grinding and polishing the underside and removing blockouts.
Polishing & Sealing
Module 05.
- Preparation work and moulding set-up: expert techniques that will save you hours later in finishing processes.
- Assembling and preparing bench-top and table moulds. We share our time-saving measures perfected over many years of professional design.
- How to seal your mould to give your finished pieces perfect edges.
- How to make perfect blockouts for sinks, stoves and taps.
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
How is the course delivered?
The course is currently in production for completion in November 2023.
This is a professionally produced production presented in English.
The course will be broken down into modules with detailed bookmarking, downloadable references and learning aids.
- 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.
Why now?
- Since 2015 we have conducted our acclaimed in-person courses in Australia with national and international students. Due to worldwide demand we have created the Concrete Studio’s GFRC Online Course.
- While the course is still under production, we want to give the opportunity to all those interested to apply now with a substantial discount. This is why we have created our Early Bird offer. After Black Friday 2023 standard pricing will apply. The course will be released in November 2023.
- If you would like to give this as a gift please be sure to let us know on the booking page.
But wait, isn't most of these already on YouTube?
There is a lot of great information on YouTube. Our GFRC course offers distinct advantages over YouTube for learning:
- 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.
Do you really teach all your trade secrets?
- 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, trick 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 proecess.
We want you to feel confident and creative to make high quality concrete furniture on your own.
Who will be the teacher?
Introduction to GFRC is presented and taught by Philip Martin: Concrete Studio’s founder and owner. Phil started his concrete career in 2005 working in heritage apartment conversions in London.
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.
As a GFRC Online Course Early Bird you’ll enjoy our Premium Support service for free (it’s a subscription based service) which includes support from Phil and the Team through Q&A, webinars and downloadable resources.
Concrete Studio Director & Founder
Do I need a lot of equipment?
This depends on how often you want to fabricate, but you will need the following:
- Workshop / Garage
- Strong, flat worktable
- Compressor
- GFRC spray guns (we show you where to buy them / make them)
- Hand tools for mould making
- 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
Read our Google reviews
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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, but way harder than initially thought to get the desired outcome!
Great teacher and fantastic lunches, thanks again. Will definitely be going to another course in the future!
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On a whim, I flew over from the coastal Victoria to Perth to participate in the workshop at Concrete Studio learning how to make concrete basins and bench tops. A hands on course, very inspiring. I'm looking forward to seeing what evolves from what I learnt. Great team, led by owner Phil. A big thank you to his wife Orla too who spoilt us all with the most sensational lunches and morning teas! thanks too for recommendations down Margaret River way, I loved it! Best wishes for the continued success of Concrete Studio, great products.
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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. Phil's wife's lunches were amazing too! Cheers Paul.
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Completed the 3 day 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.
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Huge thanks to Phil and Ilka for the brilliant GFRC course I did recently. More informative, more professional, and a much simpler process than one I did on the east coast a few years ago! Phil's support since the course has also been awesome.
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