Supercast™ Concrete: A Gas Fire Pit Material Crash Course

Special thanks to our outdoor backyard friends at Outdoor GreatRoom Company (OGC) for allowing us to share and take patio inspiration from this article.

The Outdoor GreatRoom Company prides itself on a wide depth and breadth of product selection that includes 40+ unique fire pits and the many different materials that are used to make them. Among our most popular materials is our Supercast™ Concrete! In this blog, we'll take a look at what makes Supercast™ different from normal concrete, which products it's used in, maintenance tips and tricks, and FAQs!

WHAT IS SUPERCAST ™ CONCRETE?

Supercast™ is a proprietary blend of fiberglass and concrete that provides exceptional durability and strength while weighing less than traditional concrete.

One thing that really makes Supercast™ unique and separates it from traditional concrete (aside from being about 1/3 as thick as concrete) is that we can add various designs and textures to it, including a smooth matte look, marbleized look, and even a wood-grain look.

Supercast™ is one of OGC's most durable materials. While it does require occasional maintenance, it's designed to withstand all types of weather, including cold, heat, rain, wind, snow, and salty coastal air.

OGC has 11 different colours of Supercast™ within our product collections and a 12th on the way! These colours include Antique Timber, Grey Barnwood, Linen, Midnight Mist, Mocha, Natural Grey, Washed Cedar, White, and White Onyx.

WHAT PRODUCTS USE SUPERCAST™?

Supercast™ is used in 16 of our fire pits and fire tables (and will be the material of the top on our new Cirvalo Fire Table! Most models feature it as part of their tops, but a few of them do use it as the base as well! Here are our four most popular solutions:

• Cove Collection (6 different shapes/sizes/colours)
  • Base: Midnight Mist, Natural Grey & White
• Uptown Collection
  • Top: Linen (Iroko), Natural Grey (Coastal Grey), Midnight Mist (Black)
• Cedar Ridge
  • Top: Washed Cedar
• Alcott
  • Top: Antique Timber

MAINTENANCE TIPS & TRICKS

General Maintenance

To keep your Supercast™ fire table top or outdoor kitchen top looking new, we recommend the following:

• Keep it covered when not in use
• Protect tops from harsh weather and direct sunlight if possible with protective cover
• Minor surface scratches can be removed by re-sealing with SC-SEALER.
• If any coloured liquids, such as wine or soda, are spilled on your top, clean off immediately to avoid possible staining
• We recommend cleaning your top regularly with a mild mixture of dish detergent and warm water and then rinsing it thoroughly
• We also recommend sealing your top annually or as needed. If the top begins looking dull, clean and reseal with SC-SEALER. All tops are sealed initially with solvent-based sealers. A solvent-based sealer will accentuate colours and produce a glossier surface compared to a water-based one.

Cleaning

Think of Supercast™ like your kitchen countertop - it can get dirty sometimes, but you want to keep it as clean as you can, so avoid letting dust, dirt, or water to build up on the top. To clean it, use a mild mixture of dish detergent and warm water and wipe it down. Also, be sure to cover the unit when not in use to help protect from buildup of water, snow, dust, dirt, and debris, but make sure if you're cleaning the unit and then covering it that the top is dry before covering for an extended period.

Touch Up & Stain

In the event your Supercast top or base ever starts to lose its colour or gets damaged, you can touch it up and stain it to restore its original look. Here's how to do that:

1. Clean affected area before attempting to stain. Make sure area is clear of dirt, dust or debris.
2. Use a dropper to apply a generous amount of stain to exposed Supercast™ material. Only apply stain to exposed Supercast™; stain will not penetrate Supercast™ sealer.
3. Allow stain to soak into the Supercast™ for 30 seconds to 1 minute and use a clean rag to wipe off excess stain.
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 until the desired stain colour and darkness is achieved. 

For larger areas it is recommended to seal the re-stained area with an acrylic based sealer to protect it from the elements. SC-SEALER is available to purchase from our website.

FAQs

Q: Why is there pitting in Supercast™?

A: As a result of the casting procedure, air becomes entrapped within the Supercast™ mix and on the surface of the molding material. Supercast™ uses a high cement to water mix ratio; this creates a very thick, dense composition making it difficult for trapped air to escape.

Thorough processes are incorporated into the casting process in order to minimize the number of pits visible on a finished Supercast™ piece. Plasticizer additives are used in the Supercast™ composition in order to create a more fluid mixture without increasing the percentage of water, as water decreases the strength of the composition.

Agitation of the piece is also performed during the process to allow trapped air to escape. While the composition and casting process is designed to allow air bubbles to escape, surface tension on the surfaces of the piece prevent a small percentage of smaller air pockets from releasing.

The pitting is an inherent component of casting Supercast™. The presence of pitting does not compromise the durability or strength of the piece but adds to the distinctive look.

Q: What makes a Supercast™ concrete top unique?

A: Your top is handcrafted from Portland cement concrete and reinforced with glass fibers to provide exceptional strength and durability compared to traditional concrete. Supercast™ is typically 1/3 of the thickness of traditional concrete with 3 times the strength.

Each piece offers its uniqueness; you may notice colour variations in your fire table top or outdoor kitchen countertop. This is intentionally done during the molding process in order to create a unique natural appearance which mimics natural stone.

One factor that may slightly affect coloration is thickness. On fire pit table tops, the burner cover may appear slightly different than the rest of the top due to the difference in thickness. Due to the physical properties of concrete, small hairline cracks may appear on the surface over time. This is normal and does not affect the structural integrity of the top.

If cracking is severe or deep, repair or replacement may be required. A minimum of two coats of solvent-based acrylic sealer are applied during the manufacturing process. Because of varying porosity in concrete sealer, it may be absorbed differently throughout the top. Due to this you may notice varying luster.

Q: What is the warranty information for Supercast™ concrete?

A: There's a one-year warranty on the structure and finish. Cracks that exceed ⅛’’ displacement in either height or gap and are determined to be a product of either material or workmanship shall be warrantied for a period of 1 year. Non-structural hairline cracks are possiblea  and shall not be considered a manufacturing defect. 

Today is a great day to dream and plan your perfect backyard. Start with a visit to your local Barbecues Galore showroom to discover dozens of Fire Tables that the sales associates will be happy to fire up so you can see the flames for yourself. And, don’t worry, our Barbecue Butler teams can deliver it to your backyard and set it up wherever you like.