Canadian-based Interstar Corporation worked with Cheng on the development of the pads.
Cheng Concrete Exchange, a division of Cheng Design Products, is the company’s educational initiative for professionals, do-it-yourselfers, designers and homeowners interested in designing with concrete. Cheng also teaches workshops in Berkeley on the design and crafting of concrete countertops.
"Concrete allows for highly sculptural designs in countertops, something not really possible with two-dimensional materials like granite or stone," Cheng says. "But, there's a shortage of craftsmen able to design and build them. We hope to address this shortage with our training programs and full line of specialty products."
Casi Morris, a spokeswoman for the company, said the new products and the training sessions are aimed both at contractors and individuals because of current trends.
“We have a very large base of contractors and professionals in the industry who swear by this product, but the do-it-yourself market is really a trend,” Morris says. “That’s a base that’s really growing and expanding, and we’re tailoring our classes to meet that need.”