Published Tuesday, September 02, 2008 1:28 PM
Updated Tuesday, September 02, 2008 4:21 PM

 

Is that really concrete?

It takes tons of convincing to believe that Jody Smith’s creations are made of concrete and not the many things he can replicate with it.

He’s a concrete artisan specializing in indoor and outdoor decorations.

“Jody just wanted to do something different, it’s not something everybody can do,” says Shannon Smith, Jody’s wife. “This is like landscaping in the West, but it hasn’t hit the East yet—Jody’s ahead of the trend.”

Jody once operated his own landscaping business, but then went to Phoenix, Ariz. to study concrete overlaying techniques. When he came back to Summerville in March 2008 he started Overlay Solutions, something he’s long dreamed of.

He can give a sidewalk, patio, countertop or nearly anything a stylish concrete facelift.

“What we do is limited only by imagination,” said Jody, whose imagination requires continual thinking outside of the box. Jody says there’s no project too big for him; his mentor can fly from Phoenix to assist him.

Jody can replicate styles from several time periods, from antiquated cobblestone-looking concrete to advanced West coast designs.

“Water comes down in the right place and doesn’t splash on the carpet,” said Dr. Jon Jacobs, MD, whose waiting room had a decorative concrete waterfall fountain installed by Jody on August 11.

Jody molded and colored the concrete to make the waterfall look like real stone. The monolithic fountain isn’t just there for looks either.

“A patient said it was so peaceful, listening to it. Kids like it; they like to touch it. It’s a way to relieve anxiety—with the sound and vision of trickling water—because we do minor surgery here and have anxious patients,” says Dr. Jacobs.

“It can sound like a toilet or sound soothing,” Shannon says. “Jody had to get it just right.”

The concrete waterfall weighs about 350-400 lbs., says Jody. “It has to be solid.” The fountain has a water pump in the bottom and PVC pipes inside. Jody’s mentor traced the waterfall stencil from a tree in Central Park in New York City, Jody says. The surface of the waterfall contains mica powders and other colored minerals for pigments, Jody says. “It’s the same idea as makeup.” He also put some glitter on the acrylic painted base, he says.

This isn’t the first time Dr. Jacobs and Jody worked together; Jody also made the concrete countertop for the doctor’s office. Dr. Jacobs sees the countertop as a sort of symbolic parallel: “If the furnishing is solid the practice is solid.”

Jody says his long-term goal is teaching concrete artisanship to children and adults who lack educational opportunities and are interested in art and skilled craftwork. His short-term goal is getting people to see and believe in concrete overlays; he would love to do work in downtown Charleston, he says.

“I build it to last forever. There’s a lifetime warranty at no cost,” Jody says. “But only through Jody’s lifetime,” Shannon added.

“Every time you have a function you’re standing on my reputation,” Jody once told a customer after they asked why his sidewalk overlay was so detailed.

Jody says his work is higher in quality than quantity, and he’s not a concrete stamper even though he easily could be, something he says is more lucrative but doesn’t interest him much. Jody’s website is www.overlaysolutions.com.