How do you do concrete countertops

Concrete countertops are becoming more and more popular, mainly because natural stone is durable. I have done a few concrete tops, material is cheap, but labor is quit intense. I got a few real good books and did a very nice top, it was a little complicate not just a simple top. The thing that really made the top was that I polished. Making your own countertops allows you to be specific about the look and the style.

This cheap material can easily last a lifetime with some basic maintenance and. A proficient or even beginning do -it-yourselfer can make a concrete countertop himself, saving the costs associated with hiring a contractor to do it. If you think you ’re up to the challenge. Kitchens Concrete provides more customization options than traditional surfaces like granite, marble, tile, or laminate for kitchen countertops.

The unlimited color choices, varying finishes, and the possibility to integrate items such as drainboards and trivets give concrete countertops the clear advantage. This is a very in depth concrete counter tutorial. Just do your research, and make sure you do the maintenance. Think long-term value: With concrete countertops , when you combine a timeless design with the inherent durability of concrete , your countertops will serve you well for decades-both functionally and aesthetically-and thus are unlikely to need replacement. Do NOT put any type of prying tool on the concrete or you can mar the surface.

You can pry against the adjacent corner board which should give you enough room to grab the board and gently pull it back. You can purchase precast counters from fabricators that are cured and finished in a workshop and which can. If perfect looking countertops are what you want, do not attempt building your own concrete counters. Well, I am a big believer in the fact that ANYONE can DIY….

I truly could not build a bigger soapbox to preach that message. DIY has no age limits, no gender preference, no mandatory requirements except one – the thing called ‘willingness’. However, you have to be careful when cleaning natural stone surfaces. Precasting a concrete countertop requires fine carpentry skills and elementary knowledge concrete.

Browse our gallery to see the many different feels concrete counterstops can create. Concrete Countertops - durable, economical and can be created to fit almost any style. You pretty much have one chance to smooth out or else you have to wait until it dries to sand over and apply a new layer. By using concrete overlay instead of a solid concrete countertop , the structure won’t be as heavy. You can also make your countertop seamless using a concrete overlay, which you can’t do with any other material.

Our DCI Concrete Overlays are very strong and durable, perfect to stand up to the daily wear and tear of a countertop. To my knowledge you can’t change or add color to the concrete during installation but you can get concrete stain for use after the concrete is dry. There are many different concrete stains to choose from, just do alittle research. So I’m here to clarify what concrete to use for concrete countertops.

Should you do a poured in place concrete countertop or a precast concrete countertop ? You can apply a concrete countertop sealer like Chens concrete countertop sealer per the manufactures instructions. You should mix the sealer with water and slowly increase the concentration of the sealer on the countertop until you are applying the sealer at 1 strength. Finishing concrete countertops can be done many ways. Acid staining concrete countertops offers a one-of-a-kind finish unique to this process. Because countertops are generally smaller projects, acid stain may represent one of several color techniques used to create beautiful kitchen, bathroom, table and outdoor countertops.

Resealing concrete countertops is a process. PLANNING YOUR DIY CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS. POURED IN PLACE CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS. You do need cross strands because there is some force along the short axis of the slab, but the long axis is the primary concern.

Less than ideal concrete countertop reinforcement. Now that you understand tensile forces and the tug-of-war principle, you know where to put the. Regular cleaning and resealing as necessary go a long way toward maintaining the appearance of your concrete countertop. Readers, do you experience with concrete countertops ? However, some concrete countertops do contain other toxic substances.

For this reason, you should be careful when buying concrete countertops. Minimal seaming – If your concrete countertop has seams, you can use a seam filler to minimize the appearance of the seams, making them almost invisible. Allow the concrete countertop to cure completely before you remove the forms and set the countertop in place. Once the countertop is set on the base cabinets, finish it with a hand polisher to. Sadly, most homeowners never make the effort to do any maintenance until there is a problem.

One more thing to consider, concrete countertops that are poured in place (not precast) may develop a hairline crack. With a little planning, a few basic materials, and a bit of elbow grease, you can create beautiful homemade concrete countertops for a fraction of the cost of what the pros charge. Here is a look at how we made ours, and how you can as well! But we weren’t about to give up hope. The concrete countertop post is here!

Like the little blue hippo watering can in the picture below…. I’m so excited to have found your blog! I want white too, so I’m really excited to see how yours turn out.

Thanks for the excellent tutorial on the prep work.