skip to main content

Concrete countertops?

11 years ago

I'm thinking about doing concrete countertops in our new kitchen. I tried the search function, but didn't find much. I'm curious what those who have concrete countertops think of them. We are on a tight budget, so it will either be concrete or formica; DIY in either case. I have Cheng's book, and it doesn't look all that difficult, at least for someone with advanced building skills.

We will have about 30 linear feet of counters, and I will be doing butcher block maple on the peninsula and in a dedicated prep area. The rest would be concrete. My question would be how well the concrete holds up, how much maintenance is involved, and any other issues.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

jessicaml
11 years ago
I wanted to try this, but our shoddy excuses for cabinets couldn't handle the weight, so I ended up with my first love, butcherblock.

Don't use the gardenweb search feature; it's practically useless. Use google and search for "gardenweb concrete countertops". Silverraven and frmrsdghtr did DIY concrete counters.

I love this kitchen make-over with DIY concrete counters from the Imperfectly Polished blog. Jessie posted links to her tutorial through the steps, too. You could ask her how they're holding up.

Here is a link that might be useful: Google gardenweb kitchen concrete countertops
flgargoyle
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the tip on searching- I found lots of great threads!
Related Discussions
The truth about concrete countertops
Q
Comments (134)
I was hoping that there might be a thin solid surface type product. The concrete counter in the kitchen in the house that I bought is pitted, stained and dark brown. Replacing it would be a messy project and I’m not sure that any treatment to the current counter will yield good results.
...See More
concrete countertops
Q
Comments (24)
Hi there - I was in a similar situation, just did not have the budget for quartz or any other solid surface. I can happily recommend the laminate I wound up with: Nevamar is the brand, and the color or pattern - whatever - is called Rush. I picked it mostly because I just liked it, but it has a similar look as concrete or soapstone. I also had a Karan under mount sink installed, and we are truly happy with all of it so far. This laminate has surpassed my expectations for sure. If you call or email them at Panolam Surfaces, they will send you a decent sized sample. I do not work for them or even live remotely near them. I just love the laminate. Pardon the mess - and the cabinets have not been painted yet, lol, but you can kind of see the set up here. http://www.nevamar.com/
...See More
Sealing concrete countertop using StonelokE3/2K2
Q
Comments (2)
The Stonelok sealer is really not ideal for DIY'er or someone who has never sealed concrete before. Although, it is a very good sealer, you'll need to prep the concrete in a very particular way for it to work correctly. The same sealer manufacturer offer a more friendly homeowner sealer. The TK6 Nano sealer is much easier to apply and works really good. You'll still need to sand or etch the concrete before applying but not as critical as the Stonelok E3. As the previous poster mentioned, it's always best to test first.
...See More
Concrete countertops that look like wood?
Q
Comments (14)
The company sent specs (I'll paste them) below. Thoughts? Physical Data: Three Layered Composite comprised of: “Outer Shell”- Min. 8,500 psi Compressive, 1850 psi Flexural Finished Layer – 1/8” Typ. “Secondary Layer”-Min. 8,500 psi Compressive, 1850 psi Flexural Impact Layer – 1⁄4” Typ. “Tertiary Layer” – Min. 4,500 psi Compressive, 1,400 psi Flexural Support Layer – 1⁄2” Typ. Weight – 7 lbs/sf at 3⁄4” Thickness Sealer and Finish Technical Data: Material: Water Bourne Urethane/ JMU Appearance/Finish: Matte or Gloss only Maintenance: Furniture pens and Beeswax furniture Polish Reseal: Sand with 320 sand paper, color as needed, roll on sealer 24 HR cure Property Result ASTM Water Resistance Impervious 72 hrs. Pencil Hardness 5H D 3363 Direct Impact Resistance >160in/lbs G14-88 Indirect Impact Resistance >160in/lbs G14-88 Abrasion Resistance Colorfastness 1.83 Delta E D2565 Stain Resistance Rating of 30 CSA B45.813 Standard Abrasion Resistance 9,000 cycles CSA B45.813 Standard Chemical Resistance Result ASTM 5% Ammonia No Effect D 1308-87 5% Sodium Hydroxide No Effect D 1308-87 5% Hydrochloric Acid No Effect D 1308-87 5% Sulfuric Acid No Effect D 1308-87 5% Nitric Acid No Effect D 1308-87 Xylene Softens/Recovers D 1308-87 Ethanol Softens/Recovers D 1308-87 Mineral Spirits No Effect D 1308-87 Acetone No Effect D 1308-87 Gasoline No Effect D 1308-87 Diesel Fuel No Effect D 1308-87 Kerosene No Effect D 1308-87
...See More
tubeman
11 years ago
Concrete countertops can be very cool but it is not cheap and needs to be treated like marble. So unless you have a particular look you want, almost everything else is about the same price. You could DIY it ,however, if you are into that, but the end product would be uncertain. I looked into it seriously and decided to go with soapstone.

Related Stories

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Cast Concrete Countertops With a Personal Twist

By Becky Harris

From frame making to pouring to inlays, learn how concrete counters are cast — and how an artisan embellishes them

KITCHEN DESIGN Amazing Ways with Concrete Countertops

By Natalie Myers

See What Designers Are Doing With This Versatile, Weatherproof Counter Alternative

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Counters: Concrete, the Nearly Indestructible Option

By Ivon Street Studio

Infinitely customizable and with an amazingly long life span, concrete countertops are an excellent option for any kitchen

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Elephants of the Kitchen? What to Know About Concrete Counters

Concrete countertops are beautiful, heavy and cool — and have their own peculiarities. And a lot in common with certain gray pachyderms

KITCHEN BACKSPLASHES 10 Top Backsplashes to Pair With Concrete Counters

By Becky Harris

Simplify your decision making with these ideas for materials that work well with concrete

INSIDE HOUZZ Inside Houzz: The Right Kitchen Counters in Just a Few Clicks

Concrete kitchen countertops eluded this Pennsylvania homeowner until she turned to Houzz

REMODELING GUIDES Today's Concrete: Warm and Wonderful

By Jason Ball Interior Design

7 Things to Like About Using Concrete in Your Home's Interior

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS 7 Low-Maintenance Countertops for Your Dream Kitchen

By Christine Tusher

Fingerprints, stains, resealing requirements ... who needs ’em? These countertop materials look great with little effort

KITCHEN DESIGN Eco-Friendly Materials: Kitchen Countertops

By Ivon Street Studio

Going green in the kitchen opens the door to unusual countertop materials that are beautiful, durable and kind to the planet

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Countertops 101: Choosing a Surface Material

By Lisa Frederick

Explore the pros and cons of 11 kitchen countertop materials. The options may surprise you

Sponsored

Nova Design Build

Custom Premiere Design-Build Contractor | Hilliard, OH

More Discussions

Before and after

9

hello , what are your thoughts on two tone countertops?

5

Thoughts on making galley kitchen more open?

31

Kitchen sink location

4

kitchen countertops

2