skip to main content

Making your own recycled glass countertops

9 years ago

I love the look of recycled glass counter tops ... but they actually cost more than granite! Yes, seriously!

I've
seen several you-tube websites in which people make their own, and they
look GREAT. However, the methods vary significantly from individual to
individual. It looks like a moderately big project, but nothing seems
out-of-the ordinary difficult. The basic plan seems to be

- Save up old glass in the color of your choice
- Break the glass into small pieces of varying tiny sizes; apparently it takes a TON of glass
- Create large molds, lay out glass bits
- Pour concrete over /shake to "spit out" tiny air bubbles -- this part concerns me
- Turn the product out of the mold, sand with increasingly fine sandpaper to expose the bits of glass
- Polish
- I'm not clear on HOW one cuts out the spot for the sink

IF I can do this, it'll be quite economical.

Any experience or advice to share?

Featured Answer

PRO

Joseph Corlett, LLC

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

At the risk of a spam accusation, I'm going to plug my buddy Gene at Refresh Interiors, where you can get the best of both worlds. You gather/pick out the glass/particulates, come to the shop and place/spread them, and he takes it from there. You get the exact look you designed and built and Gene's years of experience keep you from screwing things up.

If you want to piddle around with a basement bar, have at it. When you want it done right and want to help, call Gene or someone in your area that encourages customer participation.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

amg765
9 years ago
The sink cutout is molded into the counter. Look for information on DIY concrete counters, the methods will be the same. The standard diy advice for vibrating the concrete if you don't want to purchase a special tool is to use a sawzall with no blade or a random orbital sander all along the edges of the form.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I recently researched concrete countertops for my brother, who decided to do exposed stone aggregate. I think there were a couple that used glass inclusions. Here are the links I emailed him (complete with a couple of my notes):

http://www.concretenetwork.com/anne_balogh/installing_concrete_countertops.htm

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/countertops/

http://www.concreteexchange.com/how-to-center/concrete-countertops/precast/

This guy didn't use rebar--he used woven wire fencing:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Concrete-Countertops-for-the-Kitchen---Solid-Surfa/?ALLSTEPS

This guy recommends rebar front and back for a sink:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7GuE2O2DAo

This is a good one--he uses 3/8 rebar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de7DoRhDYtQ

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-make-diy-concrete-countertops/#.VQ-nkY7CaSo

And this YouTube video has info on foam forms for concrete countertops. The man has several videos with lots of info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_bki0Y0R0U
Related Discussions
Curava Recycled Glass Countertops?
Q
Comments (6)
Never heard of it, but turns out it's concrete with crushed glass (and seashells). If this is the look you want, sounds like a good option for you. I would consider quartz (Caesarstone, Dupont Zodiaq, Samsung Radianz, etc.), because the quartz/stone aggregate is probably tougher than the glass. If you or your SO is VERY hands on, DIY poured-in-place concrete counters sounds like a very cheap option that will give you the same look. Lots of people make their own custom concrete countertops with pebbles/aggregate/glass etc. that is essentially this. Here is a link that might be useful: DIY Countertop
...See More
recycled glass countertops
Q
Comments (14)
We originally designed our kitchen around an Icestone countertop. We had it all planned out, were ready to splurge on it, as well as driving over 2 hours each way to pick the slab up (the dealer was on the way to my parents' house). We decided we really should get a real life sample, and I am so glad we did! It was just boring. If I moved into the house and was here, I would have been fine with it, but it was not something to design a kitchen around. On top of that, it failed every test we tried- everything stained it, it etched, it chipped when tapped (I know DH, he will stand next to the counter and drum a fork on it without thinking). I wanted so badly to love the stuff, and every "well, maybe it will be ok with this" just ended badly. I didn't try cutting on it, because I just don't cut on the counters. I should add I think the quote we got last summer was $31sf, and we had to buy the whole slab, without fabrication. We did get a sample of Shetkastone, and we loved it. It did scratch once, but I was trying to scratch it with a fork. It did not scratch when I skipped it across the really old concrete driveway (I was trying to hurt it at that point!). It has not scratched since, and the cat knocks it across and off the coffee table about once a week. I will definitely use it in my next house, but we're remodeling for resale here, and we went cheap with really pretty marble tile.
...See More
making your own glue chip glass
Q
Comments (4)
well, this is certainly one of those things that would be fun just for the science experiment, but I think it's cost prohibitive and a major mess too. very interesting though, thanks.
...See More
Recycled Glass Countertops
Q
Comments (4)
It's been a few years, but I seem to recall an example of a recycled glass counter material of some type at a big box store in our area. You might want to just call the biggies and ask. We seriously considered Enviroglas but went with stone.
...See More
raenjapan
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yeah, definitely check out concrete network. We made concrete counters a few years ago for a house we reno-ed. They weren't really that hard and turned out great (although we didn't do exposed aggregate.) We will probably be doing a concrete island top in the house we're working on now, and I think we probably will do exposed aggregate on this one.

Getting the air bubbles out is just vibrating the concrete. No big deal. The hard part is building the forms perfectly, because concrete is forever.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I found another site--if you scroll down, you'll find a section marked

'How to Embed Glass or Stone Decorative Aggregate in GFRC'

Keep scrolling, and check out the 'glow stone.' :) http://www.concretecountertopinstitute.com/blog/tag/aggregate/
User
9 years ago
Research concrete before you go too far into your research. It's porous, stains, etches, etc. It behaves just like marble. Now, if you were talking an epoxy matrix and owned a BUNCH of tools, as in you have experience polishing a large horizontal surface mechanically without creating divots and Swales, that would be the ticket. With little DIY experience, and without owning and using a wet polisher, you'd have a pretty steep learning curve to create something that could be serviceable as kitchen counters.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Counters: Sturdy, Striking Recycled Glass With Cement

By Ivon Street Studio

Ecofriendly and full of character, this heat- and scratch-resistant material is a great fit for custom kitchen counters

LAUNDRY ROOMS Laundry Makes a Clean Break With Its Own Room

Laundry rooms are often a luxury nowadays, but a washer-dryer nook in a kitchen, office or hallway will help you sort things out

DIY PROJECTS Make Your Own Rustic-Chic Headboard From Salvaged Doors

Turn old doors into a charming headboard with these step-by-step instructions from an expert woodworker

KITCHEN DESIGN 18 Ways to Make a Kitchen Your Own

By Shawn Gauthier

Give Your Kitchen a Personal Stamp With Color, Finishes and Surprise

MOST POPULAR Holiday DIY: 25 Ideas for Make-Your-Own Decor and Gifts

By Laura Gaskill

We show you how to create cute and clever Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, ornaments, wreaths and more

DECORATING GUIDES DIY: Make Your Own Chalkboard Paint

3 simple steps to chalk it up in any color anywhere for cheap

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Family Renovates a 1963 Eichler to Make It Their Own

By Margot Hartford Photography

A Northern California couple expecting their first child move quickly to freshen up their new midcentury modern home

GREEN BUILDING How to Recycle Your Kitchen

By Christine Tusher

Instead of adding to the junk pile — and paying landfill fees — get rid of old appliances, cabinets and countertops the ecofriendly way

BEFORE AND AFTERS Houzz TV: See Recycled Walls and Cool Cassette Art in a Woodsy DIY Home

By Annie Thornton

Walnut countertops join hardwood floors and pieces made from leftover framing in a bright Spanish colonial

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Counters: Recycled Paper Surprises With Durability and Warmth

By Ivon Street Studio

Sturdier than you might think, this postconsumer countertop material also has major environmental cred

Sponsored

More Discussions

kitchen design feedback

6

Nuage Quartzite - any water issues?

14

kitchen countertops

2

Need help with kitchen remodel

1

Two tier drawer in 3 stack

11