Comment if you HAVE Concrete countertops
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4 years ago
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acm
4 years agoUser
4 years agoRelated Discussions
your comments regarding laying paver on old concrete patio
Comments (14)Since the existing patio is on a granular base (as opposed to solid concrete) I would absolutely, positively NOT consider any mortared work on top of it. The reason is that the earth is a flexible surface. Though it moves so slowly you can't see it, it is doing it nevertheless. If you were to mortar flagstone or thin brick on top of it, this work would effectively be only as thick as the mortar that glued it on ... 1/2" maybe (?) It wouldn't be thick enough to support itself as the earth underneath shifts. If you're going to mortar something on top, you need a 4" solid concrete, driveway-like base (3 1/2" actual) that will not flex at all. But you could go over it with regular thickness pavers on sand IF you insulate the two layers with an inch of sand. (This is predicated on knowing that the existing base is of SOLID compacted material. Since it's been there a good while, its present shape is a good indicator of how solid the base is.) I would go so far as to say that if the present patio was perfect condition -- smooth, of perfect grade, and all slab joints perfectly matched -- you could go over it without the sand insulation. But it's not likely that it's that perfect. If you go over it, one thing you'll need to pre-plan carefully is the finish grade. It looks like your grade might end up being too high. I don't know what all the holes at the foundation are for, but they're probably not wanting to be blocked. If you need a lower grade, sell all those slabs on craigslist (someone would probably love to have them ... they look like step treads, BTW) and build directly onto your already existing base....See MoreAnyone Have or Can Comment on Julya (Julia) Soapstone?
Comments (1)Sorry...can't help you...but figured I'd bump up your post! There were only two choices of soapstone at the place I went to in Cambridge, NY--and that wasn't one of them. Hope someone else can help! :) Sarah...See MoreDo you have honed black granite countertops?
Comments (8)I love my honed granite countertop. The granite is called JetMist. It is a grey charcoal black color. Not the solid black you may want. We looked at Cambria Black because my close friend had just put this brand in her kitchen. It was more expensive than we wanted to spend. Cambria on Craig's list in LA is about $50 sq foot. I did a quick search but could not tell you of installers in the CA area. I believe that Honed Absolute Black granite has issues as far as smudges for some people. Maybe if you did a search on GW you might find more answers. Question for Deee and anyone with honed black granite http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg0614171215824.html Here is a link that might be useful: Thinking of honed black granite.....good or bad idea?...See MoreConcrete countertops - please share what you know!
Comments (13)We have concrete countertops on the perimeter of our kitchen and leathered granite on the island; we also have concrete countertops on the wet bar. I extensively researched concrete countertops and my Asheville, NC based fabricator/installer before deciding to go with them. IMHO, getting a good installer who really knows what he is doing and has a lot of experience is key to your ultimate satisfaction with concrete countertops --- perhaps more so than with about any other countertop material. The other key is getting a good sealer. Until recently, the concrete countertop sealers all seemed to have one problem or another --- either they looked plastic-y, they scratched badly, or they didn't provide adequate protection. A new sealer has come out in the past couple of years that seems to have solved all of these problems. I wish I could tell you the name of it, but unfortunately, I don't know it! All I know is that it is cured by a UV lamp. I tested samples by leaving a variety of products (red wine, mustard (usually hard to remove), lemon juice, ketchup, etc.) on a sample overnight. Nothing etched or stained the concrete. I was sold. The countertops have now been installed for nine months and we have no cracks, scratches or stains on them. Admittedly, this is a weekend and vacation home so the countertops have not been used daily, but the countertops have not been babied. Mine is a working kitchen, so the countertops do get exposed to lots of messes. I actually find the concrete countertops as easy to keep clean as the leathered granite on the island. I use the same cleaner (Method for Granite) to clean both of them, although my concrete fabricator recommended a beeswax finish (too much trouble!). You can get a lot of good information about concrete countertops at the link below. Just for the record, I have no affiliation with this group, whatsoever. There's also quite a few previous posts on the subject if you can get the GW Forum's search function to work correctly. Cheng's books are good if you intend to attempt this project yourself -- not something I recommend and definitely not a project not for the faint of heart. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: Concrete countertop institute...See MoreUser
4 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
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4 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
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4 years agoNYCish
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4 years agoHeatherInOR
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agodeb s
4 years agoCourtney
4 years agoPatricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
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