My Pour-in-Place Concrete Countertops

[Tidybuoy]

I finally got to my countertops as part of my kitchen remodel. I used a system from "Concrete Countertop Solutions" where the forms get attached to the countertop and then snap off after the concrete is cured. There is an additive that is added to the "sand mix" concrete that has fiberglass fibers and a flowing agent. I vibrated the edges quite a bit but I still got air holes - I will make up a slury of cement only and fill tonight.

I will finish sanding this week and then stain and seal.

Framing Back Wall:


Framing Sink & Stove Area:


Pouring Concrete:


First Trowel"


Ready for Steel Trowel:


First Trowel - Stove Area:


Steel Trowel - Sink & Stove Area:


Sanded at 200 Grit - Will go to 400


Sanded at 200 Grit - Will go to 400

[Flat Six]

Hey, that's pretty cool!

[masraum]

I've heard/read about concrete countertops before. It seems like they could be cool.

Do they get sealed like stone countertops to help with stains? Is the concrete any different from regular concrete to hamper absorbancy?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've heard/read about concrete countertops before. It seems like they could be cool.

Do they get sealed like stone countertops to help with stains? Is the concrete any different from regular concrete to hamper absorbancy?

Don't you have polished and sealed concrete floors at Costco and other places? It's impermeable done right.

If I ever did concrete countertops I would have to polish them as Tidybouy is doing.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Don't you have polished and sealed concrete floors at Costco and other places? It's impermeable done right.

If I ever did concrete countertops I would have to polish them as Tidybouy is doing.

My experience is that stores that have glossy cement floors are often/usually coated with a glossy coating that's often put down by a machine. I believe it's the coating that makes the floor impermeable. But I'm happy to be wrong!

[look 171]

That looks great. Last one we did was about 10 years ago. Cost was 110 per sq'. Not exactly cheap. A dark stain was part of the mix.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by masraum

Do they get sealed like stone countertops to help with stains? Is the concrete any different from regular concrete to hamper absorbancy?

Yes. They get sealed after I stain. You can also seal with an epoxy sealer but I did that on my last project and I don't love the look - too shiny and plastic looking. The only difference with this concrete is that I used a "sand mix" which is lacking the larger aggregate that you would see in "fence post" bagged mix. I also added a mix that the company sells that has fiberglass fibers and a plasticizer. You add on bag per 60lbs of concrete.

Originally Posted by Zeke

Don't you have polished and sealed concrete floors at Costco and other places? It's impermeable done right.

If I ever did concrete countertops I would have to polish them as Tidybuoy is doing.

According to the company (Concrete Countertop Solutions), if your going to stain and seal, just use grit up to 400. If you want to leave natural but polish to a glass like finish, you keep going up to 3000 grit. If you go higher than 400, the stain won't soak in.

Originally Posted by look 171

That looks great. Last one we did was about 10 years ago. Cost was 110 per sq'. Not exactly cheap. A dark stain was part of the mix.

This whole project, including forms, sealer, stain, and concrete was $850

[Tidybuoy]

The kitchen shown above is my rental property. Below is my house and I did these countertops about 5 years ago. These have the epoxy sealer on them as well as the concrete dyed charcoal before pouring. I added stain after curing and was trying to add veining for a natural look but the concrete was too dark so I gave up and settled on pure black. This is why I did not add any tint to my current project. (note: photos below are a little dirty, in reality, it's a very smooth black)

[LWJ]

That looks fantastic! We have concrete counters at our family farm. We have a large community kitchen that isn't heated or cooled but has a roof. The counter looks like a million bucks twenty years in. I have no idea how it was done but it was a great job. I think yours will be similar. Congrats!

[A930Rocket]

Nice work!

How did you mix up enough concrete so you didn’t have any cold joints?

[wdfifteen]

Very cool!

[Baz]

Nice work, Vern.......thanks for sharing!

[DavidI]

That looks fantastic! Great job, David

[911 Rod]

I like this!
Can I ask why instead of a quartz or something?

[vash]

love it!!

you didnt consider taking advantage of the product and putting some curves in the edges?

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Nice work!

How did you mix up enough concrete so you didn’t have any cold joints?

I never had any cold joints. I had a friend mixing while I poured. I think the additive that you put into the sand mix concrete keeps it flowable for a couple of hours. I finished pouring at 4pm but didn't finish troweling until 11:30 pm with one hour between each trowel. That's how long it took to cure to a hard finish. This whole project took 9 bags of 60lb sand mix concrete.

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I like this!
Can I ask why instead of a quartz or something?

This was less expensive than quartz and I wanted something that I could do myself. I like this system because it creates a false edge that is 2 1/2 inches but in reality, the concrete is only 1.5 inches. The edge dips below the counter surface to create this look.

Wait until next week when I post photos of my finished project. I will be staining a light & dark brown blend, and I will attempt to create a natural vein look. I will then seal and finish with a wax that will make it shine like quartz or granite. I'm also doing the backsplash this Friday so Monday's photos will be much better. After that, I need to paint the cabinets (which I'm dreading), and then Saltillo tile floor.

Originally Posted by vash

love it!!

you didn't consider taking advantage of the product and putting some curves in the edges?

I thought about that but ultimately decided on the square edge look. I also purchased the rock edge where you place these rubber forms inside of the plastic form but I decided that that was too industrial for this kitchen. I will save those rock edges for an outdoor BBQ or something like that.

If I backout the cost of the rock edge rubber pieces and the sink forms that I did not use, the real cost of this project was about $550

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

Yes. They get sealed after I stain. You can also seal with an epoxy sealer but I did that on my last project and I don't love the look - too shiny and plastic looking. The only difference with this concrete is that I used a "sand mix" which is lacking the larger aggregate that you would see in "fence post" bagged mix. I also added a mix that the company sells that has fiberglass fibers and a plasticizer. You add on bag per 60lbs of concrete.

I've heard/read in the past about 2 sorts of stain (in reference to stamped walks & driveways), one that is after the fact (surface) and the other that is mixed in so the concrete is colored all of the way through. When I saw yours, I thought "I'd want to stain that." I guess you do too. Have you heard/read about the 2 different sorts of stain? Or is only one offered? I'd also assumed that these don't use the same sort of aggregate as a sidewalk (bigger gravel/stones).

I can't wait to see the end result. I feel like someone previously posted about their DIY concrete counters. Maybe that was you.

According to the company (Concrete Countertop Solutions), if your going to stain and seal, just use grit up to 400. If you want to leave natural but polish to a glass like finish, you keep going up to 3000 grit. If you go higher than 400, the stain won't soak in.

Wow, that's wet sand territory!

This whole project, including forms, sealer, stain, and concrete was $850

That's not bad at all!

[vash]

not to detract from this badass counter top..it is badass.

I have a friend that did a remodel at our old high school. he took a counter top out of our old chemistry class and repurposed it in his own kitchen. he left all the burn marks and etchings. made a counter top for his kitchen island. it was so sick.

[Tidybuoy]

I got the backsplash done this weekend as well as installed my wall oven. I'm saving the painting of the cabinets until after Christmas. I have not yet stained the countertops because the backsplash took longer than I expected (I'm not a pro). It took 3 days for the backsplash - one day for each countertop and one day to grout both. I'll be installing a walnut mini countertop behind the stove and will be making a hanging hood w/insert over the stove.

Back Wall:


Sink & Stove:




Installed 175lb Oven - Thank goodness I have a motorcycle jack for this.

[masraum]

Very nice!