[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!