Concrete countertops

[FN Phat]

Anyone tried their hand in making their own concrete countertops? Does anyone have concrete countertops? Any feedback at all? We like the countertops that look distressed or a bit stained. We need new countertops in the Laundry Room and the Hall Bath but are on a rather strict budget. I am planning on trying it out this spring but I would like some feedback. Any ideas?

[Uncle Ted]

Anyone tried their hand in making their own concrete countertops? Does anyone have concrete countertops? Any feedback at all? We like the countertops that look distressed or a bit stained. We need new countertops in the Laundry Room and the Hall Bath but are on a rather strict budget. I am planning on trying it out this spring but I would like some feedback. Any ideas?

No but I did watch Mike Rowe do it on Dirty Jobs once. I think concrete countertops are very cool.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00371KLXA/?tag=myfit08-20"]Amazon.com: Dirty Jobs: Season 4, Episode 23 "Concrete Finisher": Video On Demand@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GFKS9JEhL.@@AMEPARAM@@51GFKS9JEhL[/ame]

[Katy Lied]

Dont do it! I'm not kidding!

[Uncle Ted]

Dont do it! I'm not kidding!

Do you mean do it yourself? Or concrete countertops, in general?

[Katy Lied]

Or at least think very hard before doing it. They are:

1. Very expensive
2. Very tricky to install correctly, even with the level of expertise I know you have with concrete. http://www.askthebuilder.com/540-Con...ntertops.shtml
3. Crack very easily.

My BIL did a half million remodel on his home, with some ultra modern design including concrete countertops in the bathroom. They are all cracked now, and once you get a hairline crack in concrete in a wet room, that sucker keeps getting larger and larger. And if it is colored, the water causes the color to change in the crack, highlighting the crack.

The only place I'd put a concrete countertop is on like a fireplace mantle, or decorative shelf that will not be subject to any water of any type.

[fusnik]

My FIL has a couple, I think it looks super cool.

[venkman]

My brother made a coffee table with a concrete top. Very cool.

[FN Phat]

Or at least think very hard before doing it. They are:

1. Very expensive
2. Very tricky to install correctly, even with the level of expertise I know you have with concrete. http://www.askthebuilder.com/540-Con...ntertops.shtml
3. Crack very easily.

My BIL did a half million remodel on his home, with some ultra modern design including concrete countertops in the bathroom. They are all cracked now, and once you get a hairline crack in concrete in a wet room, that sucker keeps getting larger and larger. And if it is colored, the water causes the color to change in the crack, highlighting the crack.

The only place I'd put a concrete countertop is on like a fireplace mantle, or decorative shelf that will not be subject to any water of any type.

Did your BIL use a sealer of any kind? Thank you for your opinion. I never had thought about cracking with this type of concrete. Some good food for thought. I was also under the impression that I would be able to do the work myself and come in under the cost of any other natural product. Am I bass ackwards in my thinking?

[hostile]

The only place I'd put a concrete countertop is on like a fireplace mantle, or decorative shelf that will not be subject to any water of any type.

We have 2 concrete mantle pieces and a concret sink in our guest bathroom. We like them and they look great. So far no problems. They were installed by our contractor who does a great job. I'll see if I can post some pics.

[pellegrino]

We have 2 concrete mantle pieces and a concret sink in our guest bathroom. We like them and they look great. So far no problems. They were installed by our contractor who does a great job. I'll see if I can post some pics.

How long ago was the sink installed?

I know people who have done bathroom sinks and they've had great results coming on three or four years now. They sealed them with a good concrete sealer and it seems to have done the trick. Theirs also has a lot of cool stones and glass in them, they're definitely unique and very attractive.

FN, I understand Katy's concerns, I think that with good construction and proper sealing a concrete counter top can be just as good as marble. They can definitely be more unique than a lot of marble counter tops.

Whatever you do, don't get a run of the mill marble slab that you see at the Home Depot or Lowes. They look crappy and are so boring and commonplace in the past five years that they have essentially become the new laminate.

[FN Phat]

We have 2 concrete mantle pieces and a concret sink in our guest bathroom. We like them and they look great. So far no problems. They were installed by our contractor who does a great job. I'll see if I can post some pics.

Please post pics!

[SeattleUte]

I think they're really cool, but aren't they out of style now?

[hostile]

Please post pics!

Here is one of mantles. The concrete is colored and has been sealed.


This is the sink. Also colored and sealed.

[UteStar]

Here is one of mantles. The concrete is colored and has been sealed.


This is the sink. Also colored and sealed.

The sink is pretty cool...but holy crap, that mantle is awesome. That would have been wild to watch that installation go on. Nice job.

[Donuthole]

Here is one of mantles. The concrete is colored and has been sealed.

You're talking about the hearth, right? Down below the (future) fireplace? I'm just wanting to make sure you're not talking about that wall above the fireplace (which is awesome and looks great, but would weigh about a ton if it were made of concrete).