Are Concrete Countertops Right For Your Kitchen Remodel?

The Style and Advantages of Concrete Countertops

If you're looking to make a statement with your kitchen remodeling project, one of the hottest new trends in kitchen countertops is high-end concrete. Concrete is sold, and as hard as granite or slate, and if your style leans toward contemporary design, it's the perfect material.

Concrete exudes a modern industrial design aesthetic that beats any natural stone when it comes to establishing and creating a unique visual focus for your kitchen. Modern concrete countertops are built on-site and go way beyond the log cold slabs of gray (unless that's the look you want) of years past. Today, concrete countertops can be etched, stamped, acid stained, and sealed to create a surface, unlike any natural material.

If you're looking for a warm, gleaming, uniquely beautiful surface that is durable, completely functional, and remarkably stylish, concrete countertops are worth a look.

Let's take an in-depth look at the benefits of modern concrete countertops to help educate and help you make an informed decision if they're the right choice for your kitchen.

Installing Concrete Countertops in Your Kitchen

this concrete countertop is colored white, with a very contemporary style.

Unlike other materials that are either fabricated or in natural, cut offsite, then moved in and installed, concrete countertops are sometimes framed and poured on-site. While they may look like massive slabs, in reality, most concrete slabs are typically only 1 ½ to 2 inches thick. Because they are often designed with a drop-front edge, they give the illusion that they are much thicker slabs.

However, even though they are not actually massive, they are still cumbersome when compared to other materials. Concrete countertops can weigh between 19 and 25 pounds per square foot. Depending on your cabinets and design, your contractor may need to reinforce cabinetry, or sometimes even the floors, to bear the substantial weight of concrete countertops.

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While some are poured on-site, sometimes technicians will take precise measurements and discuss the various finish options with you. They will fabricate your countertops in their shop. First, they build the forms and pour the countertop complete with the sink cutouts, coloration, and additives you request. The slabs are often reinforced with fiber or metal to give them structural integrity and rigidity.

After the countertop is completely cured, it is then ground, polished, or stamped (during curing) to create the finish the client ordered. Finally, a sealer (typically a hard epoxy) is applied. When completed, the countertop is delivered to the job site and installed on the reinforced cabinetry.

Another unique part of installing concrete countertops is that they are not built to carry the weight of the sink. As a result, the installer will create and fit support frames to carry the weight of the sink. If it is an under-mount sink, it is set in place first, and the countertop is installed over it.

The Many Virtues of Concrete Countertops

the waterfall end panel of the concrete countertop is clearly seen against the dark stained cabinetry.

There are many benefits to choosing concrete countertops for your kitchen remodeling project. Of course, the most significant benefit is that concrete countertops can be custom made to exactly match your kitchen dimensions and are finished to your precise specifications. Many other materials are often limited in terms of color and style available, while concrete offers a broader range of options. Only ceramic tile comes close to offering you a comparable range of choices.

Here are five reasons to consider concrete countertops for your kitchen remodeling project.

• They Are Gorgeous!

There is a common misconception about concrete countertops that should change. They won't ever look like a slab of outdoor concrete in your house unless that industrial look is what you want! Today's concrete countertops look more like natural stone, or a high-end material than ever before.

Acid staining, polishing, and other treatments can give your counters the look of granite or slate and can be done in a wide variety of colors, from light to dark. In fact, your countertops can be tinted in a range of colors to match your décor, cabinets, or flooring.

You can embed ceramics, glass, stone, or metal in the concrete to form a decorative border or edge. The surface can be etched or pressed to give the surface a pattern. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and the skill of your installer.

• Concrete Countertops are Durable

Concrete is incredibly hard and resists chipping and scratching better than other materials. It will last for decades with a minimum of upkeep and maintenance. You will not have to replace them until you're ready for a new look in the kitchen!

the end of the waterfall can be seen in this classic contemporary home.

• Concrete is Easy to Maintain

The only real maintenance you'll need to perform is re-sealing your countertops every few years, much like granite and other natural stone. However, it's a quick and easy job. Keeping your concrete countertops sealed properly prevents staining, and your countertops won't harbor bacteria. Other than occasional re-sealing, your countertops are easy to keep clean with soap and water.

• Concrete is Heat Resistant

If you love to cook, concrete kitchen countertops are an asset. They are heat resistant and will hold up well to cooktops as well as hot pots and pans. However, be careful with extremely hot pots and pans. While the heat will not damage the concrete, it can damage or discolor the sealer. It's always best to use a trivet.

• Concrete Countertops are "Flexible"

Concrete countertops can be cast in any shape and almost any size. You can incorporate virtually an endless variety of edge treatments and offer minimal seams. Even large slabs that must include seams can be minimized with the use of color-matched fillers.

• They Give Your Home a "Modern" Upscale Look

These countertops will change your image of concrete. If you haven't seen many concrete countertops, you owe it to yourself to talk to your installer and check out their portfolio. What can be done today is truly amazing. It's also important to understand that concrete isn't a static material. It will evolve over time and develops a warm, unique patina that looks amazing. The results will add class and distinction to your kitchen.

Concrete offers you the opportunity to craft a custom, unique look in your home. It's a material that combines aesthetic beauty with low-maintenance durability. Concrete countertops are a perfect choice if your style leans toward contemporary, modern or industrial and are the ideal finishing touch that will give your kitchen a beautiful design and visual focus that you won't get from other countertop materials.

If you're planning a kitchen remodeling project in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area, give the award-winning design team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Let us show you the beauty and functionality you can enjoy with a unique custom-designed concrete countertop!

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