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The beastly strength of concrete has made it the go - to construction material for a variety of such outside installation asdriveways , walkway , andpatios . But there are some who love concrete not only for its high durability and low maintenance , but also for its distinctive look . In fact , due in part to its affordability , concrete has become a popular countertop material in both kitchen and bathrooms .
discover how to make concrete countertop is a straight project , but it want preparation and timing . In most cases , the concrete countertop is poured out of doors , and when it cures , it ’s carried indoors , flipped over ( the bottom of the slab will eventually be the surface ) and positioned in place . Since it ’s a porous material , concrete then needs to be seal before it ’s food for thought - safe .
Photo: istockphoto.com
What stimulate concrete an even more budget - favorable pick is that it ’s relatively simple-minded to work with — in contrast to , say , innate stone . A good or even begin do - it - yourselfer can make aconcrete countertop , saving the cost tie in with hiring a contractor to do it . If you call back you ’re up to the challenge , scroll down to read the detail of the appendage . A concrete countertops DIY labor can be both creative and rewarding .
DIY Concrete Countertops: Step by Step Instructions
While pouring aconcrete countertopisn’t complex , a few rules use . Have all the necessary material and tools quick to go and within reach of where the pour will occur .
Once plastered concrete begins to plant , which can be within 30 arcminute on a hot summer ’s daytime , it becomes hard to work out with . By suffer everything within reach , you wo n’t have to go hunt for cock during the pouring outgrowth .
Materials and Tools
Most of the tools necessary to build up the form for aDIY concrete countertopare just standard carpenter and DIY tool , and very few supplies are required . Concrete is heavy , however , so ensure the work area where you ’re decant it can safely carry the exercising weight .
In most cases , the concrete form can be positioned either on a sturdy workbench or on two or more heavy - duty sawhorses with tough boards between them to hold the structure .
Tools & Materials
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STEP 1: Build the form.
First determine the desired countertop dimensions so you may build a form . The concrete will be pelt into the mannequin , so that once it dry , the harden material will adapt to the desire specifications .
For this type of concrete configuration , melamine - coat particleboard commonly works well . It ’s also readily available , inexpensive , and most significant , concrete does n’t stick to it . practice screws to build the sort and infix them from the outside , so you ’ll be able-bodied to remove them when the concrete has set and it ’s sentence to undress the forms .
Caulk all inside joints in themelamine formto see to it that the concrete can dry with neat edges . If you have only modified experience with caulk , it ’s urge that you outline the joints with painter ’s tape . That way , if you misapply any caulking , you’re able to painlessly correct the mistake by just remove the tapeline . To smooth any imperfections in the caulking beadwork , run a wetted fingerbreadth along the silicone polymer before it dries . After it dries , lightly coat the melamine frame interior with olive oil or silicone spray ; doing so will let the concrete drop away more well from the physique later on .
Photo: istockphoto.com
STEP 2: Make a sink cutout if you need one.
Is your concrete countertop move to be inset with a swallow hole ? If so , the form you build must let in a blockout for the sink itself and ( if necessary ) for a faucet . To leave way for these fixtures , you could create recesses into the class . You also may be able-bodied to get your bridge player on a foam mould of the sink and its accouterments — manufacturers often make these cast available , not so much for DIYers , but for the contractors who do this stuff and nonsense every twenty-four hour period .
Another choice — perhaps the easiest — is to grease one’s palms a tack of high - density foam of the same heaviness as your countertop . Cut the froth into piece of the appropriate distance and width , then sand their edges and cover the firearm with foam tape ( sold at hardware stores ) . Finally , use caulkto guarantee the foam pieces into the right place within the melamine form , and thinly coat the add pieces with olive oil or silicone atomizer .
Getting accurate measuring on this step is crucial — if one of the foam forms is just slightly off , the sump may not fit into the countertop .
Photo: shutterstock.com
STEP 3: Reinforce the form.
Before you may even think about pouring the concrete , one all important stair stay on : append reinforcement in the material body of brand mesh . For the best results , suspend the engagement at the middle point in the vertical height of your melamine signifier .
To suspend the mesh , drillscrewsinto the away walls of your frame . Connect the meshwork to the screws via vigor ties , substantial ties , or even a bungee corduroy . Then , extend the metal wiring across the breadth of the physique .
Bear in mind that for this approaching to be successful , you must be deliberate to mix the concrete to a watery — but not too runny — eubstance . If this all sound painstaking , consider the alternative : Mix the concrete however you like ; stream it to sate the contour halfway ; localise in the steel mesh ; then fill up the rest period of the shape .
Photo: istockphoto.com
STEP 4: Mix the concrete.
When you ’re quick tomix concretefor the countertop , follow the manufacturer ’s statement . For the good outcome , take a countertop portmanteau word , such as Quikrete Countertop Mix ( available fromLowe ’s ) . If you do n’t have access to a small motorized sociable , it ’s easy enough tomix concreteby hand , either with a hoe in a barrow or with a heavy - duty drill and paddle bit in a large 5 - congius pail .
Aim to attain a soft , oatmeal - similar consistency . If you find that the wet mix is too challenging to play with , sum a small H2O ( but only a little ) . The surface-active agent the concrete , the more brittle it becomes upon drying . moot augment the concrete with additives , such asQuikrete Acrylic Fortifier , that inhibit cracking and shrinking . Known as admixture , these are readily available at your local home improvement retail depot .
STEP 5: Pour the concrete.
stream enough concrete into the form to occupy its volume completely , then utilise a script trowel to exploit the material along the edge and into the niche . It ’s essential to work it down well to get any melodic phrase gurgle out now .
If you attach the steel interlock reinforcement to the frame , cut those connection now . Then , use a flat board , such as a 1×4 to pull down , or screed , the concrete . Move the board back and onward to polish the control surface and fill low spots . Keep atrowelat the ready , so you may quickly consider with any excess .
STEP 6: Vibrate the form to remove any air pockets.
softly solicit the sides of the variant softly with a rubber mallet to make the trembling necessary to frivol away air bubbles . As you tap , the sozzled concrete will level out , and a slight amount of water may come to the surface . The dab should be very lightsome , and not firmly enough that the concrete in the form sloshes around .
When tapping , pay extra attention to the small dowry of the form along the sides and ends . These will be the edges of the unexampled countertop , and as such , most DIYers require them to be as smooth and bubble - free as possible . While some bubble can be filled subsequently , a liquid , undifferentiated surface offers a professional look .
STEP 7: Use a trowel to smooth the freshly poured concrete.
After letting theconcreteset just enough that it starts to harden slightly , it ’s time to use a handwriting trowel to smooth the top . Keep in creative thinker that the surface you ’re looking at now will actually be the undersurface when the countertop slab is flipped over , so it does n’t require to be super smooth , but it should be level from side to side and stop to end . Just smooth the aerofoil out to remove any high place . This will also help work any larger pebbles in the mixture downward .
STEP 8: Remove the form.
Lay a plastic sheet over the concrete to prevent it from miss too much of the moisture too quickly . It needs to heal slowly . Generally speak , the longer it takes for the concrete to heal , the firm it cease up being .
For maximal strength , you may permit the concrete harden for a couple of weeks , but leaving it alone for a few days should be sufficient for the purpose of a countertop . After that time has elapsed , polish off the melamine soma . utilise a Mandrillus leucophaeus to dispatch the screws you used to make the frame , and then pull the sides and bottom course off . If you used olive oil or silicone polymer spray , the boards should relinquish without too much trouble .
STEP 9: Install your new concrete countertop.
Lift the concrete countertop into lieu on top of yourbase cabinets . The countertop could weigh more than a hundred pound reckon on the size and heaviness , so two or more secure helpers will probably be necessary . If the initial measure were accurate , the new concrete countertop should fit utterly in place .
you may add shim underneath if it is n’t ride level or if it wobbles a bit . Once you get the positioning storey and just the fashion you like it , use a few dabs of silicone caulk on the tops of the heel counter below to prepare the concrete slab in place . The caulk will act as a mild adhesive and provide a cushioning impression between the counter infrastructure and the concrete top . The base for the countertop may have a plywood top or it may only have a few horizontal boards along with the top of the cabinet corner to support the countertop . The caulk can be give to the boards or plywood that will total into contact with the countertop .
STEP 10: Patch fill any holes or cracks.
There ’s a near chance at this tip that small crack cocaine or bubbles may be seeable in your countertop . If you like them , do nothing . Otherwise , you’re able to perform spot repairs with a concrete patch chemical compound . Remember , however , that after apply the patches ( and allow them to dry out ) , you must then sandpaper the countertop with diamond - gritsandpaper(manually or using a power sander ) .
STEP 11: Seal the finished product.
rinse the comeback exhaustively with an all - intent cleaner , such as SimpleGreen ( available fromAmazon ) that does not check acid to get rid of all dust and okay particles of dust . Acid - based cleaners , such as acetum , can etch concrete .
Let the countertop dry out soundly , then eat up the job by applying a concrete sealer or a coating of food - safe polyurethane ( optionally watch over by an software of carnauba wax ) . Carnauba provides a light sheen as well as a food - safe barrier between the countertop and anything placed upon it .
The sealer make a roadblock between food planning , spills , and the concrete countertop . Concrete is naturally porous , and without being sealed , it can absorb spills , such as vino or succus , which can stain it .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Concrete Countertop Cleaning and Maintenance
Wipe the countertop day by day with a damp ragtime to take away food dust , and rub on a new layer of solid food - safe wax about once a calendar month , or as call for .
put on a Modern stratum of sealant once or twice a year . To influence whether it ’s time to reseal , dust a few drops of water on the countertop . The water should bead up . If it souse into any area of the countertop , the old sealant has worn off and the countertop needs a newfangled coat of sealant . When varnish a countertop for anoutdoor kitchen , verify the production is suitable for exterior use .
FAQs
Expect to pay an average of $ 8 to $ 15 per substantial foot to purchase all the materials need to make anaffordable DIY countertop .
Yes , a DIY concrete countertop is among the least expensive countertop choice , although a professionally poured and installed concrete countertop could be an norm of $ 65 to $ 125 per square foot . equate that to possess a granite countertop professionally instal , which ranges in toll from $ 75 to $ 250 per square foot .
If they ’re poured correctly and maintained , concrete countertops can last a lifetime .
Photo: istockphoto.com
The note value of a concrete countertop depends on the style of the home and the quality of the countertops . In an industrial - style domicile , custom - design concrete countertops may very well supply value .
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