The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Modification Rises Visual Allure and Property Financial Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating home owners are requiring customized designs and also coatings in their cooking areas. In particular, they are wanting to share their uniqueness as well as distinct style choices with the quick expanding style product of selection-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have become somewhat of a standing sign for cooking areas, measuring up to granite and various other high-end counter top surface area options. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) placed concrete greatest for its "customization" and "exclusivity" amongst high-end kitchen counter tops. As a countertops laminate custom item, the amount of time as well as craftsmanship called for to create concrete counter tops puts them as the most labor-intensive and priciest amongst leading kitchen counter materials. However, concrete counter tops are becoming more accessible for those on a modest budget. The most recent diy (DIY) pattern to captivate homeowners and also contractors is building your own concrete kitchen counter. This sensation has actually gotten appeal mostly as a result of Cheng's best-selling book Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen as well as Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the innovative gains of working with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Progressively, home owners are relocating far from the tedious, manufactured appearance of standard countertop surface areas and picking concrete for its earthy, timeless allure. Plus, the alternatives for individualizing concrete countertops are endless: one can tint, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed personal items like rocks, seashells and also fossils right into the countertop's surface area, including view and personality. Practical features such as drain boards, soap recipes, and also trivets can also be integrated to match the property owners' own requirements and lifestyle. Concrete is gradually ending up being demystified as characteristically chilly and industrial. In contrary, this age- old material is cozy as well as surprisingly tactile; individuals can not aid yet touch their smooth, sleek surfaces. Real estate representative Delight Rasmussen, who has just recently marketed her mountain residence-- a short- term investment home in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- recounts her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open houses, visitors gravitated to the concrete kitchen counters-- lots of people around right here have never ever seen them". Joy's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain residence was custom-made develop by her spouse, Ken Otterman, in addition to KJ Otterman, president of Standard Special Customized Homes. They constructed pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's kitchen area as well as three restrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand- colored concrete countertops were brightened smooth, after that coupled with all-natural slate of differing

2. shades-- like charcoal, rust and also gold tones-- that forms the backsplashes in the cooking area as well as bathrooms. As a layout accent, small rectangle-shaped slate floor tiles were added to the edge of the restroom sinks, which offered an one-of-a-kind information to the custom-made vanities. When Delight as well as Ken decided to market their residence, their financial investment in concrete counter tops confirmed its value. "We were able to provide the house $20,000 over market value, and also had no worry marketing it," remarks Delight, while talking about the lengthy list of upgrades throughout their residence, including knotty pine solid doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents and also wood floorings. "The concrete countertops were easily the most unique as well as outstanding of all the surfaces. I think they were a substantial part in including worth to the house. Around right here, all you see in homes are granite countertops-- as well as I actually believe property buyers are obtaining quite numb with granite." " Concrete kitchen counters are an unique offering to property buyers that see the same finishes utilized in house after residence they check out," explains Delight, supplying her monitoring as a seasoned realtor. "Having concrete counter tops practically provides you bragging civil liberties-- you have something different from your neighbors." BREAKING THE MOLD An additional benefit of concrete is its adaptability in either modern or standard settings, especially when coupled with other materials like diverse steels, timber or stone. "Concrete includes so many [possibilities] to stone, and the mix with slate, which is hugely prominent right here, gives the mountain homes an overall warm, natural touch," says Happiness. Joy and Ken have because built a much bigger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers expansive sights of the Boat Ski Hotel and is meant to function as a lasting financial investment for the pair. They have actually likewise increased their checklist of customized finishes, including hand-troweled wall surfaces, classy oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty yearn doors that arch on top, closets in a natural, knotty alder, and also their preferred-- concrete kitchen area countertops. Unlike in their previous home, KJ as well as his specialized crew poured charcoal-colored kitchen counters making use of the pre-cast method in the incomplete basement of the brand-new