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Few kitchen area counter top materials are trendier at the moment than high-end concrete. Rock solid and tough as granite or slate, concrete can be a much better fit in modern kitchen area designs than any of those natural stones considering that it exudes a modern commercial aesthetic. Adding to the mystique is the fact that concrete can now be etched, acid-stained, stamped, and sealed to produce a countertop surface that differs from nearly any other offered product. Modern concrete kitchen area countertops are no longer cold pieces of gray concrete (unless you want that)-- regularly, they are warm and gleaming surface areas that are utterly practical and likewise remarkably elegant.
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Few cooking area counter top materials are trendier at the moment than high-end concrete. Rock solid and difficult as granite or slate, concrete can be a better fit in contemporary kitchen area designs than any of those natural stones because it exudes a contemporary industrial visual. Contributing to the mystique is the truth that concrete can now be engraved, acid-stained, stamped, and sealed to create a counter top surface area that is unlike nearly any other readily available material. Modern concrete kitchen area countertops are no longer cold slabs of gray concrete (unless you desire that)-- more frequently, they are warm and gleaming surface areas that are entirely functional and also incredibly elegant. Installation of Concrete Countertops Concrete counter tops may appear like massive slabs, but in reality, they are normally just 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. The illusion that they are much thicker pieces is usually the outcome of a drop-front edging on the counter top. Still, these are very heavy countertops, weighing 19 to 25 pounds per square foot. Installers in some cases require to strengthen cabinets and in some cases even the floorings in order to bear the substantial weight. While concrete counter tops are in some cases formed and put on-site, more frequently they are fabricated in shops after a service technician takes exact measurements of your kitchen area and goes over all surface alternatives with you. In the shop, types are developed and the counter top is poured, complete with whatever sink cutouts, coloration, or additives are requested. Throughout fabrication, the countertop pieces are normally reinforced with fiber or metal mesh of some type to give them strength and rigidity. After fabrication, the counter top is permitted to cure completely, and the surface may be ground and polished to whatever complete the client has an asked for. Some sort of sealer is applied, frequently an extremely hard epoxy. When curing and finishing is total, a setup crew carefully delivers the countertop to the work site and installs it. As part of the installation, the team may construct or set up support frames for sinks, because it is essential that the countertop itself not carry the weight of the sink. If the sink is an under-mount design, it is set in place initially, then the countertop is installed over it. The countertop is typically stuck to the cabinets with construction adhesives after being carefully leveled and shimmed. Advantages and Downsides of Concrete Countertops Concrete countertops have lots of virtues, especially its ability to be shaped and formed to exactly match your kitchen area dimensions and ended up precisely to your liking. With other countertop materials, you are typically restricted to whatever colors and styles are available, however concrete deals you a broader range of options. Just ceramic tile comes close to offering an equivalent variety of options. On the other hand, if you are conditioned to think about concrete as a practical structure product used for slabs and foundations, you might picture that concrete counter tops are cheap and easy to set up. Absolutely nothing could be even more from the fact. Concrete is a high-end, superior product when used in kitchen countertops, and producing them requires a granite for honey maple cabinets lot of skill and experience. These are amongst the more expensive of all counter top products. Pros They can be custom-sized and shaped to any kitchen area setup. Concrete does not scratch and is impervious to heat. Materials such as glass pieces, stones, shells, and fiber-optic lights can be embedded.
Concrete produce a really durable and lasting surface area. The surface area is simple clean-up and preserve, supply routine sealing is done. Concrete counter tops usually enhance property value as a "premium" material. Cons They are pricey, costing as much as $150 per square foot. Annual sealing is needed to avoid staining. Their weight can strain cabinet frames and floors. Repairs are almost impossible, and splitting often does happen. Upkeep Presuming the counter top has actually been sealed at first with a good-quality epoxy sealer, ongoing upkeep requires only the application of an excellent water-based wax sealer every 9 to 12 months. Annual sealing will ensure the surface area withstands staining and will reduce the opportunities of a concrete counter top breaking gradually.
