The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Modification Boosts Visual Appeal as well as Realty Financial Investment for Homeowne

1. From top-dollar houses in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating homeowners are requiring custom-made designs as well as surfaces in their kitchens. In particular, they are seeking to reveal their originality as well as distinct layout preferences with the fast expanding design material of choice-- concrete. Actually, concrete kitchen counters have actually ended up being somewhat of a standing icon for kitchen areas, rivaling granite and various other high-end kitchen counter surface area alternatives. Consumer Information Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete highest possible for its "customization" as well as "exclusivity" amongst premium cooking area counter tops. As a personalized product, the amount of time and also workmanship required to produce concrete counter tops puts them as the most labor-intensive as well as priciest among leading kitchen counter products. Nevertheless, concrete countertops are ending up being extra easily accessible for those on a small budget. The most up to date do-it-yourself (Do It Yourself) pattern to astound property owners and also home builders is developing your own concrete kitchen counter. This phenomenon has actually acquired popularity mostly because of Cheng's very popular book Concrete Countertops: Style, Types, as well as Completes for the New Kitchen Area as well as Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary financial investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the imaginative gains of collaborating with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Increasingly, house owners are relocating away from the monotonous, manufactured look of traditional kitchen counter surfaces and also picking concrete for its earthy, ageless allure. Plus, the choices for customizing concrete counter tops are countless: one can color, polish, stamp and tarnish concrete or imbed personal things like stones, seashells and fossils into the countertop's surface, adding belief and personality. Functional features such as drainpipe boards, soap meals, as well as trivets can likewise be integrated to fit the homeowners' own requirements and also way of living. Concrete is gradually becoming debunked as characteristically cool and industrial. In contrary, this old-time product is cozy and remarkably responsive; people can not aid yet touch their smooth, polished surface areas. Realty agent Happiness Rasmussen, that has actually lately marketed her mountain house-- a short-term financial investment residential or commercial property in Steamboat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- states her visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open homes, visitors gravitated to the concrete kitchen counters-- lots of people around here have actually never ever seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. hill house was personalized construct by her hubby, Ken Otterman, together with KJ countertops denver Otterman, head of state of Standard Unique Custom Residences. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for

2. the residence's kitchen area and three shower rooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand- colored concrete kitchen counters were brightened smooth, then paired with all-natural slate of varying shades-- like charcoal, corrosion as well as gold tones-- that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a layout accent, little rectangular slate tiles were included in the edge of the bathroom sinks, which supplied an unique detail to the custom-made vanities. When Pleasure and Ken decided to offer their residence, their investment in concrete counter tops confirmed its worth. "We had the ability to detail your house $20,000 over market value, and also had no problems offering it," remarks Pleasure, while talking about the lengthy listing of upgrades throughout their residence, consisting of knotty yearn strong doors, natural slate wall surface accents as well as hardwood floors. "The concrete kitchen counters were conveniently the most special and also remarkable of all the finishes. I believe they were a massive part in including value to the house. Around right here, all you see in residences are granite counter tops-- and also I really assume homebuyers are getting fairly numb with granite." " Concrete kitchen counters are an one-of-a-kind offering to buyers that see the exact same surfaces made use of in home after home they see," clarifies Delight, supplying her observation as an experienced real estate agent. "Having concrete countertops almost gives you boasting civil liberties-- you have something different from your next-door neighbors." BREAKING THE MOLD An additional benefit of concrete is its adaptability in either modern or conventional setups, specifically when coupled with other products like different steels, timber or stone. "Concrete includes so many [possibilities] to rock, and also the combination with slate, which is hugely preferred right here, offers the mountain residences a total warm, all-natural touch," claims Happiness. Pleasure as well as Ken have actually considering that constructed a much bigger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Hotel and is implied to act as a long-lasting financial investment for the couple. They've likewise broadened their checklist of personalized finishes, including hand-troweled walls, elegant oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty yearn doors that arch on top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their preferred-- concrete kitchen countertops. Unlike in their previous residence, KJ and also his specialty crew poured charcoal-colored kitchen counters utilizing the pre-cast approach in the incomplete basement of the brand-new house. Before putting the concrete, they sprayed a range of semi-precious stones in the mold and mildew including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of- Pearl as well as Turquoise. After the surface was ground and also gently polished, the completed result was an impressive blend of colors, "Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most extraordinary," states Pleasure. The L-shaped concrete kitchen counter has a harsh, rustic rock appearance, complementing its tough country surroundings. An important drain board and trivets provides function and included rate of interest to the concrete countertop. Natural slate backsplashes, unique wall surface accents, as well as a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen area island all reverberate with the standard heat and earthiness of the concrete kitchen counters. Delight as well as Ken's corresponding histories in property and personalized homebuilding, and as investment property buyers, have actually aided them realize that concrete countertops can add remarkable aesthetic and also financial value to a home. Concrete's customization as well as "show-stopping" charm is like nothing else counter top surface. Cheng is an advocate of psychological looks as well as developing houses that record these emotions, as when it comes to Delight and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: "People truly desire distinction, something individual, something custom-made-- as well as concrete can do that for them."