The Value of Concrete Countertops: Customization Increases Visual Charm as well as Realty Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar houses in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating property owners are requiring custom layouts and also coatings in their cooking areas. Particularly, they are seeking to share their individuality and distinct style choices with the fast growing design product of option-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete counter tops have actually become somewhat of a status symbol for cooking areas, matching granite and various other high-end counter top surface area alternatives. Customer News Magazine (August 2004) placed concrete greatest for its "customization" and "exclusivity" amongst high-end kitchen counter tops. As a personalized product, the quantity of time and also workmanship called for to create concrete counter tops positions them as one of the most labor-intensive as well as priciest amongst leading kitchen counter products. However, concrete countertops are becoming more obtainable for those on a small budget plan. The current diy (DIY) fad to astound homeowners and builders is constructing your very own concrete kitchen counter. This phenomenon has gained appeal mostly because of Cheng's very successful publication Concrete Countertops: Layout, Kinds, and Completes for the New Kitchen Area as well as Bathroom (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the innovative gains of dealing with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Increasingly, property owners are moving away from the tedious, manufactured appearance of traditional counter top surfaces as well as choosing concrete for its natural, ageless charm. Plus, the choices for personalizing concrete kitchen counters are limitless: one can color, polish, stamp and discolor concrete or imbed individual objects like rocks, seashells as well as fossils into the countertop's surface area, adding sentiment and character. Useful attributes such as drainpipe boards, soap recipes, and also trivets can additionally be included to fit the property owners' own demands as well as lifestyle. Concrete is gradually becoming demystified as typically chilly and also industrial. In contrary, this olden material is cozy and also remarkably responsive; people can not help but touch their smooth, sleek surfaces. Real estate representative Pleasure Rasmussen, that has lately sold her hill residence-- a short-term financial investment residential property in Steamboat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- states her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open homes, site visitors moved to the concrete kitchen counters-- lots of people around here have never seen them". Happiness's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom develop by her other half, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, president of Standard Unique Personalized Houses. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's cooking area and also three washrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand- colored concrete kitchen counters were brightened smooth, after that paired with all-natural slate of differing colors-- like charcoal, rust as well as gold tones-- that creates the backsplashes in the cooking area and bathrooms. As a layout accent, tiny rectangular slate floor tiles were added to the rim of the bathroom sinks, which gave a distinct detail to the custom vanities. When Pleasure and Ken chose to sell their residence, their investment in concrete kitchen counters confirmed its worth. "We were able to note the house $20,000 over market price, and also had not a problem offering it," comments Joy, while going over the lengthy checklist of upgrades throughout their residence, consisting of knotty yearn strong doors, all-natural slate wall accents and hardwood floors. "The concrete countertops were easily one of the most special and excellent of all the surfaces. I believe they were a substantial part in adding value to the home. Around right here, all you see in houses are granite kitchen counters-- and also I actually believe buyers are obtaining rather numb with granite."

2. " Concrete kitchen counters are a distinct offering to homebuyers who see the exact same coatings utilized in home after house they check out," discusses Pleasure, offering her observation as an experienced real estate professional. "Having concrete kitchen counters virtually offers you bragging civil liberties-- you have something different from your next-door neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD AND MILDEW Another benefit of concrete is its flexibility in either modern-day or conventional setups, particularly when coupled with various other materials like varied metals, wood or stone. "Concrete includes many [possibilities] to stone, as well as the mix with slate, which is hugely prominent right here, gives the hill homes a total warm, all-natural countertops for home bars touch," claims Happiness. Happiness and Ken have since built a much bigger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that uses expansive views of the Boat Ski Hotel as well as is meant to work as a long-lasting financial investment for the couple. They've additionally increased their list of custom surfaces, consisting of hand-troweled walls, classy oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty yearn doors that curve at the top, cupboards in an all-natural, knotty alder, and also their preferred-- concrete kitchen counter tops. Unlike in their previous home, KJ as well as his specialty crew put charcoal-colored counter tops making use of the pre-cast technique in the incomplete basement of the new home. Prior to putting the concrete, they sprinkled a range of semi-precious stones in the mold and mildew consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Blue-green. After the surface was ground and also gently brightened, the finished result was an excellent blend of shades, "Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most amazing," states Happiness. The L-shaped concrete counter top has a rough, rustic stone look, matching its tough country environments. An integral drainpipe board and also trivets gives feature and added passion to the concrete kitchen counter. Natural slate backsplashes, distinctive wall accents, and also a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen island all reverberate with the conventional warmth and also earthiness of the concrete countertops. Joy as well as Ken's particular histories in property and custom-made homebuilding, and as financial investment buyers, have aided them recognize that concrete countertops can include tremendous visual as well as financial value to a home. Concrete's customization and also "show-stopping" charm resembles no other kitchen counter surface area. Cheng is a supporter of psychological aesthetic appeals and developing homes that record these feelings, as in the case of Joy and also Ken Otterman. Cheng ends: "Individuals actually want differentiation, something personal, something custom-- and also concrete can do that for them."