The Pros and Cons of Concrete Kitchen Area Countertops

1. Few kitchen counter top materials are trendier at the moment than high-end concrete. Rock solid and hard as granite or slate, concrete can be a better fit in modern kitchen area styles than any of those natural stones considering that it exhibits a modern industrial aesthetic. Adding to the mystique is the reality that concrete can now be etched, acid-stained, stamped, and sealed to produce a countertop surface area that is unlike almost any other available product. Modern concrete cooking area counter tops are no longer cold pieces of gray concrete (unless you desire that)-- more often, they wood countertops with grey cabinets are warm and gleaming surface areas that are absolutely functional and likewise incredibly elegant. Setup of Concrete Countertops Concrete counter tops might appear like massive pieces, however in reality, they are generally only 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. The impression that they are much thicker pieces is usually the result of a drop-front edging on the countertop. Still, these are really heavy counter tops, weighing 19 to 25 pounds per square foot. Installers sometimes need to enhance cabinets and sometimes even the floorings in order to bear the substantial weight. While concrete counter tops are in some cases formed and put on-site, regularly they are fabricated in stores after a technician takes precise measurements of your kitchen area area and discusses all surface alternatives with you. In the shop, types are constructed and the countertop is put, complete with whatever sink cutouts, coloration, or additives are requested. Throughout fabrication, the counter top slabs are typically strengthened with fiber or metal mesh of some type to provide strength and rigidity. After fabrication, the counter top is permitted to treat completely, and the surface area might be ground and polished to whatever finish the client has an asked for. Some type of sealer is applied, frequently an extremely difficult epoxy. Once treating and finishing is total, an installation crew thoroughly delivers the counter top to the work site and installs it. As part of the setup, the team might develop or set up assistance frames for sinks, since it is very important that the counter top itself not bring the weight of the sink. If the sink is an under-mount design, it is embeded in location initially, then the countertop is set up over it. The counter top is usually complied with the cabinets with construction adhesives after being carefully leveled and shimmed. Advantages and Drawbacks of Concrete Countertops Concrete countertops have many virtues, especially its capability to be shaped and formed to exactly match your kitchen dimensions and finished specifically to your taste. With other countertop materials, you are often limited to whatever colors and styles are available, however concrete deals you a larger series of alternatives. Just ceramic tile comes close to providing an equivalent range of choices. On the other hand, if you are conditioned to consider concrete as a practical structure material used for slabs and foundations, you might think of that concrete countertops are cheap and simple to install. Nothing could be even more from the reality. Concrete is a high-end, superior material when utilized in kitchen area counter tops, and fabricating them requires a great deal of ability and experience. These are among the more costly of all counter top products. Pros They can be custom-sized and formed to any kitchen area setup. Concrete does not scratch and is impervious to heat. Materials such as glass fragments, stones, shells, and fiber-optic lights can be embedded.

2. Concrete makes for a very resilient and lasting surface area. The surface is simple clean-up and maintain, supply routine sealing is done. Concrete countertops typically enhance property value as a "premium" material. Cons They are costly, costing as much as $150 per square foot. Yearly sealing is required to prevent staining. Their weight can strain cabinet frames and floors. Repairs are nearly difficult, and cracking often does happen. Upkeep Assuming the counter top has been sealed initially with a good-quality epoxy sealer, continuous maintenance requires only the application of a great water-based wax sealer every 9 to 12 months. Annual sealing will ensure the surface withstands staining and will minimize the possibilities of a concrete counter top splitting with time.