The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Personalization Increases Aesthetic Charm as well as Property Investment for Homeowne

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching hill residences in the Colorado Rockies, differentiating homeowners are demanding customized designs and also finishes in their kitchen areas. Specifically, they are wanting to express their originality as well as distinct style choices with the quick expanding design product of option-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have actually come to be rather of a condition symbol for kitchens, measuring up to granite and also various other high-end kitchen counter surface options. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete highest possible for its "customization" and "exclusivity" amongst high- end cooking area counter tops. As a customized item, the amount of time as well as workmanship needed to produce concrete kitchen counters puts them as the most labor-intensive and also most expensive amongst leading counter top products. Nevertheless, concrete kitchen counters are ending up being more available for those on a moderate spending plan. The latest do-it-yourself (DIY) fad to astound house owners as well as contractors is building your own concrete countertop. This sensation has gotten appeal mostly as a result of Cheng's best-selling book Concrete Countertops: Design, Kinds, and Completes for the New Cooking Area as well as Bathroom (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains of collaborating with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Progressively, property owners are moving away from the tedious, manufactured look of standard counter top surfaces and picking concrete for its earthy, timeless allure. Plus, the options for individualizing concrete counter tops are limitless: one can tint, polish, stamp as well as tarnish concrete or imbed individual items like rocks, seashells and fossils into the counter top's surface area, adding sentiment as well as personality. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap meals, and trivets can additionally be included to fit the home owners' very own needs and way of life. Concrete is gradually becoming debunked as classically cool as well as industrial. In contrary, this old-time product is cozy as well as remarkably responsive; individuals can not help yet touch their smooth, polished surface areas. Property agent Delight Rasmussen, who has actually lately sold her mountain residence-- a short-term investment home in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- states her visitors' painting countertops granite look experiences with concrete: "When I had open homes, visitors moved to the concrete countertops-- many people around right here have never seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain residence was custom develop by her husband, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, president of Standard Special Custom Residences. They constructed pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's kitchen and 3 shower rooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand-colored concrete kitchen counters were polished smooth, after that coupled with natural slate of differing colors-- like charcoal, corrosion and gold tones-- that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen area as well as bathrooms. As a style accent, tiny rectangle-shaped slate floor tiles were added to the rim of the shower room sinks, which gave a special information to the personalized vanities. When Happiness as well as Ken decided to sell their house, their financial investment in concrete counter tops verified its value. "We had the ability to list the house $20,000 over market value, and had no worry marketing it," remarks Happiness, while talking about the lengthy listing of upgrades throughout their residence, including knotty want solid doors, natural slate wall accents as well as wood floors. "The concrete countertops were easily the most special and excellent of all the surfaces. I believe they were a massive part in including worth to the home. Around below, all you see in homes are granite kitchen counters-- as well as I truly think homebuyers are getting quite numb with granite."

2. " Concrete countertops are a distinct offering to property buyers that see the same surfaces utilized in home after residence they see," explains Joy, using her monitoring as a skilled real estate professional. "Having concrete countertops practically provides you bragging civil liberties-- you have something various from your neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD AND MILDEW One more advantage of concrete is its versatility in either modern or standard settings, especially when coupled with various other materials like varied metals, wood or stone. "Concrete includes numerous [possibilities] to rock, as well as the mix with slate, which is widely popular here, gives the hill homes a total cozy, all-natural touch," says Joy. Delight and also Ken have considering that built a much larger house (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers extensive sights of the Boat Ski Hotel and also is indicated to work as a long-term investment for the pair. They've additionally expanded their listing of personalized coatings, including hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty yearn doors that curve on top, cupboards in an all-natural, knotty alder, and also their favored-- concrete kitchen countertops. Unlike in their previous residence, KJ and also his specialized team put charcoal-colored countertops making use of the pre-cast approach in the incomplete cellar of the new home. Before putting the concrete, they sprinkled a variety of semi-precious rocks in the mold and mildew consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface area was ground and gently polished, the completed outcome was an outstanding mix of colors, "Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most amazing," claims Delight. The L-shaped concrete kitchen counter has a harsh, rustic stone look, matching its sturdy nation environments. An important drain board and trivets gives function and included passion to the concrete kitchen counter. All-natural slate backsplashes, distinctive wall surface accents, and a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen island all resonate with the standard warmth as well as earthiness of the concrete counter tops. Delight and also Ken's particular histories in realty as well as customized homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have helped them recognize that concrete kitchen counters can add incredible visual and also economic value to a house. Concrete's customization and also "show-stopping" appeal is like no other countertop surface. Cheng is a proponent of psychological appearances and building houses that capture these feelings, as when it comes to Happiness as well as Ken Otterman. Cheng ends: "Individuals actually want distinction, something individual, something custom-made-- and concrete can do that for them."