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

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, differentiating property owners are requiring custom-made layouts as well as finishes in their kitchen areas. Specifically, they are seeking to share their originality as well as distinctive style preferences with the rapid growing style material of choice-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have become somewhat of a condition icon for kitchen areas, matching granite as well as other premium countertop surface area options. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) rated concrete highest for its "customization" and also "exclusivity" amongst premium kitchen area countertops. As a personalized item, the quantity of time and craftsmanship called for to produce concrete counter tops places them as the most labor-intensive as well as most expensive amongst leading kitchen counter materials. Nonetheless, concrete countertops are becoming much more accessible for those on a moderate budget. The most recent diy (Do It Yourself) trend to mesmerize home owners and also building contractors is building your very own concrete counter top. This sensation has actually gained appeal largely because of Cheng's very popular publication Concrete Countertops: Layout, Types, and also Finishes for the New Cooking Area as well as Bathroom (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the innovative gains of working with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Significantly, house owners are moving away from the boring, manufactured look of traditional countertop surface areas and choosing concrete for its natural, classic allure. Plus, the alternatives for personalizing concrete countertops are limitless: one can tint, gloss, stamp as well as discolor concrete or imbed individual items like stones, seashells as well as fossils right into the kitchen counter's surface area, including view and character. Functional features such as drainpipe boards, soap dishes, as well as trivets can likewise be integrated to fit the countertops with cream cabinets homeowners' own requirements and way of living. Concrete is gradually coming to be demystified as characteristically cold and industrial. In contrary, this old-time material is warm and also remarkably tactile; individuals can not assist however touch their smooth, polished surface areas. Realty representative Happiness Rasmussen, that has recently sold her hill home-- a short-term investment residential or commercial property in Steamboat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- recounts her visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open residences, site visitors moved to the concrete counter tops-- lots of people around below have actually never ever seen them". Happiness's 2,265 sq. ft. hill home was customized build by her partner, Ken Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, head of state of Classic Unique Custom Houses. They developed pour-in-place concrete counters for the residence's kitchen area and also 3 shower rooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand- colored concrete counter tops were polished smooth, after that coupled with all-natural slate of varying shades-- like charcoal, rust and also gold tones-- that develops the backsplashes in the kitchen and also bathrooms. As a layout accent, small rectangular slate tiles were included in the rim of the bathroom sinks, which provided an unique detail to the customized vanities. When Pleasure and also Ken determined to sell their house, their financial investment in concrete counter tops confirmed its worth. "We were able to detail your home $20,000 over market value, and had no worry selling it," comments Happiness, while discussing the lengthy listing of upgrades throughout their home, consisting of knotty yearn strong doors, natural slate wall surface accents and hardwood floorings. "The concrete countertops were quickly one of the most special and excellent of all the finishes. I think they were a huge component in adding worth to the home. Around right here, all you see in homes are granite counter tops-- and I actually assume property buyers are obtaining quite numb with granite."

2. " Concrete kitchen counters are a special offering to buyers who see the same surfaces utilized in residence after residence they visit," describes Happiness, providing her observation as a skilled real estate agent. "Having concrete countertops almost offers you boasting legal rights-- you have something different from your neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD Another advantage of concrete is its flexibility in either contemporary or typical settings, specifically when coupled with various other products like different steels, timber or rock. "Concrete includes so many [possibilities] to stone, and also the mix with slate, which is hugely popular right here, offers the hill residences a total cozy, natural touch," claims Happiness. Joy and also Ken have actually given that built a much bigger house (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers large views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and also is implied to work as a long-lasting investment for the couple. They have actually also expanded their listing of custom finishes, including hand-troweled wall surfaces, elegant oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty pine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and also their favorite-- concrete cooking area counter tops. Unlike in their previous residence, KJ as well as his specialized staff poured charcoal-colored kitchen counters making use of the pre-cast approach in the incomplete cellar of the brand-new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprayed a variety of semi-precious stones in the mold and mildew including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and also Blue-green. After the surface area was ground as well as lightly brightened, the completed result was a remarkable blend of colors, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most extraordinary," claims Happiness. The L-shaped concrete counter top has a harsh, rustic stone appearance, matching its tough country environments. An integral drainpipe board as well as trivets gives function as well as included passion to the concrete countertop. All-natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall surface accents, and a butcher block countertop at the kitchen island all resonate with the traditional heat and also earthiness of the concrete counter tops. Delight as well as Ken's particular backgrounds in realty and also custom homebuilding, and also as investment property buyers, have actually helped them understand that concrete countertops can add significant aesthetic and also financial value to a house. Concrete's personalization and also "show-stopping" appeal resembles nothing else counter top surface. Cheng is a supporter of emotional aesthetics and developing houses that capture these emotions, as when it comes to Joy as well as Ken Otterman. Cheng wraps up: "People really desire distinction, something individual, something personalized-- and concrete can do that for them."